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Intent Purchase Contract

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Form 8.01 — Asset Purchase Letter of Intent

,

Mr.

Re: Asset Acquisition of “ABC” Franchise

Dear Mr. :

This letter will confirm the basic terms upon which I would be interested in acquiring the assets of your ABC franchise located at , , (the “Business”).

If the terms outlined below are acceptable, please sign and return the enclosed duplicate copy of this letter to me. Except to the extent hereinafter expressly provided, this letter of intent only outlines the proposed transaction and is not intended to be a binding offer or agreement but, rather, is intended to set forth certain principal terms and conditions relating to the proposed transaction and to evidence our mutual intent to negotiate in good faith towards the execution of a definitive purchase agreement on or before , .

The purchase price shall be a total of dollars ($ ), consisting of my assumption of the current equipment financing loan with of approximately $ , with the balance of the purchase price to be paid as follows: .

At Closing, you will deliver all of the assets of the Business, free and clear of all claims, demands, liens and encumbrances. I will assume no existing obligations except the franchise agreement, lease and the equipment financing agreement. You will be responsible for sales tax and transfer fees, if any. Each of us will bear our own attorney's fees and other costs incurred in negotiating and closing the transaction; escrow fees will be shared equally.

If these terms are acceptable to you, you and I will negotiate in good faith with a view toward executing a definitive asset purchase agreement with all customary representations and warranties. My obligation to purchase will be subject to:

1. Receipt of consent from ABC, Inc. to the transfer;

2. Receipt of your landlord's consent to my assumption of the lease;

3. Receipt of 's consent to my assumption of the equipment financing obligations;

4. My securing satisfactory bank financing for the cash portion of the purchase price; and

5. My completion, to my satisfaction, of a due diligence investigation of your Business.

Notwithstanding the otherwise non-binding nature of this letter, the following obligations will be binding:

(a) Because of the legal fees and other costs I will incur if you wish to proceed with this transaction, you agree that you will not solicit or entertain offers for, or otherwise engage in negotiations for, the sale of the Business for so long as we are continuing to negotiate, but in any event for at least the thirty (30) day period following the date that you sign this letter; and

(b) Each party agrees not to disclose the contents of this letter, or the terms of our proposed transaction, to any third party other than ABC, Inc., and your and my respective lawyer, accountant and advisors.

In order to commence my due diligence examination, I will need for you to provide the following items as soon as possible:

1. A copy of the current ABC, Inc. Franchise Offering Circular for the State of ;

2. A copy of the existing franchise agreement between you and ABC, Inc., including all amendments and exhibits thereto;

3. Copies of all other agreements between you and ABC, Inc.;

4. A copy of the current lease for the Business premises, including all exhibits and amendments thereto;

5. A copy of the existing financing agreement;

6. The identities of all former franchisees for the Business; and

7. Any additional information necessary or convenient for my due diligence investigation, upon request.

If the foregoing is acceptable to you, please sign, date, and return the enclosed duplicate copy of this letter.

Very truly yours,

CONFIRMED AND AGREED this day of ,

Enter text✕

What an Intent Purchase Contract Is and when it’s used

An Intent Purchase Contract is a preliminary written agreement in which a prospective buyer records intent to purchase specified goods, services, or real property and sets out primary terms such as price, deposit, contingencies, and target closing dates. It typically precedes a final purchase agreement and creates procedural obligations—for example, deposit timing, due-diligence windows, and exclusive negotiation periods. While not always a fully binding sales contract, properly drafted intent agreements allocate risk, outline next steps, and clarify each party’s responsibilities during the pre-closing phase.

Why use an Intent Purchase Contract

An Intent Purchase Contract clarifies expectations, preserves bargaining positions, and creates a documented timeline for inspections, financing, and closing. It helps reduce misunderstandings and supports enforceability of interim obligations such as exclusivity or earnest money.

Why use an Intent Purchase Contract

Who typically prepares and signs an Intent Purchase Contract

Identify who has signing authority early and record contact details and authorization for each signatory to avoid later disputes.

  • Buyers and purchasers who want to reserve a purchase opportunity while completing due diligence.
  • Sellers or vendors seeking written evidence of buyer intent and a commitment to move toward a closing.
  • Brokers, agents, and attorneys who manage timelines, contingencies, and escrow instructions.

Core parts of a professional Intent Purchase Contract

A well-drafted Intent Purchase Contract balances clarity and flexibility: it states essential terms, due-diligence steps, deposit handling, and routing for final documents while preserving negotiation space for the definitive agreement.

Parties

Full legal names for buyer(s) and seller(s); include business entity types and registered addresses to reduce identity disputes.

Subject Matter

Clear description of the asset or property, including address, serial numbers, or SKU details to avoid ambiguity in the transaction scope.

Price & Deposit

Purchase price, earnest money amount, deposit timing and escrow instructions so funds handling is controlled and documented.

Contingencies

Inspection, financing, title, or regulatory conditions with specific removal deadlines and procedures for extension or termination.

Timeline

Key dates: due-diligence period, financing deadline, target closing date, and consequences for missed milestones.

Legal Terms

Governing law, confidentiality, dispute resolution, allocation of closing costs, and any exclusivity or option provisions.

Step-by-step: filling and finalizing an Intent Purchase Contract

Follow a clear sequence: populate fields, review terms, secure signatures, confirm deposits, and track milestone dates in writing.

  • 01
    Populate fields: Complete all required fields before circulation.
  • 02
    Internal review: Have legal or broker review key terms and contingencies.
  • 03
    Collect signatures: Use authorized signers and authenticated electronic methods where permitted.
  • 04
    Record deposits: Confirm escrow receipt and record payment references.

How to configure an online workflow for the Intent Purchase Contract

Set up a repeatable eSign workflow that enforces signing order, authenticates signers, and archives the audit trail for compliance.

Field Configuration
Signing Order Sequential with designated buyer, seller, broker order
Authentication Email plus SMS code or stronger where needed
Conditional Fields Show financing clauses only if 'financing' checked
Archive Settings Retain signed PDF and audit trail in secure storage

Where to send or file the executed Intent Purchase Contract

After execution, distribute copies to key stakeholders and record proof of deposit and acceptance; filing requirements depend on transaction type.

  • Buyer: Provide fully executed copy and deposit receipt to buyer’s counsel
  • Seller: Deliver executed contract and confirm receipt of earnest money
  • Escrow Agent: Send deposit with instructions and account reference
  • Title/Closing: Share contract and title commitment for scheduling closing

Digital signing and sharing considerations

Choose a platform that meets your compliance needs (HIPAA, SOC 2, 21 CFR) and preserves tamper-evident copies with audit trails.

  • Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace supported
  • File types: Accepts PDF, DOCX, and fills to Excel
  • Authentication: Email, SMS code, KBA, and advanced options

Typical timelines and deadlines to include in the contract

Document critical dates explicitly and include consequences for missed deadlines to avoid disputes and preserve remedies.

Earnest Money Due:

Specify a deadline (commonly 1–5 business days) and method of delivery

Inspection Period:

State length (e.g., 7–30 days) for inspections and repair requests

Financing Deadline:

Date by which buyer must secure loan commitment or terminate

Closing Date:

Target closing and recording date for conveyance

Contingency Removal:

Deadlines for waiving contingencies or extending by written agreement

Key milestones from intent to closing

Track milestone progression so each party knows when obligations trigger and when rights expire.

01

Offer Execution

Parties sign intent and buyer deposits earnest money.

02

Due Diligence

Inspections, surveys, and title review occur during this window.

03

Finance Approval

Buyer secures financing or exercises financing contingency rights.

04

Final Closing

Documents are exchanged, funds wired, and title recorded.

Common mistakes to avoid when preparing an Intent Purchase Contract

  • Leaving key dates vague or undefined, which creates disputes about when contingencies expire and whether a party defaulted.
  • Using informal names or initials for parties instead of exact legal names, causing execution issues and mismatching to identification or title records.
  • Failing to identify an escrow agent and deposit procedure clearly, leaving funds handling open to disagreement or misplacement.
  • Assuming verbal agreements alter written terms; any post-signature changes should be documented in writing and signed by all parties.

Penalties and risks from incorrect or incomplete forms

Deposit Forfeiture: Buyer may lose earnest money
Contract Voidance: Material errors can void obligations
Delay Costs: Missed deadlines increase carrying costs
Title Issues: Incomplete descriptions cause recording problems
Regulatory Fines: Failure to comply may trigger fines
Enforceability Risk: Ambiguous terms raise litigation exposure

Security, privacy, and compliance checklist

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit
Data at Rest: AES-256 encryption
Certifications: SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001
HIPAA: BAA available when required
eSignature Law: Compliant with ESIGN and UETA
Audit Trail: Timestamped events and IP records

Real-world examples of intent agreements in practice

These brief examples show how companies use intent contracts to streamline negotiations and preserve priority while completing due diligence.

Optica Ventures (Brian Fitzgibbons, COO)

Optica documented buyer intent for a portfolio property to secure exclusivity during inspections

  • The brief agreement required an earnest deposit and 30-day due diligence
  • This reduced negotiation friction and allowed timely escalation to a binding purchase agreement with clear milestones for closing and funding.

Martin Properties (Tim Martin, Founder)

A regional developer used an intent contract to align seller and lender timelines before finalizing financing

  • The contract included conditional closing tied to loan commitment
  • The approach preserved the transaction while the lender completed underwriting and permitted parallel title work and environmental assessments.

eSignature vendor pricing and feature snapshot for executing Intent Purchase Contracts

Compare basic pricing and compliance features that matter for executing and storing Intent Purchase Contracts. signNow appears first for easy reference.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies Varies Varies Varies
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes Varies
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No

Frequently asked questions about Intent Purchase Contracts

Answers to common practical and legal questions about drafting, signing, and storing an Intent Purchase Contract.


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