Can this agreement be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally binding under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA in most states, provided the parties demonstrate intent, consent, attribution, and retention.

When is a notary required?

Most commercial contracts do not require notarization, but specific attachments (deeds, certain real-estate documents) may. Check state notary rules or consult counsel if a notary or RON is needed.

Who must sign the agreement?

Authorized corporate officers or designated signatories with authority to bind their organizations should sign. The contract should state signer names, titles, and confirmation of authority.

Can terms be changed after signing?

Yes, but only by a written amendment signed by all parties. Oral modifications are risky; document all change orders with dates and signatures to preserve enforceability.

What supporting documents should accompany the agreement?

Include exhibits for specs, SOWs, IP assignment schedules, third-party license lists, security and privacy addenda, and any BAA if handling PHI.

How long should I keep the signed agreement?

Retain the signed contract for the active term plus at least three years; follow IRS guidance (IRC §6501(a)) and HIPAA retention where applicable (45 CFR §164.530(j)).

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Mobile App Development Agreement

Mobile App Development Agreement

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

MOBILE APP DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT

PARTIES

Client Name: Client Address: Developer Name: Developer Address: Effective Date:

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Client Name: desires to retain Developer to design, develop, and deliver a mobile software application as described herein; and

WHEREAS, Developer Name: has the technical expertise and experience to develop mobile applications and agrees to perform the services subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the parties wish to set forth the scope, deliverables, payment terms, and other terms governing the development, delivery, and acceptance of the mobile application.

SCOPE OF WORK

Developer shall design, develop, test, and deliver the mobile application (the "App") in accordance with the specifications and milestones set forth below. The App shall include the features, functionality, and performance standards reasonably described in the Scope of Work field and in any mutually executed change orders.

Scope of Work (detailed deliverables, platforms, and specifications):

DELIVERABLES AND ACCEPTANCE

Developer shall deliver milestones and final deliverables as set forth in the Scope of Work. Upon delivery of each milestone, Client shall have a period of days to perform acceptance testing and either accept the milestone or provide written notice of defects. If Client does not provide timely notice of defects, the milestone shall be deemed accepted.

Acceptance testing criteria or procedure:

PAYMENT TERMS

In consideration for the performance of the Services, Client shall pay Developer the fees set forth below in U.S. dollars in accordance with the schedule described herein.

Total Fixed Fee: Initial Deposit (if any): Payment Schedule (milestones, amounts, and timing):

Invoices are due and payable within days of invoice date. Late payments shall accrue interest at the lesser of percent per month or the maximum rate permitted by law, plus all collection costs and attorneys' fees incurred by Developer.

TERM AND TERMINATION

This Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and continue until completion of the Services or until terminated in accordance with this section.

Start Date: Anticipated End Date:

Either party may terminate this Agreement for material breach that remains uncured for days after written notice. Additionally, Client may terminate for convenience upon days' advance written notice, subject to payment for all work performed and non-cancelable commitments incurred through the effective date of termination.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Each party (the "Receiving Party") shall protect and not disclose the other party's Confidential Information. "Confidential Information" includes nonpublic business, technical, and financial information disclosed in tangible or intangible form. The Receiving Party shall not use Confidential Information except to perform its obligations under this Agreement and shall limit disclosure to employees and contractors who have a need to know and are bound by confidentiality obligations no less protective than those herein.

Confidentiality obligations shall survive termination for a period of years, except that trade secrets shall remain protected for as long as they qualify as trade secret under applicable law.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Developer agrees that all work product, including source code, object code, documentation, designs, and related materials created specifically for Client under this Agreement (collectively, "Work Product") shall be deemed a work made for hire and, to the extent not automatically owned by Client, Developer hereby assigns to Client all right, title, and interest in and to the Work Product upon full payment of all amounts due. Developer shall retain ownership of preexisting tools, libraries, and developer-owned components, provided Developer grants Client a perpetual, royalty-free license to any incorporated elements required for Client's use of the Work Product.

If parties agree otherwise, describe exceptions to assignment:

WARRANTIES, INDEMNIFICATION, AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

Developer warrants that the Services will be performed in a professional manner in accordance with industry standards and that, to Developer's knowledge, the Work Product will not knowingly infringe third-party intellectual property rights. Client's sole and exclusive remedies for breach of this warranty shall be repair or replacement of nonconforming deliverables at Developer's expense within a commercially reasonable time.

Each party shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the other party from third-party claims arising from (i) its gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (ii) breach of its representations or obligations under this Agreement. The indemnified party shall provide prompt written notice of any claim and shall cooperate in the defense. Indemnification is subject to the indemnifying party's control of the defense and settlement, provided that no settlement that admits fault or imposes non-monetary obligations on the indemnified party shall be entered without its consent.

Except for indemnification obligations and breaches of confidentiality, neither party shall be liable to the other for incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages, and aggregate direct liability shall be limited to the amounts actually paid by Client to Developer under this Agreement in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim.

CHANGE ORDERS

Any material change to the Scope of Work, schedule, or fees shall be documented in a written change order signed by authorized representatives of both parties. Unless and until a change order is executed, Developer shall not be required to implement out-of-scope changes.

Change order procedure:

SUPPORT, MAINTENANCE, AND BUG FIXES

Developer shall provide bug-fix support for a period of months following final acceptance at no additional charge, limited to errors causing deviation from the agreed specifications. Ongoing maintenance and support beyond that period shall be provided only pursuant to a separate support agreement or as otherwise agreed in writing.

Optional hourly rate for additional services:

DATA SECURITY AND PRIVACY

Developer shall implement reasonable administrative, physical, and technical safeguards designed to protect personal data and other Confidential Information consistent with industry practices. Developer shall promptly notify Client of any security incident affecting Client data and shall cooperate in mitigation and notification efforts.

GOVERNING LAW; DISPUTE RESOLUTION

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of , without regard to conflict of laws principles. Any dispute arising from or related to this Agreement shall be resolved by binding arbitration or litigation only as set forth below.

Preferred dispute resolution (briefly describe):

ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENT

This Agreement, together with all exhibits, schedules, and executed change orders, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, proposals, and communications, whether oral or written. No amendment shall be effective unless executed in writing by authorized representatives of both parties.

MISCELLANEOUS

Neither party may assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party, except to a successor in interest by merger or sale of substantially all assets. Notices shall be in writing and delivered to the addresses set forth above. If any provision is held unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

Additional provisions or special terms:

Client:

By:

Date:

Developer:

By:

Date:

What the Mobile App Development Agreement Is

A Mobile App Development Agreement is a legally binding contract that sets out the scope, deliverables, timeline, payment terms, intellectual property assignments, warranties, and acceptance criteria for developing a mobile application. It clarifies responsibilities for design, coding, testing, deployment, and post-launch support, and allocates risk for bugs, security flaws, data handling, and third-party components. Parties typically include a client (product owner) and a developer or development firm; the agreement supports dispute resolution, confidentiality, and termination mechanics to reduce ambiguity during execution and after launch.

Why a Clear Development Agreement Matters

A robust Mobile App Development Agreement reduces ambiguity about deliverables, protects intellectual property, defines payment triggers, and sets expectations for security and compliance, especially when apps handle regulated data.

Who Typically Uses This Agreement

Use this agreement whenever an organization engages a third party or internal team to design, build, or maintain a mobile application.

Startups and product teams contracting external developers for MVPs and feature builds, needing clear IP and milestone terms.
Software agencies and freelance developers protecting scope, payment terms, and ownership when taking client work.
Enterprises and regulated organizations hiring vendors to build apps that will process PHI, financial data, or personal information.

Tailor clauses for the party type, the complexity of the app, and any industry-specific compliance requirements such as HIPAA or PCI.

Representative Signatories

Lead Developer

A senior technical lead or authorized developer representative who accepts technical deliverables, confirms completion of milestones, and signs technical acceptance certificates on behalf of the development firm.

Chief Product Officer

The client-side product executive who approves scope changes, signs change orders, and authorizes payments; this signer should be empowered by the client organization to bind it contractually.

Core Clauses to Include

A professional Mobile App Development Agreement organizes obligations and protections into focused clauses that address work, payments, IP, testing, support, and risk allocation.

Scope of Work

Define specific features, platforms (iOS/Android), third-party services, acceptance criteria, and deliverable formats to avoid scope disputes during development.

Deliverables

List discrete deliverables (source code, design assets, documentation, build artifacts) and the delivery format, transfer method, and required metadata.

Timeline & Milestones

Set milestone dates, review periods, and payment triggers; include remedies for missed milestones such as cure periods or liquidated damages if appropriate.

Payment Terms

State total fees, invoicing schedule, payment method, late fees, expense reimbursement, and whether retainers or milestone-based payments apply.

IP & Ownership

Specify whether work is a work-for-hire, include IP assignment language, and address open-source components and third-party licenses.

Warranties & Liability

Limitations of liability, warranty period for bug fixes, indemnities for IP infringement, and disclaimers for consequential damages should be clearly defined.

Step-by-Step: Completing the Agreement

Follow a clear order to prepare, review, sign, and retain the agreement to minimize delays and ensure enforceability.

01

Prepare Draft: Populate parties, scope, timeline, and payment fields before review.
02

Internal Review: Legal and product teams confirm IP and compliance obligations.
03

Finalize Signers: Confirm authorized signatories and their contact information.
04

Execute Electronically: Use an ESIGN/UETA-compliant eSignature platform to sign and capture audit records.

Typical Electronic Execution Flow

Online execution follows predictable steps that create an admissible audit trail when done correctly.

Upload Document: Place signature, initials, and date fields in the draft contract.
Assign Signers: Add signer emails and set signing order if required.
Authenticate: Choose authentication method: email link, SMS code, or stronger options.
Capture Audit Trail: Platform records IP, timestamps, and signer actions for later proof.

Configuring an eSignature Workflow

Configure signing order and authentication to match your risk profile and legal needs before sending for signature.

Field	Configuration
Signing Order	Sequential or parallel per project needs
Authentication	Email link, SMS code, or KBA for higher assurance
Reminders	Auto reminders schedule and frequency
Retention	Specify storage period and export formats

Technical and Integration Considerations

Ensure your eSignature platform supports required integrations, file formats, and security controls before sending documents.

File Formats: PDF and DOCX are commonly supported
Integrations: Connectors for Salesforce, NetSuite, and Google Workspace
Security: TLS in transit and AES-256 at rest

Confirm the platform supports audit trails, exportable signed PDFs, and any industry-specific addenda (for example, a HIPAA BAA for healthcare projects).

Key Security and Compliance Elements

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit; AES-256 at rest

Audit Trail: Timestamped logs of signer actions

BAA Availability: HIPAA BAA offered when required

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001

Access Controls: Role-based permissions and SSO

Accessibility: WCAG 2.0 Level AA support

Common Preparation Mistakes to Avoid

Leaving scope vague or using open-ended language that creates expectations not priced into the contract.
Failing to list third-party components or open-source libraries, which can create license and security exposure.
Using informal signatures or initials where the agreement requires full execution by authorized representatives.
Not addressing data handling and privacy obligations when the app processes personal or regulated information.

Consequences of an Incorrect or Missing Agreement

IP Disputes: Loss of ownership

Payment Disputes: Unpaid invoices, litigation

Regulatory Fines: HIPAA or PCI violations

Delay Costs: Missed launch windows

Termination Risk: Unclear exit terms

Enforceability: Improper execution weakens proof

Typical Timing and Deadlines to Track

Establish clear milestone dates and payment due dates; specify cure periods for missed deadlines and acceptance testing windows to prevent disputes.

Proposal Acceptance:

Client signs to authorize project kickoff

Kickoff Meeting:

Schedule within 7 days of acceptance

Milestone Reviews:

Provide 5–10 business days for client review per milestone

Beta Delivery:

Delivery window for beta build and feedback

Final Acceptance:

Formal sign-off and final payment trigger

Key Project Milestones

A concise milestone sequence helps teams plan resources and tie payments to objective results.

01

Proposal and Quote

Client approves scope and initial payment is invoiced.

02

Development Sprints

Regular sprint deliveries with demo and feedback cycles.

03

Quality Assurance

QA completes test plan, reports bugs, and confirms fixes.

04

Launch and Handover

Production release, documentation handoff, and final acceptance.

eSignature Pricing and Feature Snapshot

Comparing entry-level pricing and key features can help determine which eSignature solution aligns with your Mobile App Development Agreement execution needs.

	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 trial	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies
Bulk Send	Yes (Premium)	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies	Varies	Varies

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common execution, validity, and post-signature questions for Mobile App Development Agreements executed electronically.

Need help? Contact support

Can this agreement be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally binding under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA in most states, provided the parties demonstrate intent, consent, attribution, and retention.
When is a notary required?
Most commercial contracts do not require notarization, but specific attachments (deeds, certain real-estate documents) may. Check state notary rules or consult counsel if a notary or RON is needed.
Who must sign the agreement?
Authorized corporate officers or designated signatories with authority to bind their organizations should sign. The contract should state signer names, titles, and confirmation of authority.
Can terms be changed after signing?
Yes, but only by a written amendment signed by all parties. Oral modifications are risky; document all change orders with dates and signatures to preserve enforceability.
What supporting documents should accompany the agreement?
Include exhibits for specs, SOWs, IP assignment schedules, third-party license lists, security and privacy addenda, and any BAA if handling PHI.
How long should I keep the signed agreement?
Retain the signed contract for the active term plus at least three years; follow IRS guidance (IRC §6501(a)) and HIPAA retention where applicable (45 CFR §164.530(j)).

be ready to get more

Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users

Sign Now