Can the contract be signed electronically?

Yes. Under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and most state UETA laws, electronic signatures are legally binding if intent, consent, attribution, and record retention can be demonstrated.

When is notarization required?

Most commercial onboarding contracts do not require notarization, but specific attachments (deeds, powers of attorney) or state rules may. Verify with counsel for documents needing formal acknowledgment.

What makes an e-signature invalid?

Lack of signer intent, absence of consent to electronic records, failure to attribute the action to a person, or inability to reproduce the record can impair enforceability.

How do I correct an error after signing?

If a material error exists, execute an amendment or corrective agreement signed by all parties; striking or altering an executed copy without agreement can create disputes.

Who must retain the executed copy and for how long?

All parties should retain an executed copy according to applicable retention rules—at minimum three years for tax purposes and longer for industry-specific rules such as HIPAA.

Is additional authentication required for high-risk contracts?

Consider stronger signer authentication (SMS OTP, knowledge-based questions, or SSO) for high-value or regulated contracts to increase attribution and reduce repudiation risk.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Project Management
Project Management Onboard Contract

Project Management Onboard Contract

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

Project Management Onboard Contract

Project Identification

Project Title:

Project ID Client Name Client Contact (name, title) Service Provider Project Manager (Provider)

Effective Date:

Recitals

This Agreement sets forth the terms under which Service Provider will perform project management services for Client for the Project identified above. Client and Service Provider agree to be bound by the terms, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

Scope of Work

Detailed Scope (deliverables, tasks, responsibilities) Out of Scope

Deliverables and Acceptance

Deliverables shall be delivered in accordance with the descriptions and acceptance criteria set forth below. Acceptance shall be deemed to occur upon Client's written approval or, failing that, upon expiration of the acceptance testing period without material rejection.

Deliverable 1 Description Acceptance Criteria 1 Due Date 1 Deliverable 2 Description Acceptance Criteria 2 Due Date 2

Timeline & Milestones

Project Start Date Project End Date (estimated) Milestone 1 Milestone 1 Date Milestone 2 Milestone 2 Date

Budget, Fees & Payment

Total Contract Price: $

Payment Schedule / Milestones Invoice Terms

Reimbursable Expenses: Service Provider will be reimbursed for pre-approved, documented expenses in accordance with the payment schedule and upon submission of supporting receipts.

Change Order Procedure

Any amendment to the Scope of Work or deliverables shall be performed only pursuant to a written Change Order executed by authorized representatives of both parties. The Change Order will describe the change, impact on schedule, and additional cost. Service Provider will not proceed with out-of-scope work without a fully executed Change Order.

Change Order Authorization (procedure summary)

Confidentiality

Each party shall treat as Confidential Information all non-public business information disclosed by the other party in connection with this Agreement. Confidential Information shall not be used or disclosed except as necessary to perform the obligations of this Agreement or as required by law. Confidentiality obligations shall survive termination of this Agreement for a period of three (3) years.

Intellectual Property

Ownership of intellectual property created specifically for the Client under this Agreement shall be as follows: upon full payment of all amounts due, Service Provider assigns to Client all deliverable-specific work product rights necessary for Client's use. Service Provider retains ownership of pre-existing materials and underlying methodologies, provided Client is granted a perpetual, non-exclusive license to use such materials as incorporated in the deliverables.

Termination

Either party may terminate this Agreement for convenience by providing written notice to the other party at least days prior to termination. Upon termination, Client will pay Service Provider for work performed and non-cancellable obligations incurred up to the effective date of termination.

Limitation of Liability & Indemnity

Except for wilful misconduct or gross negligence, neither party shall be liable to the other for consequential, incidental, special, or punitive damages. Each party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the other from third-party claims arising from its negligent acts, breaches of this Agreement, or willful misconduct.

Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of . Parties shall attempt to resolve disputes in good faith and agree that unresolved disputes may be submitted to binding arbitration before a mutually agreed forum.

Notices

Client Notice Address Service Provider Notice Address

Representations & Warranties

Each party represents and warrants that it has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement, and that performance of its obligations will not violate any agreement with a third party.

Acceptance of Terms

By signing below, the undersigned represent that they are authorized representatives of the respective parties and that the parties accept the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

Client - Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Service Provider - Printed Name:

By:

Date:

What the Project Management Onboard Contract covers

A Project Management Onboard Contract is a written agreement that sets out the scope, responsibilities, milestones, deliverables, fees, payment terms, acceptance criteria, change control, intellectual property allocations, insurance requirements, and termination rights for onboarding a project manager or project management vendor. In the U.S. this agreement can be executed electronically consistent with the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA statutes where adopted, provided the parties demonstrate signing intent, consent to electronic records, attribution, and durable retention. The contract often attaches a Statement of Work and pricing schedule as exhibits.

Why a clear onboarding contract matters

A well-drafted onboarding contract reduces scope confusion, shortens ramp time, defines payment triggers, preserves IP rights, and creates enforceable commitments. Clear terms lower dispute risk and provide measurable milestones for project governance while supporting electronic execution under federal and state e-signature laws.

Typical parties who complete this contract

The contract is used by internal teams, external providers, and contract administrators during the onboarding process.

Project management offices and internal project managers coordinating deliverables and governance.
Independent consultants, staffing agencies, and third-party vendors providing project management services.
Client procurement, legal, and finance teams responsible for approval, payment, and record retention.

Each signer’s role determines required fields, authentication strength, and who must retain the executed copy.

Essential elements to include in the contract

The contract should combine operational detail and legal protections so responsibilities, timeframes, and remedies are unambiguous for all parties.

Scope of Work

Describe tasks, deliverables, acceptance criteria, and exclusions in precise terms so both parties share a common definition of success and deliverable formats.

Deliverables & Milestones

Set milestone dates, deliverable descriptions, review periods, and acceptance procedures; tie payment triggers to completed and accepted milestones to reduce disputes.

Fees & Payment

Specify fees, invoicing cadence, payment terms, late fees, expense reimbursement, and any retainers or milestone payments to ensure clarity for accounting teams.

Change Orders

Include a change-control process detailing how scope changes are proposed, priced, approved, and how schedule impacts are handled.

Confidentiality & IP

Allocate ownership of deliverables, define permitted uses, and include confidentiality obligations and any required HIPAA or data-protection language.

Termination & Remedies

State termination rights, notice periods, cure windows, post-termination deliverables, and liability caps or indemnities where appropriate.

Critical fields to capture on the first page

Parties: Full legal names

Effective Date: MM/DD/YYYY

Scope: One-line summary

Payment Terms: Net terms, currency

Signatures: Printed name and date

Attachments: SOW, schedule, pricing

Step-by-step: completing the onboarding contract

Follow these steps in order to prepare, review, sign, and distribute the completed contract.

01

Prepare document: Attach SOW, schedule, pricing, and insurance certificates.
02

Complete fields: Fill parties, dates, fees, and milestones using MM/DD/YYYY for dates.
03

Review and approve: Legal and finance review for obligations and payment terms.
04

Execute electronically: Use a compliant eSignature solution and retain the audit trail.

Configuring the online signing workflow

Set up a workflow that defines who signs, in what order, and what authentication is required.

Field	Configuration
Upload document	PDF or DOCX accepted
Place signature fields	Assign to each signer
Signer order	Sequential or parallel
Authentication	Email link, SMS code, or KBA

Where to send and store the executed contract

Routing and storage paths protect continuity and make the contract available to stakeholders and auditors.

Send to signers: Distribute via secure eSignature link or authenticated email.
Deliver executed copy: All parties receive PDF with audit trail.
Notify finance: Trigger invoicing or payment workflows upon acceptance.
Archive record: Store in project repository or contract management system.

Digital signing and system integration considerations

Confirm the platform supports required file formats, signer authentication, and enterprise integrations before sending.

Document formats: PDF, DOCX, or HTML
Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace
Authentication: Email, SMS, or stronger methods

Common contract timelines and response windows

Typical onboarding contracts use defined timeboxes for kickoff, deliverables, reviews, and payments to keep projects on schedule.

Effective Date:

Contract starts on the Effective Date (MM/DD/YYYY).

Kickoff:

Kickoff meeting within 10 business days of execution.

Initial Plan Delivery:

Draft project plan due within 15 calendar days.

Review Periods:

Stakeholders have 5 business days to review deliverables.

Payment Terms:

Invoice payment typically due within 30 days net.

Key milestones from signature to acceptance

A concise milestone sequence clarifies expectations and triggers downstream actions like billing and resource allocation.

01

Contract Execution

Signed agreement executed and stored; triggers project scheduling.

02

Project Kickoff

Initial planning, resource assignments, and stakeholder introductions.

03

Interim Review

Scheduled status review and corrective actions if required.

04

Final Acceptance

Client acceptance, final invoice, and closeout deliverables.

Common mistakes to avoid when preparing the contract

Vague scope language that leaves deliverables or acceptance criteria open to interpretation and dispute.
Mismatched party names or missing corporate suffixes that hinder payment or enforcement actions.
Inconsistent or conflicting dates between SOW, pricing exhibit, and signature page leading to ambiguity.
Unclear payment triggers or missing invoicing instructions that delay finance processing and collections.

Key risks and consequences of contract errors

Late Payments: Late fees, collections, and strained vendor relations

Scope Creep: Unbilled work and disputes over additional deliverables

Invalid Signature: Enforceability challenges if intent or attribution unclear

Data Breach: Regulatory exposure, especially for HIPAA-protected data

Missing Insurance: Liability exposure if required coverage omitted

Improper Jurisdiction: Unexpected forum and law governing disputes

Typical eSignature platform price and capability snapshot

Compare starting price and common capabilities for eSignature platforms used to execute onboarding contracts; signNow is listed first per comparison conventions.

	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, no card	Varies by vendor	Varies by plan	Free trial available	Free trial available
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Frequently asked questions about execution and validity

Answers to common execution, enforceability, and post-signature issues for onboarding contracts.

Need help? Contact support

Can the contract be signed electronically?
Yes. Under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and most state UETA laws, electronic signatures are legally binding if intent, consent, attribution, and record retention can be demonstrated.
When is notarization required?
Most commercial onboarding contracts do not require notarization, but specific attachments (deeds, powers of attorney) or state rules may. Verify with counsel for documents needing formal acknowledgment.
What makes an e-signature invalid?
Lack of signer intent, absence of consent to electronic records, failure to attribute the action to a person, or inability to reproduce the record can impair enforceability.
How do I correct an error after signing?
If a material error exists, execute an amendment or corrective agreement signed by all parties; striking or altering an executed copy without agreement can create disputes.
Who must retain the executed copy and for how long?
All parties should retain an executed copy according to applicable retention rules—at minimum three years for tax purposes and longer for industry-specific rules such as HIPAA.
Is additional authentication required for high-risk contracts?
Consider stronger signer authentication (SMS OTP, knowledge-based questions, or SSO) for high-value or regulated contracts to increase attribution and reduce repudiation risk.

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