Can this agreement be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA statutes. Ensure intent, consent, attribution, and durable record retention to satisfy legal tests for electronic signatures.

Is notarization required for validity?

Most retail management agreements do not require notarization for validity, but certain local recording or financing conditions may require a notarized acknowledgment. Check state or lender requirements before execution.

What signer authentication is sufficient?

Email and access-code authentication often suffice for commercial agreements; use stronger methods (SMS, KBA, or advanced authentication) where higher assurance is needed or required by policy.

How should executed documents be stored?

Store signed originals and audit trails in a secure records system with encryption and access controls. Retain copies per retention schedules and make them accessible for audits or disputes.

How do I amend or update the agreement?

Use a written amendment signed by all parties. Document the effective date and purpose of the amendment and attach it to the original agreement to preserve continuity.

Who should review the agreement before signing?

Have legal counsel and finance review high‑risk clauses, fee calculations, indemnities, and insurance requirements. For significant capital or lease changes, involve lender or investor compliance teams.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Retail Management Agreement

Retail Management Agreement

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

RETAIL MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

This Retail Management Agreement (Agreement) is made effective as of between the parties identified below.

Parties

Retailer Name Retailer Address Manager Name Manager Address

Entity Type: Corporation LLC Individual

WHEREAS

WHEREAS, Retailer owns and operates a retail location and desires to engage Manager to manage day-to-day retail operations, inventory control, staffing, merchandising and related services on the terms set forth herein.

WHEREAS, Manager has experience and expertise in retail operations and agrees to provide management services for the Retailer in accordance with this Agreement and applicable law.

WHEREAS, the parties desire to set forth their respective rights and obligations regarding the management of the retail operation.

Scope of Work

Manager shall perform the retail management services described below and any additional duties as agreed in writing by the parties. Manager shall perform services in a commercially reasonable manner and in accordance with industry standards.

Detailed Scope of Services

Payment Terms

In consideration for the management services, Retailer shall pay Manager as follows.

Management Fee (fixed or percentage) Payment Schedule Late Payment Charge

All fees are exclusive of sales, use, value-added or other transactional taxes for which Retailer shall be responsible. Manager shall submit written invoices describing services rendered and any reimbursable expenses.

Term and Termination

Term: This Agreement shall commence on and shall continue until unless earlier terminated as provided herein.

Either party may terminate this Agreement for convenience upon written notice to the other party not less than days prior to the effective date of termination.

Either party may terminate immediately for cause if the other party breaches any material obligation under this Agreement and fails to cure such breach within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice specifying the breach.

Post-Termination Responsibilities

Confidentiality

Each party acknowledges that during the term it will have access to confidential and proprietary information of the other party. Confidential Information includes, without limitation, customer lists, pricing, sales data, product formulas, business plans and other non-public business information. Each party agrees:

(a) to hold Confidential Information in strict confidence and not to disclose such information to any third party except as required for performance of this Agreement; (b) to use Confidential Information solely for the purpose of performing obligations under this Agreement; and (c) to take reasonable steps to prevent unauthorized disclosure or use of Confidential Information. Confidentiality obligations survive termination for a period of three (3) years, except for trade secrets which remain protected for as long as applicable law requires.

Insurance and Indemnity

Manager shall maintain commercial general liability insurance, workers' compensation and other insurances as required by law and appropriate for the performance of services. Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Retailer from and against claims, losses, liabilities and expenses arising out of Manager's gross negligence or willful misconduct in performing services under this Agreement.

Limitation of Liability

Except for liability arising from willful misconduct or gross negligence, neither party shall be liable for consequential, incidental, special or punitive damages. Aggregate liability of each party for claims arising out of this Agreement shall be limited to the fees paid or payable to Manager under this Agreement during the six (6) month period preceding the event giving rise to the claim.

Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of without regard to principles of conflicts of law.

Entire Agreement; Amendments

This Agreement, including all schedules and exhibits attached hereto, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, representations and understandings. Any amendment or modification must be in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties.

Notices

Notices shall be in writing and delivered to the addresses listed above by personal delivery, certified mail (return receipt requested), or nationally recognized overnight courier and shall be deemed given upon receipt.

Miscellaneous

If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. The parties are independent contractors and nothing in this Agreement creates a partnership, joint venture, or employer-employee relationship.

Retailer (Print Name):

By:

Date:

Manager (Print Name):

By:

Date:

What a Retail Management Agreement is and when it applies

A Retail Management Agreement is a written contract that assigns responsibility for operating, leasing, or maintaining retail property to a third-party manager or management company. It typically identifies the owner and manager, scope of services (leasing, tenant relations, facility maintenance, marketing), term and renewal provisions, compensation and expense reimbursement, insurance and indemnity obligations, reporting and audit rights, and termination rights. The agreement clarifies fiduciary duties, performance metrics such as occupancy targets, and remedies for breach so parties can avoid ambiguity about operational authority and financial flows.

Why a clear agreement matters for owners and managers

A professional Retail Management Agreement allocates operational obligations, reduces disputes over rent and repairs, and establishes measurable performance standards. It protects owner investment while defining manager authority over vendors, tenant screening, and lease enforcement under contract law and industry practice.

Who typically prepares and signs this agreement

Typical users include property owners, retail portfolio managers, and third-party management firms responsible for multiple retail locations.

Commercial landlords and REITs who need consistent property oversight across retail assets.
Third-party property management firms contracted to run leasing, maintenance, and tenant services.
Retail operators or franchisees who require property-level management as part of a lease or service relationship.

The agreement also matters to lenders, investors, and leasing brokers who rely on clear delegation of management rights and financial reporting.

Representative signers and their priorities

Property Owner

Owners prioritize revenue protection, limits on manager authority, clear audit and reporting rights, and indemnity provisions. Their concern is ensuring managers act in the owner's economic interest and preserve asset value through defined performance measures.

Property Manager

Managers seek defined scope, predictable compensation, approval thresholds for capital expenses, and standardized dispute resolution. They need practical operational authority to hire vendors, collect rent, and enforce lease terms while limiting personal liability.

Core clauses every Retail Management Agreement should include

A robust agreement balances operational detail with flexibility; include clauses that define duties, payment, limits of authority, and exit mechanics to reduce downstream disputes and clarify expectations.

Parties

Identify the legal owner entity and the management company, including full legal names, business entity types, principal addresses, and authority of signatories to bind each party.

Scope of Services

List specific management duties: leasing, rent collection, repairs, vendor procurement, tenant relations, marketing, and reporting cadence. Attach exhibits for service-level standards and excluded responsibilities.

Compensation

State base management fees (percentage or fixed), incentive fees, reimbursement of expenses, timing of payments, and accounting procedures for reconciliations and reserves.

Term & Renewal

Define initial term, automatic renewal conditions, required notice for non-renewal, and early termination rights including cure periods and termination costs.

Liability & Insurance

Allocate indemnities, liability caps, and insurance minimums (general liability, property, workers' comp). Specify proof of coverage and additional insured requirements.

Termination & Handover

Define termination for cause and convenience, required handover deliverables, transfer of tenant files, final accounting, and timeline for returning keys and records.

Step-by-step: completing a Retail Management Agreement

Follow these sequential steps to complete the agreement accurately and reduce negotiation friction.

01

Prepare draft: Populate parties, scope, fees, and exhibits for review.
02

Internal review: Legal and finance review terms and approval thresholds.
03

Negotiate terms: Address liability, termination, and operational limits.
04

Execute: All parties sign, date, and exchange executed copies.

How to set up the digital signing workflow

Configure a signing workflow that captures intent, consent, and an audit trail to preserve enforceability under ESIGN and UETA.

Field	Configuration
Signature Order	Sequential or parallel signing by parties
Authentication Level	Email link, SMS code, or stronger KBA
Conditional Fields	Show or hide fields based on earlier responses
Notifications	Set reminders and completion alerts

Where to send the signed agreement and related deliverables

After execution distribute certified copies to stakeholders and retain originals in your records system for audit and compliance purposes.

Owner File: Send executed copy to owner's legal and accounting teams
Manager File: Manager retains original and tenant records
Lender / Investor: Provide copy if required by loan covenants
Local Recorder: Record only if lease requires or local law mandates

Technical and file-format considerations for digital completion

Use platforms that produce tamper-evident signed PDFs, capture an audit trail, and support common integrations used by property teams.

File formats: PDF, DOCX supported
Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace
Security: TLS in transit; AES-256 at rest

Common timing provisions and notice periods to include

Specify precise deadlines for renewal notices, payment schedules, reporting intervals, and cure periods to avoid disputes over timing.

Renewal Notice:

Owner or manager must give 60–90 days written notice

Fee Payment:

Monthly fees due within 30 days of invoice date

Performance Reports:

Manager provides monthly financial and leasing reports

Cure Period:

Typical cure periods range 10–30 days for breaches

Final Accounting:

Deliver within 30–60 days after termination

Common mistakes to avoid when preparing the agreement

Vague scope language that omits routine vendor procurement procedures and approval thresholds, leading to disputes over expense reimbursement.
Undefined fee calculations or omitted timing for reconciliations, creating cash-flow mismatches and audit issues for owners and managers.
Failure to specify handover deliverables on termination, which can delay final accounting and retrieval of tenant documents.
Overlooking local lease recording or landlord licensing requirements that may trigger fines or invalidate certain lease assignments.

Potential risks and consequences of an incomplete or incorrect agreement

Breach exposure: Manager or owner may face contractual damages

Financial loss: Missed rent or incorrect reimbursements

Regulatory fines: Local licensing or disclosure violations

Insurance gaps: Invalidated claims for missing coverage

Tenant disputes: Unclear collection authority increases litigation risk

Recordkeeping failures: Loss of audit trail or evidence

Comparison: signNow and common eSignature providers for agreement execution

Pricing and feature availability vary; the table summarizes typical starting prices and basic capabilities to consider when choosing an eSignature provider.

	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	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Real-world examples of document use and outcomes

These customer stories illustrate how digital execution and integrated workflows reduce friction and maintain compliance for property documents.

Martin Properties — Founder

Martin Properties needed remote execution across multiple sites to meet closing schedules.

The team used online signing to finalize management contracts quickly.
I can process and execute all of these documents online with 100% compliance and built-in security. Whether on mobile or working offline, I can get forms back to their necessary parties efficiently.

Tech Data — CEO

Tech Data standardized contract workflows across internal teams and partners.

Centralized templates reduced review cycles.
Tech Data uses airSlate SignNow to improve our internal and external customer service while increasing our speed to revenue.

Practical tips for accurate and efficient completion

Adopt consistent templates, assign internal reviewers, and preserve a signed record with an audit trail to reduce disputes and support audits.

Standardize templates

Use a single master template with optional exhibit inserts to accelerate negotiations while ensuring consistent liability and insurance language across properties.

Define approval limits

Set clear dollar thresholds for manager spending to avoid emergency owner approvals and to speed vendor engagement for maintenance tasks.

Preserve audit trails

Capture signer identity, timestamps, IP addresses, and consent records to support enforceability and regulatory inquiries.

Schedule regular reviews

Review agreements annually or upon material changes to local law, insurance markets, or lender requirements to ensure continued compliance.

Answers to common questions about Retail Management Agreements

Below are frequently asked questions about signing, notarization, storage, and legal validity when using electronic or hybrid execution methods.

Need help? Contact support

Can this agreement be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA statutes. Ensure intent, consent, attribution, and durable record retention to satisfy legal tests for electronic signatures.
Is notarization required for validity?
Most retail management agreements do not require notarization for validity, but certain local recording or financing conditions may require a notarized acknowledgment. Check state or lender requirements before execution.
What signer authentication is sufficient?
Email and access-code authentication often suffice for commercial agreements; use stronger methods (SMS, KBA, or advanced authentication) where higher assurance is needed or required by policy.
How should executed documents be stored?
Store signed originals and audit trails in a secure records system with encryption and access controls. Retain copies per retention schedules and make them accessible for audits or disputes.
How do I amend or update the agreement?
Use a written amendment signed by all parties. Document the effective date and purpose of the amendment and attach it to the original agreement to preserve continuity.
Who should review the agreement before signing?
Have legal counsel and finance review high‑risk clauses, fee calculations, indemnities, and insurance requirements. For significant capital or lease changes, involve lender or investor compliance teams.

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