Can I use an electronic signature?

Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted. Ensure intent, consent, attribution, and record retention are documented to strengthen enforceability.

Do consumer agreements need extra disclosures?

Yes. Consumer-facing agreements that move to electronic records require ESIGN consumer disclosure language showing the consumer can access the record and can withdraw consent, per 15 U.S.C. §7001(c).

When is notarization required?

Notarization depends on the document type and state law. Real estate deeds, some affidavits, and certain POAs often require notarization; check the state notary commission or Secretary of State guidance.

How long should we retain signed agreements?

Retain executed agreements for the contract term plus an appropriate post-termination period; follow federal baselines such as IRS minimums (3 years, IRC §6501(a)) and HIPAA (6 years, 45 CFR §164.530(j)).

What authentication level is recommended?

Use email or SMS for low-risk sales agreements; require stronger authentication (SSO, KBA, or multi-factor) when handling regulated data or high-value transactions to reduce fraud risk.

How to handle amendments or change orders?

Document amendments in writing, reference the original agreement, and obtain signatures from authorized signatories. Maintain a single combined executed record to prevent ambiguity.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Sales
Sales Client Start Agreement

Sales Client Start Agreement

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

Sales Client Start Agreement

Parties and Contact Information

Seller (Company) Seller Billing Address Primary Seller Contact Client (Buyer) Client Billing Address Primary Client Contact

Recital

This Sales Client Start Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into between Seller and Client and is effective as of . Seller shall provide the goods and/or services described below, and Client agrees to purchase under the terms set forth herein.

Scope of Goods and Services

Seller will supply the products and/or services listed in the order table below. Any changes to quantities, specifications, or delivery schedule require written acceptance by both parties prior to fulfillment.

Order Summary

Item	Description	Quantity	Unit Price	Total

Subtotal Tax (rate) Tax Amount Shipping & Handling Total Amount Due

Payment Terms

Payment is due as specified below. If payment is not received by the due date, late fees apply as described herein and Seller may suspend deliveries or terminate the Agreement under Section Termination.

Payment Due (net) Accepted Payment Methods Credit Card Bank Transfer (ACH/Wire) Check Other Late Payment Penalty

Delivery and Risk of Loss

Delivery is to occur by via the selected shipping method. Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to meet delivery dates. Risk of loss passes to Client upon unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Shipping Method

Warranty

Seller warrants that goods will conform to the specifications listed in this Agreement and will be free from material defects in workmanship and materials for the warranty period set forth below. Remedies are limited to repair or replacement at Seller's option in accordance with the exclusions described.

Warranty Duration Warranty Coverage (scope) Warranty Exclusions

Returns and Refunds

Returns require prior written authorization from Seller. Returned goods must be in original packaging unless otherwise approved. Refunds, if any, will be issued in accordance with Seller's inspection and restocking policy described below.

Limitation of Liability

Except for liability arising from willful misconduct or gross negligence, each party's aggregate liability for any claim arising under this Agreement shall not exceed the lesser of the total amounts paid by Client to Seller under this Agreement or . In no event shall either party be liable for consequential, incidental, or punitive damages.

Termination

Either party may terminate this Agreement for material breach by the other party if the breach remains uncured after days' written notice. Termination does not relieve Client of payment obligations for goods delivered or services performed prior to termination.

Force Majeure

Neither party shall be liable for delay or nonperformance to the extent caused by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, acts of government, strikes, or supply interruptions. Affected obligations will be suspended for the duration of the force majeure event.

Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction selected below without regard to conflict of laws principles. The parties shall first attempt to resolve disputes in good faith and, if unresolved, submit to binding arbitration or the courts as selected below.

Governing Law (State or Jurisdiction)

Notices

All notices, requests, consents, claims, demands and other communications hereunder must be in writing and addressed to the parties at the addresses set forth below or to such other address that a party may designate by notice to the other party.

Seller Notice Address Client Notice Address

Acceptance

By signing below, the parties acknowledge and agree that they have read and accepted the terms and conditions of this Agreement and authorize the Seller to proceed with fulfillment as specified.

Seller:

By:

Date:

Client:

By:

Date:

What the Sales Client Start Agreement Is

The Sales Client Start Agreement is a formal written contract that records the initial terms between a vendor and a client for sales engagement, scope, pricing, and responsibilities. It establishes the parties, effective date, services or goods to be supplied, payment terms, and basic dispute-resolution mechanics. For many businesses this agreement functions as the operational starting point for onboarding, order acceptance, or project initiation and is often paired with schedules, exhibits, and signature blocks that bind the parties to the stated obligations.

Why a Clear Start Agreement Matters

A precise Sales Client Start Agreement reduces ambiguity about deliverables, timelines, and payment, which lowers the risk of disputes and accelerates project kickoff.

Who Typically Prepares and Signs This Agreement

Clear role definitions in the agreement streamline approvals and reduce handoff delays during client onboarding.

Sales representatives and account executives who negotiate commercial terms and need a documented commitment.
Operations or project managers who use the agreement to scope deliveries and schedule resources.
Corporate or external legal counsel who review liability, indemnity, and governing-law provisions.

Step-by-Step: How to Complete the Agreement

Follow these steps to prepare and finalize the Sales Client Start Agreement efficiently and with fewer errors.

01

Gather Documents: Collect proposal, SOW, pricing sheet, and client contact details.
02

Draft Core Terms: Fill effective date, parties, scope, and payment terms.
03

Review and Approve: Route to legal and finance for approval and compliance checks.
04

Execute and Distribute: Obtain signatures, distribute copies, and store final executed agreement.

How to Configure an Online Completion Workflow

Set up an online workflow to reduce friction: designate fields, assign signers, and choose authentication levels before sending.

Field	Configuration
Signer Order	Sequential or parallel routing per internal policy
Authentication	Email link, SMS code, or knowledge-based options
Reminders	Auto-reminders and deadline nudges for pending signers
Final Delivery	Automatic PDF and audit trail distribution

Digital Signing Workflow Overview

A typical e-signature workflow moves the agreement from upload to signed record while preserving evidence for enforceability.

Upload Document: Prepare final draft and upload to signing platform.
Place Fields: Add signature, date, and initial fields as required.
Send to Signers: Deliver by email link or shared signing URL.
Capture Audit Trail: System records IP, timestamps, and actions.

Platforms and Technical Considerations for eSigning

Confirm the platform provides audit trails, retention controls, and export options for legal and recordkeeping requirements.

File Formats: PDF, DOCX, and native form support
Integrations: CRM and cloud-storage connectors
Authentication: Email, SMS, SSO, or KBA available

Essential Sections Every Professional Agreement Should Include

An organized Sales Client Start Agreement reduces disputes and supports billing, delivery, and legal compliance when executed correctly.

Parties

Clearly identify each legal entity, including corporate suffixes and business addresses, to avoid ambiguity about who is bound.

Scope

Define deliverables, acceptance criteria, change-order procedure, and attached exhibits to control expectations and change management.

Payment

State pricing, invoicing schedule, taxes, reimbursements, and consequences for late payment, including any retainers or deposits.

Term and Termination

Specify start/end dates, renewal mechanics, and termination rights for convenience or material breach.

Liability and Indemnity

Limitations of liability, exclusions, and indemnity scope should align with risk appetite and procurement requirements.

Governing Law

Name the state law that will interpret the agreement and the venue for disputes to reduce forum uncertainty.

Supporting Documents Commonly Attached

Attach standard exhibits and ancillary documents so the agreement is self-contained and ready for execution.

Statement of Work

Detailed delivery schedule, milestones, acceptance criteria, and service levels that operational teams will follow.

Pricing Exhibit

Line-item pricing, quantities, discounts, and billing schedule required for correct invoicing and accounting.

Data Processing Addendum

Required if personal data will be processed; addresses security, subprocessor rules, and breach notification obligations.

Change Order Template

Standard form to document scope changes, adjusted pricing, and revised timelines without creating separate untracked documents.

Key Dates and Typical Deadlines to Track

Monitor effective dates, signature deadlines, milestone acceptance dates, and payment due dates to avoid disputes or late fees.

Effective Date:

Date when obligations begin; affects performance and notice timing.

Signature Deadline:

Specify how long the offer remains open to avoid ambiguous acceptance windows.

Milestone Acceptance:

Client review windows for deliverables, e.g., 7–30 days per milestone if agreed.

Payment Due:

Net terms such as Net 30 define when invoices become delinquent.

Warranty Period:

Timeframe for remedying defects after acceptance, often 30–365 days depending on deliverable type.

Major Processing Milestones from Draft to Execution

Track these sequential milestones to measure progress and trigger handoffs during the onboarding flow.

01

Draft Complete

Final internal draft ready for legal review.

02

Internal Approval

Sign-off from sales, finance, and legal obtained.

03

Sent to Client

Document delivered to the client for signature.

04

Fully Executed

All signatures collected and copies distributed.

Common Preparation Errors to Avoid

Leaving party names or corporate identifiers incomplete, which can invalidate enforcement or complicate invoice processing.
Using vague scope language like 'work as needed' without measurable deliverables or acceptance criteria to resolve disputes.
Failing to specify payment currency, tax responsibilities, or invoice recipient, which can delay payments and collections.
Not confirming signer authority or omitting an authorized signatory line, leading to later claims of lack of authority.

Risks and Consequences of an Incorrect Agreement

Enforceability Risk: Ambiguous terms reduce enforceability in disputes

Payment Delays: Missing payment details can trigger invoicing disputes

Scope Creep: Vague scope leads to unplanned work and disputes

Regulatory Noncompliance: Failing privacy or data clauses can breach HIPAA or other rules

Signature Challenges: Improper signer authorization can void the agreement

Retention Failures: Insufficient recordkeeping risks regulatory penalties

Security and Compliance Considerations

In-Transit Encryption: TLS 1.2 / 1.3

At-Rest Encryption: AES-256

Audit Trail: Immutable timestamp and action log

HIPAA Options: BAA required for PHI

Regulatory Standards: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001 available

Accessibility: WCAG 2.0 Level AA compliance

eSignature Vendor Pricing and Feature Snapshot

Compare base pricing and core capabilities for common eSignature vendors. signNow appears first to reflect the vendor ordering used on this page.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo; no envelope cap	$15/user/mo; 100 envelopes/user/year cap	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial (no card)	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan
Bulk Send	Available (Business Premium)	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes (BAA)	Yes	Yes	No	No

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions about preparing, signing, and storing a Sales Client Start Agreement, with compliance-focused guidance.

Need help? Contact support

Can I use an electronic signature?
Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted. Ensure intent, consent, attribution, and record retention are documented to strengthen enforceability.
Do consumer agreements need extra disclosures?
Yes. Consumer-facing agreements that move to electronic records require ESIGN consumer disclosure language showing the consumer can access the record and can withdraw consent, per 15 U.S.C. §7001(c).
When is notarization required?
Notarization depends on the document type and state law. Real estate deeds, some affidavits, and certain POAs often require notarization; check the state notary commission or Secretary of State guidance.
How long should we retain signed agreements?
Retain executed agreements for the contract term plus an appropriate post-termination period; follow federal baselines such as IRS minimums (3 years, IRC §6501(a)) and HIPAA (6 years, 45 CFR §164.530(j)).
What authentication level is recommended?
Use email or SMS for low-risk sales agreements; require stronger authentication (SSO, KBA, or multi-factor) when handling regulated data or high-value transactions to reduce fraud risk.
How to handle amendments or change orders?
Document amendments in writing, reference the original agreement, and obtain signatures from authorized signatories. Maintain a single combined executed record to prevent ambiguity.

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