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Sole Proprietorship Form

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AGREEMENT FOR SALE OF BUSINESS
SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP

THIS AGREEMENT MADE on the date executed, between hereinafter “Seller”, and, hereinafter, “Buyer”.

The parties recite and declare:

FIRST, Seller now owns and conducts a business known as located at , City of , County of , State of .

SECOND, Seller desires to sell and Buyer desires to buy such business for the price and on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

FOR THE REASONS set forth above, and in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises of the parties hereto, Seller and Buyer covenant and agree:

1. Sale of Business. Seller agrees to sell and Buyer agrees to purchase, free from all liabilities and encumbrances, the above-described business, including the lease to such premises, the goodwill of the business as a going concern, all of Seller's rights under its contracts, licenses, and agreements, and all assets and property owned and used by Seller in such business as specified in Exhibit A, other than property specifically excluded. This sale does not include the cash on hand or in banks at the date of closing or such other property as is listed in Exhibit B.

2. Consideration. In consideration for the transfer of the above-described business from Seller to Buyer, Buyer shall pay to Seller the sum of dollars, which Seller shall accept from Buyer in full payment therefore, subject to the terms and conditions herein contained.

3. Allocation of Purchase Price. The purchase price shall be allocated to the various assets of the business as follows:

(a) The premises at .

(b) Equipment, furniture, and fixtures

(c) Goodwill

(d) Stock in trade on premises or to be delivered prior to closing day.

(e) Notes and accounts receivable

(f) Outstanding contracts

Total .

4. Terms of payment. The purchase price shall be paid by Buyer to Seller by one of the two following methods as follows: [check the box for the method to be used]

$ in cash at closing, and the balance of $ paid with interest of % per annum until paid, in monthly installments of $ dollars per month with the first payment being due on the day of , 20__ and a like payment due on the same day of each month thereafter until paid.

Buyer will execute a promissory note at closing to Seller.

-OR-

The sum of $ on the signing of this contract, to be held by Seller's attorney as escrow agent until the closing of this sale, and to be paid by the escrow agent to Seller at the closing; the balance of $ , in cash or by certified check, shall be paid to Seller at the time of closing.

5. Adjustments at Closing. Adjustments shall be made at the time of closing for all operating expenses including, but not limited to, rent, insurance premiums, utility charges, payroll, and payroll taxes.

6. Time of Closing. The closing shall take place at the office , at , on , at o'clock __.m. Upon payment of the portion of the purchase price then due to Seller, Seller shall deliver to Buyer such instruments of transfer as are necessary to transfer to Buyer the business and property referred to herein. Such instruments of transfer shall effectively transfer to Buyer full title to the business and property free of all liens and encumbrances.

7. Covenant Not to Compete. Seller shall not engage in a business similar to that involved in this transaction in any capacity, directly or indirectly, within for a period of years from the date of closing or so long as Buyer or his successors carry on a like business, whichever first occurs. For purposes of this Agreement, "business similar to that involved in this transaction" includes within its scope

8. Representations of Seller. Seller represents and warrants that:

(a) He is duly qualified under the laws of the State of to carry on the business as now owned and operated.

(b) He is the owner of and has good and marketable title to the property involved in this sale, free of all restrictions on transfer or assignment and all encumbrances except for those disclosed in Exhibit C.

(c) No proceedings, judgments, or liens are now pending or threatened against him or against the business.

(d) Seller has complied with, and is not in violation of, all applicable federal, state, and local statutes, laws, and regulations affecting Seller's properties or the operation of Seller's business.

(e) He will, up to the date of closing, operate his business in the usual and ordinary manner and will not enter into any contract except as may be required in the regular course of business.

9. Risk of Loss by Fire. Seller assumes all risk of destruction, loss, or damage by fire prior to the closing of this transaction. If any such destruction, loss, or damage amounts to more than $ , Buyer may at his option terminate this Agreement. In such an event, the escrow agent shall forthwith pay to Buyer the purchase money held by him, and the escrow agent shall be discharged from all liability therefore.

10. Assumption of Liabilities. Buyer agrees to assume those contracts listed in the attached schedule of property, Exhibit A, and those liabilities that arise in the ordinary course of Seller's business after the signing of this Agreement but before closing. Buyer shall not be liable for any of the obligations or liabilities of Seller of any kind and nature other than those specifically mentioned herein. Buyer will indemnify Seller against any and all liability under the contracts and obligations assumed hereunder, provided that Seller is not in default under any of such contracts or obligations at the date of closing.

11. Modification. No alteration or other modification of this Agreement shall be effective unless such modification shall be in writing and signed by the parties.

12. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and assigns.

13. Governing Law and Fees: This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of . In the event there is an action to enforce the terms of this agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the other party attorney fees and costs.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement at .

Seller

Buyer

Attachments:

Exhibit A: Schedule of Assets Included

Exhibit B: Schedule of Assets Excluded

Exhibit C: Schedule of Encumbrances

PROMISSORY NOTE

$ County,
Date: , 20____

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, promises to pay to the order of whose address is (or at such other place as the holder hereof may designate), the sum of ($), together with interest of percent per annum, payable as follows:

Payable in monthly installments of per month, with the first payment being due on the day of , 20___ and a like payment on the same day of each month thereafter until fully paid.

THERE will be no pre-payment penalty on this Note.

IF DEFAULT is made in payment after demand, and such default shall continue for a period of 10 days, then the holder hereof may, at its option, declare the whole sum then remaining unpaid immediately due and payable. A late fee in the amount of 5% of the payment in arrears, or the maximum allowed by law, whichever is greater, shall be due if the payment is not paid within 10 days of the due date. In case of any such default, the undersigned agrees to pay all costs of collection, including a reasonable attorney's fee, whether or not suit is instituted. No failure to exercise the right to accelerate shall not operate as a waiver.

All payments shall first be charged to late charges, then to interest accrued and unpaid and the remainder to the reduction of principal.

PRESENTMENT for payment, demand, notice of dishonor, protest, notice of protest and any homestead or personal property exemption allowed by the constitutions or laws of any state are hereby waived by the undersigned. Failure by the holder hereof to exercise any option granted it hereunder shall not constitute a waiver of future rights. The term "undersigned" as used herein shall include all makers, co-makers, endorsers, sureties and guarantors hereof.

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What the Sole Proprietorship Form Is and when it’s used

A Sole Proprietorship Form is the registration or internal record used to document an individual operating a business under their own name or a trade name (DBA). It typically records the owner’s legal name, business name, contact details, tax identifiers, effective date and the nature of the business. The form can be used for local business registration, bank account setup, tax reporting (Schedule C with Form 1040), and for establishing contracts with vendors or customers under the proprietor’s business identity.

Why completing the Sole Proprietorship Form matters

Completing the form properly creates a clear legal and tax record, enables banking and payment processing, and reduces later disputes over business identity or ownership.

Why completing the Sole Proprietorship Form matters

Who completes and relies on this form

Owners and administrative partners commonly complete the form to register or document business operations before engaging third parties.

  • Individual proprietors who operate without a separate legal entity and need a DBA or local business license.
  • Banking or payment processors that require a business name and owner verification to open merchant or business accounts.
  • Accountants and tax preparers who use the information to prepare Schedule C and determine tax reporting obligations.

Maintain the completed form with supporting documents (IDs, EIN letters, DBA certificates) to support banking, tax, and contracting needs.

Step-by-step: filling and finalizing the Sole Proprietorship Form

Follow these sequential steps to complete, verify, and distribute the form for banking and tax purposes.

  • 01
    1. Gather documents: Collect ID, TIN, and any DBA registration evidence.
  • 02
    2. Enter details: Complete all required fields using exact legal names and dates.
  • 03
    3. Verify entries: Double-check TINs and addresses to prevent processing delays.
  • 04
    4. Sign and distribute: Sign, notarize if required, then provide copies to banks or accountants.

Typical e-sign and submission workflow

A standard electronic workflow reduces in-person steps while preserving legal proof of execution; follow this sequence when using eSign or RON services.

  • Upload document: Convert the form to PDF or use the native fillable file.
  • Place fields: Add signature, date, and TIN fields for each signer.
  • Send to signer: Deliver via secure email link or RON session if notarization required.
  • Capture audit trail: Ensure timestamps, IP, and authentication are stored.

Settings to configure for a reliable online completion flow

Configure these workflow settings in your eSignature platform to balance ease of signing with authentication and compliance needs.

Field Configuration
Signature Type Allow typed, drawn, or uploaded signatures
Authentication Use email link or SMS code for signer verification
Notarization Enable RON sessions when notary acknowledgement is required
Audit Trail Retain full action log with timestamps

Key elements a professional Sole Proprietorship Form should include

Ensure the form collects the minimum legal, tax and contact data and provides clear signature, effective date, and governing law fields to reduce downstream disputes.

Owner identity

Full legal name, date of birth or ID number, and contact information to support bank verification and tax reporting.

Business name

Registered DBA or trade name, including any registration number issued by local authorities where applicable.

Tax information

Provide SSN or EIN and specify tax filing classification for accurate Schedule C or other returns.

Effective date

Clear MM/DD/YYYY effective date for when business operations and liabilities commence under the name.

Signature lines

Signature block with printed name, date, and capacity (owner). Include notary block if required by jurisdiction.

Governing law

Specify the state law governing interpretation and disputes, typically where the owner’s business is located.

Essential data items to capture

Legal name: Owner’s full legal name
DBA name: Registered trade name
Tax ID: SSN or EIN
Business address: Street, city, state, ZIP
Effective date: MM/DD/YYYY
Signature: Signed and dated

Common mistakes that delay acceptance

  • Entering a mismatched owner name or TIN that prevents bank account opening and triggers IRS backup withholding.
  • Submitting a P.O. box without a physical address where jurisdiction requires a street address for registration.
  • Failing to include a notarization or witness when a state or local rule specifically requires it for a given filing.
  • Using informal abbreviations or inconsistent trade names that differ from the registered DBA and confuse vendors.

Risks and potential penalties for incorrect filings

Tax penalties: Incorrect TIN risk
Backup withholding: 24% withholding may apply
Bank delays: Account opening denied
Legal disputes: Name ambiguity causes disputes
Notarization failure: Document may be rejected
I-9 exposure: Employment record fines

Representative eSignature pricing and capability comparison

Basic price points and common capabilities for representative eSignature vendors. signNow is shown first in the comparison per platform data; verify vendor plans directly for full details.

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 by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes Varies
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No

Technical considerations for eSubmission and file formats

Choose a platform that supports the formats, integrations, and authentication methods your workflow requires before you start collecting signatures.

  • File formats: PDF and DOCX supported
  • Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace
  • Authentication: Email, SMS, KBA, or advanced options

Timing considerations and related tax deadlines

Filing a Sole Proprietorship Form is typically immediate or county-scheduled; related tax deadlines follow federal return dates and local renewal schedules.

Business registration filing:

Effective upon acceptance by county or state office

Tax return (Schedule C):

Due with Form 1040 on April 15 (extension to Oct 15 available)

DBA renewals:

Some jurisdictions require periodic renewal — check local office

Notary or RON sessions:

Schedule in advance; fees and availability vary

Bank account setup:

Timing depends on bank verification policies

Real examples showing typical uses and outcomes

Two client stories illustrate how a completed Sole Proprietorship Form supports business operations and contracting.

Martin Properties

Tim Martin used online signing to process forms without in-person meetings and speed closings.

  • He emphasized mobile and offline signing convenience.
  • The result was efficient execution with compliant security controls and faster turnaround for property documents and tenant agreements.

Optica Ventures

Brian Fitzgibbons described an easy interface for clients and staff.

  • Simplicity improved customer experience.
  • His team could collect signed registrations and vendor agreements remotely, reducing administrative friction and accelerating business onboarding.

Typical signers and their roles

Owner

The business owner or sole proprietor signs to confirm identity, tax information, and acceptance of terms. Their signature establishes authority and enables banking, contracting, and tax reporting under the business name.

Tax preparer

An accountant or tax preparer may prepare and review the form, advise on TIN and Schedule C implications, and store the completed form for tax filing and audit support.

Frequently asked questions about the Sole Proprietorship Form

Answers to common questions about registration, eSigning, notarization, and recordkeeping for sole proprietors.


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