Setting Up E-Signatures in Closed

E-signatures transform your proposals from documents that need printing and scanning into seamless digital agreements. Clients can review, approve, and sign—all without leaving your proposal.

How E-Signatures Work in Closed

When you enable e-signatures on a proposal, clients see a signature block at the end. They can sign using:

• Type their name: Their name is rendered in a signature-style font
• Draw their signature: Using mouse or touchscreen
• Upload an image: Of their existing signature

Once signed, both parties receive a PDF copy of the signed proposal with the signature embedded.

Enabling E-Signatures on a Proposal

1. Open your proposal in the editor
2. Navigate to the Sign-off section (the final step in the proposal builder)
3. Toggle "Require signature" to enable e-signatures
4. Add signer details: Enter the name and email of who needs to sign
5. Optional: Add terms and conditions that must be accepted before signing

The Complete Audit Trail

Every signature in Closed includes a complete audit trail for legal compliance. This captures:

• IP address: The signer's IP at time of signature
• Timestamp: Exact date and time (with timezone)
• Device information: Browser and operating system
• Email verification: The email address used to access the proposal
• Terms acceptance: Record of any terms they agreed to

Adding Terms and Conditions

You can require clients to accept terms before signing. This is useful for:

• Master service agreements
• Payment terms
• Project scope acknowledgements
• Cancellation policies

To add terms, paste your terms text into the "Terms and Conditions" field in the Sign-off section. Clients must tick a checkbox confirming they've read and agree before the signature field becomes active.

Multiple Signers

For enterprise deals, you may need signatures from multiple stakeholders. Closed supports multiple recipients, each with their own tracking link. When you add multiple signers:

• Each person receives their own unique link
• You can track who has signed and who hasn't
• The proposal is marked as "fully signed" only when all parties have signed
• Each signature has its own audit trail

What Happens After Signing

When a client signs your proposal:

1. You're notified instantly: Get an email notification that the proposal has been signed
2. Status updates: The proposal status changes to "Signed" in your dashboard
3. PDF generated: A signed PDF is automatically created with the signature and audit trail
4. Client receives copy: The signer receives their own PDF copy
5. Webhooks fire: If configured, webhooks notify your other systems

Legal Validity

E-signatures collected through Closed are legally binding in most jurisdictions, including:

• United States: Valid under the ESIGN Act and UETA
• European Union: Valid under eIDAS regulation
• United Kingdom: Valid under the Electronic Communications Act
• Australia: Valid under the Electronic Transactions Act
• Canada: Valid under provincial electronic transaction acts

The audit trail provides evidence of intent to sign, identity verification, and document integrity—the key requirements for legal enforceability.

Summary

E-signatures eliminate the friction between proposal acceptance and getting started. Clients can sign from anywhere, on any device, and you get a legally binding agreement with a complete audit trail.