eSignature for freelancers
E-signatures for freelancers and independent professionals
A signed contract before you start is the best protection against scope creep and late payment. Clients should be able to sign in a minute.
eSignSimple is free for 5 documents a month, and $9/month for unlimited documents, so you never have to ration contracts.
Many freelancers skip the contract because it feels awkward with a friendly client, or because sending paperwork seems like overhead for a small job. The result is familiar: extra rounds of revisions, disputed deliverables and invoices paid late or not at all.
Our take: a two-page contract signed before you start is worth more than a twenty-page one you never send. Keep your terms short, clear and reusable, and make signing so easy that the client does it in the same minute they read your proposal.
Starting without a contract
Send a contract with your proposal and get it signed the same day. A signed agreement also makes a deposit request feel routine rather than personal.
Scope creep
Signed quotes and change requests document exactly what was agreed. When a client asks for something extra, send a short signed quote for it instead of absorbing the work.
Cost
Enterprise tools charge per envelope. Freelancers need something affordable. Our free plan covers five documents a month, which is enough for many solo freelancers, and $9 removes the limit.
Documents you can sign electronically
- Freelance contracts
- NDAs
- Web design contracts
- Quote acceptances
- Photography contracts
- Invoices
- Model and photo releases
Tips
- Include payment terms, deliverables and revision limits in every contract.
- Save your standard contract as a template.
- Ask for a deposit when the contract is signed.
- Keep a short email trail agreeing to the scope before sending the contract, so the signed document and the conversation tell the same story if anything is questioned later.
- Define what counts as a revision and how many are included, so extra rounds are billable by default.
- State who owns the work and when ownership transfers, typically on full payment.
- Our take: send the contract together with the proposal, not after the kickoff call. Momentum is on your side before work starts and fades quickly after.
Templates for freelancers
Frequently asked questions
Are e-signatures legally binding for these documents?
In most cases, yes. Simple electronic signatures are recognized under the US ESIGN Act, UETA and the EU eIDAS Regulation. Some documents, such as wills or certain court and real property filings, may need wet ink, witnesses or notarization depending on the jurisdiction.
Is there a free plan?
Yes. The free plan includes 5 documents per month.
Get your next document signed today.
Start with 5 free documents a month. No card needed.