How to sign a proposal online
A proposal is a pitch until someone accepts it. Once the client signs, it usually becomes the agreement you both work from, so the signature page matters as much as the pricing page. This guide covers both sides: making a proposal the client can sign in a couple of minutes, and what to check when you're the client holding the pen.
Updated November 9, 2026 · 3 min read
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What makes a proposal signable
Most proposals are written to persuade and end with "let us know." A signable one ends with an acceptance block that leaves no doubt about what was accepted:
- An acceptance statement, such as "By signing, the client accepts this proposal, including the scope, fees and terms in sections 3 to 6."
- The terms, not just the pitch. Payment schedule, what's out of scope, how changes are priced and how either side can end the work. If they live in a separate terms document, name it and attach it.
- A validity date. How long your price holds.
- The signer's name, title and company, so you know the person who signed can commit the business.
- Your countersignature, if you want a signed agreement from both sides rather than a signed order.
Get a proposal signed with SignMaster
- 1
Export the proposal as a PDF
From Word, Google Docs, Keynote or your proposal software. Long, designed proposals are fine; the client signs the PDF as it looks.
- 2
Add the client, then yourself
Add the client's decision maker by name and email, then yourself to countersign, in that order. If their finance contact only needs a copy, add them as Receives a copy.
- 3
Build the acceptance page
On the last page, place signature and date signed fields, plus Name, Company and a text field for their title. Use Same Answer As so their name typed once fills every place it's needed.
- 4
Let them choose the options
If you offered packages, a Radio group makes them pick exactly one. Checkboxes for optional add-ons, with a Calculated field adding up the total as they tick, keep the math out of the email thread.
- 5
Match the deadline to the validity date
In Message & settings, set Sign by to the date your price ends. If the price really lapses then, also set the link to expire that day.
If you send the same kind of proposal every week, save the acceptance page as a template and add each new proposal's pages in front of it. Questions often come up on the pricing page, so ask for initials there; it proves the client saw the numbers, not just the signature page.
If you're the client signing one
- Read the scope and the exclusions first. The exclusions are where most later disputes start.
- Find the payment terms. Deposit, milestones, late fees and what happens if you cancel halfway.
- Check you can sign for the company. If a purchase above a certain amount needs a manager's approval, get it before you sign, or hand it over: SignMaster's signing page has Assign to someone else when the sender allows it.
- Ask instead of guessing. Use Request changes on the signing page to say what should change; the sender sends a revised version.
- Keep the signed PDF. It's your record of the price you accepted.
Proposal software or an e-signature app?
Proposal tools like PandaDoc and Proposify build the proposal itself, with content libraries, interactive pricing and, in some cases, payments. If you already write proposals in Word or Google Docs and just need them signed, an e-signature app is simpler and cheaper. SignMaster doesn't collect payments, so take the deposit with your usual invoice. For the proposal tools, see PandaDoc vs Proposify.
Questions? Answers.
Is a signed proposal a binding contract?
Often, yes, if it has the essential terms and the client's signature shows they accepted it. If you plan a separate contract, say so in the proposal, so nobody treats the proposal as the final agreement.
Should I countersign a proposal the client signed?
It's a good habit. The client's signature accepts your offer; yours confirms you'll do the work on those terms. With a signing order, you countersign automatically after the client.
Can the client accept with a button instead of a signature?
Yes. An Approve field records their agreement like a signature, with their name and the time. See approve instead of sign.
How do I sign a proposal someone emailed me as a PDF?
Sign it with the tool on your device, such as Markup on iPhone or Preview on a Mac, and send it back. See how to fill and sign a PDF.