How to Send a Contract for Signature Without Printing It

If you're still printing contracts, signing them by hand, and scanning them back in, you're adding hours to a process that should take minutes. Here's the faster version.

Why the print-sign-scan cycle is slower than it looks

Each step adds friction and a chance for the process to stall: finding a printer, physically signing, finding a scanner (or a scanner app that actually produces a legible file), and re-attaching the result to an email thread. For a contract that needs two or three signatures, that cycle can easily stretch a same-day agreement into a multi-day back-and-forth.

The electronic alternative

1. Upload the contract as a PDF. If it's currently in Word or another format, export it to PDF first — the original formatting stays intact either way.
2. Mark the signature fields. Drop signature, initial, and date fields directly on the page wherever they're needed. No template setup required for a single contract.
3. Add your signers. For a standard contract, that's usually you and the other party. If more people need to sign — a co-founder, a witness, a second party — add them and set the order if it matters.
4. Send the link. Each signer gets a secure, single-use link by email. They open it in their browser and sign — no printer, no account, no software.
5. Receive the signed copy automatically. Once everyone has signed, the document is locked and a signed PDF with a full audit trail is sent to everyone involved.

Does this hold up the same way a wet signature does?

Yes. Under the U.S. ESIGN Act (2000) and UETA, electronic signatures are legally binding across all 50 states for the vast majority of contracts, provided the process captures clear consent and a verifiable audit trail — timestamp, IP address, and a verification hash — which happens automatically. For more on what makes this enforceable, see is an electronic signature legally binding.

What about contracts with multiple signers?

If a contract needs sign-off from more than one party, you can choose whether signers complete it in a set order or simultaneously. Ordered signing is useful when one party's signature depends on seeing that another has already signed — for example, a client signing after their business partner has already countersigned.

A quick example

A freelance web designer sends a project contract to a new client. Instead of emailing a PDF and waiting for a printed, scanned copy, they upload it, mark two signature fields — one for themselves, one for the client — and send the link. The client opens it on their phone between meetings, signs in under two minutes, and the designer has a fully executed, audit-trailed contract on file the same day, without either party touching a printer. For the step-by-step sender workflow, see how to request an electronic signature.

Related guides

• Freelance Web Developer Contract: What to Include
• How to Set Your Freelance Hourly Rate (Free Calculator)
• E-Signatures for Rental Agreements: A Landlord's Guide
• Free Signature Generator

Common questions

Do I need a template to send a one-off contract? No — you can mark signature fields directly on the page without setting up a reusable template first.

Can multiple people sign the same contract? Yes — add as many signers as needed and choose whether they sign in a set order or all at once.

Is an electronically signed contract as valid as a wet signature? Yes, under the U.S. ESIGN Act and UETA, as long as the process captures consent and a verifiable audit trail.

What happens once everyone has signed? The document locks automatically and a signed PDF with a full audit trail is sent to every signer.

Send your next contract for signature and see how quickly it comes back signed.