How to Request an Electronic Signature From a Client

Chasing a client for a signature over email — "just print, sign, scan, and send back" — is one of the most common places a deal stalls out. Requesting an electronic signature removes almost all of that friction, but it helps to do it right.

Step 1: Prepare the document

Make sure your PDF is final before you send it for signature. Upload it, and mark exactly where each person needs to sign, initial, or date — there's no need to build a reusable template if this is a one-off document.

Step 2: Add the right signers, in the right order

If only one person needs to sign, this step is simple. If you need multiple signatures — you and a client, or a client and their business partner — you can add each signer and choose whether they sign in a set order or all at once. Ordered signing is useful when, for example, you want a contractor to sign before you countersign, since each signer is only notified once it's their turn.

Step 3: Send a secure link, not an attachment

Instead of emailing a PDF attachment and asking someone to print it, send a secure, single-use signing link. Your client opens it in any browser — no account, no download — and signs directly on the page. This alone tends to cut the "I'll do it later" delay significantly, since there's no printer or scanner standing between them and finishing it.

Step 4: Follow up without nagging

If a signer hasn't completed the document yet, a short, direct follow-up works better than a vague reminder. Something like:

Because the link is one-time and tracked, you'll know exactly when it's been opened and when it's been signed, so you're not guessing whether a follow-up is even necessary.

Step 5: Confirm it's done

Once signed, the document is locked and a tamper-evident audit trail — timestamp, IP address, and a verification hash — is attached automatically. You and your signer both get a copy of the final signed PDF by email, so there's no separate step of "can you send me the signed copy."

What if you need to cancel or change something?

If you sent the wrong version or need to make an edit, you can void any request that hasn't been completed yet. That immediately disables the signing link for every remaining signer, so there's no risk of someone signing an outdated document.

Why this matters for getting paid faster

For freelancers and small agencies, the gap between "client agrees to the terms" and "signed contract on file" is often where projects stall. Cutting that gap from days to minutes — by removing the print-sign-scan step entirely — is one of the simplest ways to shorten your time to a signed, billable engagement. See how freelancers can get contracts signed faster for more on that, is an electronic signature legally binding if a client asks whether it holds up, and how to send a contract for signature for the sender-focused version of this same workflow.

Common questions

Do I need to build a template for a one-off document? No — you can mark signature fields directly on the page without creating a reusable template.

How do I follow up without seeming pushy? Because each signing link is tracked, you can see whether it's been opened, so you only need to follow up if it truly hasn't been signed yet.

Can I cancel a signature request after sending it? Yes — you can void any request that hasn't been completed, which immediately disables the link for every remaining signer.

What happens once everyone signs? The document locks automatically and a tamper-evident audit trail is attached, with both sides receiving the final signed PDF by email.

Send your first signature request free — no credit card required.