How to eSign for free

There are tons of software packages available that have an eSigning feature. And the reality is that almost all of them offer some sort of benefit for testing them out. To eSign for free — select a suitable platform and sign up for its free trial. For example, signNow offers a one-week free trial including form-building, contract negotiation and tools for payment processing.

What is an electronic signature?

An electronic signature is a legal way to verify that you or a signer agrees to do business electronically. It’s a digital analogy of a handwritten signature and is used to electronically sign forms and contracts to acknowledge that the signer agrees to what’s in the document. Today, it’s used for both individual use, e.g., tax filing and for business needs, e,g., contract negotiation and execution. It’s been recognized as an efficient, cost-effective, and legally-binding instrument in most industrialized countries. It’s widely used in sales, marketing, HR, and legal departments.

What kinds of electronic signatures are there?

There are several options for executing digital transactions. Each of them has its own level of legal validity and unique user experience. According to eIDAS regulations — which set up a legal structure for signatures, seals and identification in the EU — lists three types of valid eSignatures.

They are the following:

Simple or Basic electronic signatures, aka SES.
Advanced electronic and digital signatures, aka AES.
Qualified advanced electronic or digital signatures, aka QES.

The three standards above have different legal weight and areas of application. SES suits low liability risk transactions, notably orders, announcements, and an organization’s internal document flows. AES has no specific requirement, however, it does have a calculable liability risk. It’s used for more serious transactions including sales contracts, rental agreements, etc. QES is known for specific form requirements and high liability risk and is applied to employment contracts and audit reports. QES holds the highest legal weight and is equal to a handwritten signature.

What are the benefits of electronic signatures?

With technology advancing, handwritten signatures are rapidly becoming the relic of the past. eSignatures are no longer a trend, but a must-have solution in every business aiming for growth. Besides, businesses all across the world acknowledge the advantages of signing electronically, notably: convenience, fewer delays, cheaper and reduces human-prone errors.

The future-facing advantages of eSignature tools:

Much faster document turnaround and shorter contract lifecycles.
Enormous savings on costs related to paper-based processes, e,g., printing, shipping, stamping, storing, etc.
More security with end-to-end document encryption.
Court admissible validity in just about every sphere of business and personal life.

It’s confirmed that eSignatures cut down on document turnaround time by 80%. That freed-up time is great for more urgent and important tasks that propel business growth.

How to select the right provider for electronic signature

There are many electronic signature solutions on the market. Each has its peculiar features, level of encryption, and pros and cons. The question is, how to choose the right one?

The five most valuable things to think about while selecting a suitable eSignature tool:

Flexibility, including the ability to work on desktop and mobile.
Simplicity, notably no registration requirements for signers.
Validity, an audit trail to track a signer’s intent to sign and every single step of the process.
Integration, the chance to work with the platforms you already use.
Price, a well-rounded solution should be the right price to make it a smart decision for any individual, small business or enterprise.

Businesses that use the criteria mentioned above while scouting out possible candidates, should also consider how the service will deliver convenience to its customers. However, In the end, when working with signatures, document security, tracking and enforceability should always remain top of mind. In order to make the right choice, shortlist eSignature platforms, read customer reviews and case studies before making a final decision.

How to eSign with signNow

signNow is a powerful solution for eSigning contracts, editing forms, and sharing documents with multiple signers. With signNow, users can create and efficiently manage eSignature workflows both on desktop and mobile. Its user-friendly interface helps users build forms, upload documents, set signing orders, and track each action that happens in a document workflow.

Get anything eSigned with signNow using the tips below:

Open signNow and log into your account.
Upload a document.
Add text fields wherever you need.
Set a signing order.
Self-sign and send invitations to sign to recipients.
Get notified when the document is signed.

signNow works towards customer convenience and integration. You can choose among three available methods to eSign: draw, type or upload a scanned signature. Every piece of data is protected with multiple-level encryption. eSign with signNow for free and start enhancing how you do business.

By signNow's Team

May 13, 2020

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