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PlatformFederal ESIGN Act (2000) and state UETA make e-signatures legally equivalent to wet signatures for most business documents.
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Legal Digital Signing
E Signature · File.Business

Send to sign, signed in minutes.

Upload a PDF, drop signature fields, send to one or many signers. Audit trail, IP capture, timestamping. ESIGN Act and UETA compliant for binding legal effect.

Pay only the state fee 60-day money-back Cancel anytime
220,000+
Businesses served
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From 8,200 reviews
A+
BBB rated, SOC 2 II
$0
Hidden fees
What it is

E-Signature, plainly.

E-signatures have been legally equivalent to wet signatures in the US since the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN Act) of 2000, and state-level UETA (Uniform Electronic Transactions Act) in 49 states (New York has its own law with the same effect). For most business documents (contracts, NDAs, engagement letters, vendor agreements, employee onboarding) e-signatures are fully binding.

A few document categories require wet signatures or notarization: wills, certain real estate documents (varies by state), some court filings. For the 95% of everyday business documents, e-signature is the standard.

Our e-signature tool is built into File.Business. Upload a PDF (or use a contract template), drop signature and date fields, set the signer order if multiple, send via email. Signers click, sign with mouse or finger, the document is sealed with a tamper-evident hash and a full audit log of IP addresses and timestamps.

Who this is for

Common situations.

Professional servicesEngagement letters, NDAs, consulting agreements. Send to client, get back signed.
Real estateLeases, offers, addenda. Most jurisdictions accept e-signed real estate documents.
EmployersOffer letters, I-9, W-4, employee handbooks. Onboarding signed before day one.
Vendors and contractorsMSAs, SOWs, change orders. Faster turnaround, no scanning.
Side businessesClient agreements, retainer agreements. Look professional.
Funded companiesInvestor docs (SAFEs, board consents). Audit trail matters for compliance.
What we'll set up for you

A clean handoff, in four steps.

You give us the basics. We handle the state, the IRS, and the compliance clock so you can focus on the business.

01 · Name + Brand

A name that's actually available.

Real-time check against the state register, USPTO trademark database, and matching domains.

02 · State filing

Filed with the Secretary of State.

We submit your Articles, pay the state fee on your behalf, and return the stamped certificate.

03 · Federal IDs

EIN + the right tax setup.

Federal Employer ID with the IRS, plus state tax accounts when your business needs them.

04 · Stay compliant

Registered Agent + deadline tracking.

Your agent on file in every state, with every renewal and annual report tracked in one calendar.

How it works

Four steps. We handle the rest.

Step 1
UploadPDF, Word, or pick a contract template.
Step 2
Place fieldsDrag signature, date, initials, text fields onto pages.
Step 3
SendAdd signers in order. Email goes out.
Step 4
SignedCompleted PDF with audit log in your vault.
Side by side

How we compare.

DocuSignHelloSignPandaDocFile.Business
Per user/mo$10-$40$15-$25$19+free
ESIGN/UETA compliantyesyesyesyes
Audit trailyesyesyesyes
Templatesyesyesyesyes
Stored in vaultmanualmanualmanualauto

Based on publicly listed pricing and feature pages as of 2026. Competitor names are trademarks of their respective owners.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

What is an e-signature and is it legally valid?
An electronic signature is a legally recognized way to sign documents online, and under federal law (the ESIGN Act) and state law (UETA) e-signatures are generally as valid and enforceable as ink signatures for most business documents. We keep your business documents organized so signing is smooth and records are complete.
What laws make e-signatures binding?
The federal ESIGN Act and the state-level UETA together give electronic signatures the same legal effect as handwritten ones for most transactions, provided the parties intend to sign and consent to electronic signing. We flag the few document types that still require special handling so you sign with confidence.
What documents can I sign electronically?
Most business documents, contracts, agreements, consents, and internal records, can be signed electronically, while a narrow set like certain wills, some notarized instruments, and specific filings may need traditional handling. We flag which of your documents are fine to e-sign and which need another route.
Are e-signed documents enforceable in court?
Generally yes: an e-signature with a proper audit trail showing who signed, when, and their intent is enforceable like an ink signature, and the audit trail often provides stronger evidence than a paper original. We flag how to keep signing records so your documents hold up if ever questioned.
What is an audit trail?
It is the record an e-signature platform captures, signer identity, timestamps, IP, and the document version, which proves the signature's validity and intent, making e-signed documents easy to defend. We flag why retaining these records matters so your executed documents are well-supported.
Can I use e-signatures for formation documents?
Often yes: many states accept electronically signed and filed formation documents, and internal documents like your operating agreement are routinely e-signed. We flag which of your filings and records can be handled electronically so setup does not require paper and mail.
Do all parties need to consent to e-signing?
Yes: e-signature laws generally require that the parties agree to conduct the transaction electronically, which platforms handle through a consent step, so consent is captured as part of the process. We flag this so your electronic signings meet the legal requirements for validity.
Are there documents I should not e-sign?
A limited set, some wills and testamentary documents, certain court and notarized instruments, and specific state or federal filings, may still require ink or special procedures. We flag which of your documents fall outside routine e-signing so you use the correct method where it matters.
Can File.Business help me handle documents electronically?
We keep your entity and business documents organized and help you execute and store the routine agreements and records that can be signed electronically, flagging the narrow exceptions that need special handling, so your document workflow is smooth and your records are complete.

Send a document in about 5 minutes.

Tell us a few details. We do the rest. You get a single dashboard for everything.

Pay only the state fee 60-day money-back Cancel anytime
Form your business for $0Start →
How it works

How we deliver, end-to-end.

Four-step path from request to confirmation. State and IRS turnaround varies; our steps run in parallel where possible to compress the timeline.

1

Intake + scope

You tell us what you need through a short intake form (or a call for complex matters). We confirm scope, surface any gating issues (deadlines, missing documents, entity status), and quote any state fees that pass through at cost.

2

Prepare + verify

Our specialists draft the filing, verify entity details against state databases, run internal QA, and route any items needing your sign-off. You see drafts before anything gets submitted.

3

File with the authority

We submit directly to the state Secretary of State, FinCEN, IRS, USPTO, or whichever authority your filing requires. We pay state fees at cost and track the submission identifier in your account.

4

Confirmation + vault

Stamped certificate, IRS notice, or filing receipt arrives in your SOC 2 encrypted document vault the moment we receive it. Next filing deadline auto-added to your compliance calendar where applicable.

SOC 2 Type II audited
220,000+ businesses. 60-day money-back. State fees passed through at cost.
Your operating system, not a transaction
Every deadline auto-tracked across your entities. Compliance Score visible year-round.
Transparent pricing
No hidden fees. No upsells at checkout. State fees disclosed upfront.