A good contract between a coach and client is one of the key first steps for a successful coaching relationship. With the legalities and expectations on paper, there’s only one other task to complete — getting a signature. This is especially important for coaches who work in remote settings.
But remote coaches aren’t the only ones who benefit from having an e-signature tool in their coaching toolkit. Even if you offer in-person coaching services, an e-signature tool is an amazing way to cut down on paperwork and improve the security of your client’s information.
In this article, you’ll get an overview of the benefits of e-signature software and we’ll take a look at a few recommendations.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice. Please consult an attorney for accurate counsel.
What is E-signature Software?
E-signatures date back to 2000 when the U.S. passed the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act. This law certified digital signatures as valid and legally binding. After its enactment, e-signature software tools, like DocuSign were launched for businesses and the general public. These tools provide a safe and easy way to send contracts and request digital signatures.
Contracts are the first line of protection for your coaching business and your clients. This is why getting your contracts signed as soon as possible is important. Traditionally, you would give your clients their contracts at their onboarding session. This is usually done in person or through email. There are three main issues with this setup:
- Clients may feel pressured to sign in person without thoroughly reviewing the details of the contract, especially without legal counsel present.
- As your practice grows, keeping paper documents becomes complicated, burdensome, or unsafe.
- Emails get lost and may not be the safest option for long-term document storage.
E-signature softwares allows you to easily draft, send, and securely store your contracts or other documents in exchange for a monthly or yearly fee. These tools also have options for you to save contract templates.
4 E-Signature Tools for Coaches
By law, you must keep your coaching business in compliance with e-signature laws. This is why choosing an e-signature tool is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your practice. The following tools will save you time, enhance the security of your clients’ sensitive information, and reduce the need for physical paperwork.
Let’s take a look at a few of the most popular e-signature software for coaches.
DocuSign
DocuSign is one of the first and most widely recognized e-signature tools on the market. This tool allows users to sign, send, and manage documents directly from the platform. DocuSign is best for large practices or corporations who require integrations like Google Drive, Salesforce, and Microsoft Office 365.
When it comes to keeping your documents secure, DocuSign has features like document encryption and audit trails to keep you in compliance with global e-signature laws.
DocuSign is best for business coaches and executive coaches who need to handle a high volume of documents and require extensive integration with other business tools.
Rocket Lawyer
Rocket Lawyer goes beyond more than just e-signature capabilities. It’s a legal emporium for legal documents and advice. This is helpful for coaches who may also need legal guidance or documentation at a low cost.
In addition to the unlimited legal advice and document creation, Rocket Lawyer is competitively priced at $39.99 per month. For an extra $9.99 per month, you gain access to a Document Defense benefit that protects and enforces your contract.
Rocket Lawyer is great for life coaches and personal development coaches who might need occasional legal documents or advice alongside their e-signature needs.
Dubsado
Dubsado is a business management tool designed for entrepreneurs and small business owners. The platform leans more towards client relationship management software, but it includes e-signature capabilities. It’s an all-in-one solution that’s highly customizable for coaching businesses.
The platform is pricey at $200 per year, but you have access to business and client management tools to help you effectively run your business. It will eliminate the need for multiple business tools across different platforms. So, in the grand scheme of things, it’ll actually save you money.
Dubsado is perfect for creative coaches, wellness coaches, and those who run small coaching businesses. It provides more features for a great price.
SharePoint eSignature
SharePoint eSignature is a feature within Microsoft SharePoint that allows you to collect and manage electronic signatures. Since it’s integrated within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, SharePoint eSignature is a natural choice for practices who already use Microsoft tools.
Pricing is affordable at $12.95 per month. This is the cost of an entire Microsoft 365 subscription, which will include access to apps like PowerPoint and Microsoft Word.
SharePoint eSignature is best for corporate coaches and organizational development coaches working within large enterprises that already use Microsoft Office 365.
Get Your Contacts Secured and Signed Faster
There’s no one size fits all when it comes to e-signature software. So, it’s best to choose a tool that fits your business model because you need to feel comfortable using it long term. There are so many to choose from on the market and we’ve provided the most common recommendations but feel free to explore other options.
Your contracts are legally binding documents that set clear expectations for you and your clients. This is why making the signature process easy, quick, and secure is the number one priority. The faster you and your clients sign the legal documents, the quicker you both can start the transformative coaching journey.
