How to Send a Document for E-Signature in Under 2 Minutes

Sending a document for e-signature should not take more than a couple of minutes. If your current process involves printing, signing, scanning, emailing, and hoping the other person does the same — you are spending 10 to 15 minutes on something that should take less than 2.

Here is exactly how to send a document for electronic signature using AddSign, step by step.

Step 1: Upload Your Document

Log in to your AddSign dashboard and click New Document. Drag and drop your PDF, or click to browse your files.

AddSign accepts any standard PDF. If you are working from a Word document, Google Doc, or other format, save or export it as a PDF first — most word processors have a "Save as PDF" or "Export to PDF" option.

Your document uploads in seconds. AddSign displays a preview so you can confirm it is the right file before moving forward.

Step 2: Add Your Signers

Enter the name and email address of each person who needs to sign. You can add one signer or multiple signers.

If you have used AddSign before, your contacts auto-complete after the first few characters — no need to retype email addresses you have already used.

Multiple signers? You can send to as many signers as you need. Each signer receives their own email with a unique signing link.

Step 3: Place Signature Fields

AddSign shows your document with a toolbar of field types: signature, initials, name, date, and custom text fields.

Drag the fields you need onto the document and drop them where each signer should fill in. If you have multiple signers, assign each field to the correct signer using the dropdown.

For most documents, you need:

• A signature field where the signer signs
• A date field next to the signature
• Optionally, a name field for printed name

Position the fields where you would normally expect a handwritten signature on the paper version.

Step 4: Click Send

Hit the Send for Signature button. That is it.

Each signer receives an email with a link to review and sign the document. They can sign from their phone, tablet, or computer — no account required, no app to download.

What Happens Next

After you click send:

1. Each signer gets an email with a secure link to the document
2. They review the document and fill in their assigned fields
3. They sign by typing their name, drawing a signature, or uploading an image
4. You get notified the moment each signer completes their signature
5. Everyone gets a copy of the fully signed document with a complete audit trail

The audit trail records the signer's name, email, IP address, timestamp, and device — everything you need to prove the document was signed.

How Long Does It Take the Signer?

Most signers complete the process in under 60 seconds. They open the email, tap the link, review the document, sign, and done. No account creation, no app download, no printing.

What About In-Person Signing?

If the signer is standing right in front of you — a client at your office, a customer at a job site, a tenant at a showing — you do not need to send an email at all.

Toggle on "Sign Here" mode before sending. Instead of emailing the document, AddSign opens it directly on your device. Hand your phone or tablet to the signer, they sign on the spot, and the document is saved immediately with a full audit trail.

This is how HVAC technicians get repair approvals signed at the customer's door, how real estate agents get listing agreements signed at the kitchen table, and how any business can collect a signature without waiting for email.

What Documents Can You Send?

Any PDF works. Common documents people send for e-signature include:

• Contracts and agreements — service agreements, consulting contracts, vendor agreements
• Employment documents — offer letters, NDAs, onboarding forms
• Real estate forms — listing agreements, buyer representation, inspection reports
• Financial documents — invoices, payment authorizations, engagement letters
• Waivers and releases — liability waivers, model releases, volunteer forms

If it is a document that currently requires a handwritten signature, chances are it can be signed electronically. Electronic signatures are generally legally binding in the United States under the ESIGN Act and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA).

Exceptions exist for certain document types — wills, certain court orders, and documents requiring notarization may not be eligible for electronic signatures. Consult a legal professional if you are unsure.

For more on the types of documents that work well with electronic signatures, see 5 Documents Every Small Business Should Sign Electronically.

Is It Secure?

Every document sent through AddSign is protected with:

• Unique signing links — each signer gets a one-time link tied to their email address
• Encryption — documents are encrypted in transit and at rest
• Audit trail — every action (viewed, signed, downloaded) is logged with timestamps and IP addresses
• Document integrity — a SHA-256 hash verifies the signed document has not been tampered with

The signed document and its audit trail are stored securely and available for download at any time from your dashboard.

Tips for Faster Sending

• Save templates for documents you send repeatedly. Set up the fields once, reuse the template every time — skip steps 1 and 3 entirely.
• Use contact autocomplete — after the first time you send to someone, their name and email auto-fill.
• Keep your PDFs ready — save commonly used documents as PDFs in a folder on your device so they are always one click away.

Try It Right Now

The best way to see how fast it is? Try it yourself. Upload a document, add a signer (use your own email to test), place a signature field, and send.

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