get a contract signed without printing it

STEP BY STEPFrom a PDF nobody signs to a contract signed the same day

1. 01

   Have the PDF ready

   You need the contract or proposal as a PDF, with space where the signatures go. If you don't have one yet, the business tasks guide shows you how to create a proposal or invoice with Claude Code and get a finished PDF. If you wrote it in Word or Google Docs, export it as a PDF from the File menu. Documenso doesn't edit the document itself. It only adds fields for signing, so make sure the contents are final before you upload it.

2. 02

   Create your account

   Go to Documenso and create an account. Using your Google account is the quickest option. You won't be asked for a credit card.

3. 03

   Upload the contract

   Inside your account, use the “Upload Document” button and pick your PDF. It appears in your document list as a draft.

4. 04

   Add the people who will sign

   Add each signer's name and email address. If you and the client both need to sign, add yourself as well. Documenso's “Detect with AI” button reads the contract and tries to identify the signers.

   IN MY TEST

   In my 18 September 2026 test it found both names in the document, so I only had to add their email addresses.

5. 05

   Put the signature field where it goes

   A sidebar shows the available fields: “Signature”, “Name”, “Date” and “Text”. Drag “Signature” onto the line where each person should sign. Add “Date” if the contract needs it. The signer will have to complete every field you place.

6. 06

   Decide whether signing order matters

   Documenso has a setting for signing order. With it off, everyone receives the email at the same time and can sign whenever they want. With it on, each person receives the document only after the previous signer finishes. Turn it on if you want to sign before your client.

7. 07

   Send it

   Select “Send Document”. You can add a subject and a short message, or leave both blank and use Documenso's default text.

8. 08

   Check what your client sees

   Your client receives an email with the subject “Please sign this document” and a button to open it. When they tap it, the contract opens in their phone's browser. They don't need an account and they don't install anything. They type their name, draw the signature with a finger, and confirm.

   IN MY TEST

   In my 18 September 2026 test, signing took under a minute from opening the link to finishing.

9. 09

   Download the signed contract

   Once everyone has signed, Documenso emails you the PDF and keeps a copy in your account, where you can download it whenever you want. The PDF has the signatures in place and a timestamp recording when it was signed. In my 18 September 2026 test, the free-plan PDF had no watermark.

10. 10

    Find another document to send this way

    Look for documents in your business that sit waiting for a signature: accepted quotes, waivers, authorizations, permits, or payment agreements. You could use the same process for any document you currently print only so someone can sign it.

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