How Freelancers Sign Contracts Online (Free Guide)

Signing Contracts Is Part of Freelancing

As a freelancer, signing contracts is a regular part of your work. Client agreements, NDAs, proposals, scope-of-work documents, tax forms (W-9, W-8BEN) — they all need your signature.

The faster you can sign and return a contract, the faster the project starts and the sooner you get paid. Here's how to handle it efficiently.

The Fast Way: Sign PDFs in Your Browser

Client emails you a contract PDF
Open sigpdf.com — no account needed
Upload the PDF
Draw or type your signature
Add your name, date, and title
Download and email it back

Total time: under 2 minutes. The signed PDF looks professional and the signature is permanently embedded.

Documents Freelancers Commonly Sign

Client Contracts / Service Agreements

The main document defining your work, deliverables, timeline, and payment terms. Always read carefully before signing — pay attention to:

Payment terms (net 15, net 30, milestones?)
Scope of work (what exactly are you delivering?)
Revision limits
Kill fee (what happens if the project is cancelled?)
Intellectual property transfer

Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)

Clients often require NDAs before sharing project details. These are usually standard and low-risk, but check the duration and scope. See our guide to signing NDAs for details.

Proposals and Quotes

Some clients ask you to sign your own proposal to formalize the agreement. This turns your proposal into a binding contract.

Tax Forms

W-9 (US freelancers) — Required by clients for tax reporting
W-8BEN (international freelancers working with US clients) — Certificate of foreign status
These can be signed electronically in most cases, though some companies may request original signatures

Invoices with Sign-Off

Some clients require a signed invoice for their accounting department. Use the "Add Signature" and "Add Date" tools to sign your invoice PDF before sending.

Tips for Freelancers

1. Create a Professional Signature

Take a moment to create a clean, legible signature. A messy scrawl that works on paper napkins looks less professional in a digital document. Consider using the "Type" option with a handwriting font for consistency.

2. Always Date Your Signature

Every signed document should have a date. This establishes when the agreement began and can be important for deadlines, payment terms, and dispute resolution.

3. Keep Organized Records

Create a folder structure for signed contracts:

Contracts/
  ClientName/
    2026-02-contract.pdf
    2026-02-nda.pdf

You may need these for tax purposes, disputes, or simply to reference the agreed terms.

4. Read Before You Sign

This sounds obvious, but the pressure to start a project quickly can lead freelancers to sign without reading. Key things to watch for:

Unlimited revisions — negotiate a specific number
"Work for hire" clauses — this means the client owns everything you create
Non-compete clauses — these can restrict your ability to work with similar clients
Late payment penalties — make sure they apply to the client, not just you

5. Send a Signed Copy Back and Keep One

Always email the signed PDF back to your client AND save a copy for yourself. If using SigPDF, the downloaded file is your signed copy.

Do Freelancers Need Expensive E-Signature Tools?

No. Tools like DocuSign ($10-25/month) and HelloSign ($15-45/month) are designed for businesses that send documents to multiple signers and need tracking, audit trails, and templates. They're overkill for a freelancer who just needs to sign and return PDFs.

A simple browser-based tool like SigPDF handles the use case perfectly: receive PDF, sign it, send it back. No monthly subscription needed for the signing part — the client can use whatever tool they prefer for their end.

Sign Your Contract Now

Got a contract waiting? Open SigPDF and sign it in under a minute. No account, no download, and your documents stay private.

Sign Your Contract →