In this age of Zoom meetings, digital commerce, and moving business functions online as much as possible, it’s no surprise that many things are being done on the web instead of in person. There are a lot of benefits to these practices; they keep people safe, are more efficient as they take up less time, and can overall make things easy.
If you do find yourself having to sign a contract online like one from Revv you may find yourself with a lot of questions surrounding the legitimacy and safety of your personal information, which is valid.
Here is a guide that can help you get a basic understanding of signing online contracts.
Why You May Need to Sign a Contract Online
First, let’s address why you may need to sign a contract online. There are a number of reasons why companies may require an online signature.
Online signatures are safe for the health-conscious world that we still live in today. The less personal interaction we have with people, the better, at least for now. This can take out a lot of stress that both clients and businesses alike may be experiencing. Using an online signature has the same legal validity in most jurisdictions as a normal one.
They also make it easy to conduct business from across the country or even across the globe. Before, if you needed to get a contract signed by someone in another state, you had to rely on the post to deliver it to you and then back again.
They can also be huge time-savers. You are usually given the contract and any extra info in your email where you then have some time to read over the terms and conditions before you sign. This is way more efficient than scheduling a meeting just to read over the agreement before signing.
Lastly, they can be budget-savers. When you add up the costs of travel to and from the client, printer ink and paper, pens, and staplers, it can all get very expensive. And using so much paper isn’t good for the environment, so it’s also the more earth-friendly option out there.
Are They Safe?
The biggest concern people may have when they go to sign a document online is the safety of their information. How do you know that a hacker isn’t going to somehow get a hold of your personal information and mess with you somehow?
Luckily, with how far technology has advanced, electronic signatures are just as safe as in-person signatures. They are usually encrypted and often require a password to access them, so you can rest easy knowing that nobody can get into your business.
Are They Legitimate and Legally-Binding?
Sure, they’re safe and convenient, but is signing something on my computer actually legally binding? How does it count as a real signature if I’m not using pen and paper?
You’re not the first to ask these questions. In fact, in 2000, the ESIGN act legislated that electronic signatures are just as legally viable as in-person signatures. If you sign off on it, you legally and contractually agree to it and can be held liable for it.
How Do I Do It?
How exactly do you go about doing an electronic signature? There are a few different ways, and it really depends on what the company you’re signing with sends you.
For many companies, you will have boxes outlined throughout the contract where you simply type your name. Some have boxes that you can even just check off.
From there, it goes automatically to the business, where they can keep a record of it.
An Overview
So there you have it, electronic signatures are safe, legally binding, easy to do, and an overall logical choice for any business owner.
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