How to Send a Contract for E-Signature (5 Steps, 5 Minutes)

The Old Way vs The New Way

Most people still follow this painful process:

1. Write the contract in Google Docs or Word
2. Download it as a PDF
3. Upload the PDF to DocuSign or Adobe Sign
4. Add signature fields manually
5. Send, wait, download the signed copy
6. Store it somewhere and hope you can find it later

That's 6 steps across 3 different tools. Here's how to do it in one place.

Step 1: Create Your Document

Log into Writ (QuikDB) and click "New Document" from your dashboard. You'll see a Google Docs-style editor where you can write your contract from scratch or paste content from another tool.

The editor supports:

• Headings, paragraphs, bullet lists, numbered lists
• Bold, italic, underline, strikethrough
• Tables (great for pricing or terms)
• Highlight and text color

Pro tip: Give your document a clear title — it appears in the email your recipient receives (e.g., "Freelance Design Contract — March 2026").

Step 2: Add Signature Fields

Once your document content is ready, look at the right sidebar. You'll see a list of field types: Signature, Initial, Date, and Text.

To place a signature field:

1. Click Signature in the sidebar
2. Click anywhere on the document where you want the signature to appear
3. The field appears — drag to reposition, resize from corners

Add a Date field next to the signature so the signing date is captured automatically.

Step 3: Set Your Recipients

In the top-right sidebar, add your recipient's name and email address. If multiple people need to sign, click Add Recipient and repeat.

Each recipient gets a different color so you can see at a glance which signature fields belong to which person. Assign fields to specific recipients by clicking the field and selecting the recipient from the dropdown.

Step 4: Send for Signature

Click the Send for Signature button at the top of the page. You'll see a confirmation dialog showing:

• Who will receive the signing request
• What email address will be used
• How many fields each recipient needs to complete

Confirm and click Send. Each recipient receives an email with a secure, unique signing link.

Step 5: Track and Download

From your dashboard, you can see the status of every document:

• Pending — sent but not yet signed
• Partially Signed — some recipients have signed
• Completed — all parties have signed

When everyone has signed, you'll receive an email notification. The fully signed document with a complete audit trail is available to download from your dashboard.

What Your Recipient Sees

Your recipient receives an email with a link that opens the document in their browser. They:

1. Review the document (they can scroll through the full content)
2. Click each signature field to sign (draw with mouse or touch, or type their name)
3. Click Complete

No account required. No software to download. Works on any device.

Tips for Faster Contract Turnaround

• Follow up same day — most unsigned contracts stall because the recipient forgot. A quick message dramatically increases completion rates.
• Keep contracts short — the fewer pages, the faster recipients sign. For routine freelance work, 1–2 pages is usually enough.
• Use clear language — avoid legal jargon where possible. If the recipient doesn't understand something, they'll delay to ask.
• Add a deadline — mention in your email that you need the contract back by a specific date.

Ready to send your first contract? See Writ (QuikDB) plans →