Digital Signatures & Approvals
Customer approval workflow
At a Glance
- Customers can approve estimates with legally-binding digital signatures from any device
- Choose between typed or drawn signature capture for flexibility
- Signature records include timestamp, IP address, and unique confirmation ID
Digital Signatures & Approvals
Get customer approval on estimates with secure digital signatures.
Why Digital Signatures?
Digital signatures provide:
- Legal protection - Documented customer agreement
- Professionalism - Modern, paperless workflow
- Speed - Instant approval from anywhere
- Convenience - Customers sign on any device
How It Works
Sending for Signature
- Create and send your estimate
- Customer receives email with view link
- Customer reviews the estimate
- Customer signs digitally to approve
- You're notified of approval
Customer Experience
When customers receive your estimate:
- Email notification with estimate summary
- View button opens the customer portal
- Full estimate displayed with all details
- Approve button initiates signature process
- Signature capture (typed or drawn)
- Confirmation that estimate is approved
Signature Options
Typed Signature
Customer types their name:
- Quick and simple
- Full legal name required
- Timestamp recorded
Drawn Signature
Customer draws their signature:
- Finger on mobile device
- Mouse or trackpad on desktop
- More personal feel
Approval Details Captured
When a customer approves, WorkSnap records:
| Data | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Full name | Signer identification |
| Signature | Visual confirmation |
| Email address | Contact verification |
| IP address | Audit trail / signer metadata |
| Timestamp | When signed |
| Device info | Audit trail |
This information creates a complete record of the signing event for your records.
Viewing Signatures
To see a signature:
- Open the approved estimate
- View the Approval section
- See signature, name, and timestamp
Notifications
You Receive
- Email notification of approval
- In-app notification
- Estimate status updates to "Approved"
Customer Receives
- Confirmation email
- PDF copy of signed estimate
- Deposit payment link (if applicable)
Deposit Collection
If deposit is required on the estimate:
Prerequisite: You must have at least one payment processor connected (Stripe, PayPal, or Square) in Settings > Payments for customers to pay deposits online.
- After signing, customer sees deposit amount
- Pay Deposit button appears
- Customer pays via connected payment processor
- Payment recorded and confirmed
- You're notified of both approval and deposit payment
Declined Estimates
If customer declines:
- Customer clicks Decline instead of Approve
- Optional: Customer provides reason
- You're notified of decline
- Estimate status updates to "Declined"
Following Up on Declines
- Review decline reason (if provided)
- Contact customer to discuss concerns
- Create revised estimate if needed
- Send new estimate for review
Expired Estimates
If estimate expires before approval:
- Status changes to "Expired"
- Customer can no longer approve
- You can extend or create new estimate
Extending an Expired Estimate
- Open the expired estimate
- Click Edit or Extend
- Set new expiration date
- Resend to customer
Customer Portal Features
Your customers can:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| View estimate | Full details and pricing |
| Ask questions | Send messages about estimate |
| Approve | Sign digitally |
| Decline | Reject with reason |
| Download PDF | Save for records |
| Pay deposit | Submit deposit payment |
Security & Compliance
WorkSnap digital signatures include:
- Secure links - Unique URLs that are hard to guess
- Encryption - Data protected in transit and at rest
- Audit trail - Complete signing history with timestamps
- Legal validity - Designed to support ESIGN/UETA-compliant electronic signing workflows
Note: For specific legal or compliance requirements in your industry or jurisdiction, consult with your legal counsel.
Best Practices
- Clear pricing - Detailed line items reduce questions
- Reasonable validity - 14-30 days typical
- Follow up - Contact within 48 hours if not signed
- Answer questions - Respond quickly to customer queries
- Require deposit - Commitment increases show-up rate
Troubleshooting
Customer Can't Find Email
- Check spam/junk folders
- Verify email address
- Resend the estimate
Signature Not Working
- Try different browser
- Ensure JavaScript enabled
- Use mobile device if desktop issues
Link Expired
- Estimate may have expired
- Resend with extended validity
Previous: Creating Professional Estimates Next: Change Orders
What Happens Next
- 1Customer receives email notification with estimate link
- 2They review the full estimate in the customer portal
- 3Approve button initiates signature capture (typed or drawn)
- 4You receive instant notification of approval — convert to invoice with one click
Common Questions
- Are digital signatures legally binding?
- Yes, electronic signatures are legally recognized under the ESIGN Act and UETA. WorkSnap records timestamp, IP, and confirmation details for your records.
- Can customers decline an estimate?
- Yes, there's a Decline option in the portal. You'll be notified and can follow up or send a revised estimate.
- What if a customer wants to request changes?
- They can add comments when declining. Review their feedback, duplicate and modify the estimate, then resend.
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