Before You Start
You'll need a DottSign account and a PDF ready to send. If you don't have an account yet, sign up for free — no credit card required.
Your document can be anything: a service agreement, an NDA, an employment offer, or a lease. As long as it's a PDF, DottSign can handle it.
Step 1: Upload Your Document
Log in and click New Contract from your dashboard. Drag your PDF into the upload area or click to browse your files.
DottSign will process the document and display a preview. Take a moment to confirm it's the right file and the correct version — once signers receive their invitation, you won't be able to swap the file without cancelling and re-sending.
Step 2: Add Signature Spots
After uploading, you'll see a document editor. This is where you place signature spots — the specific locations in the PDF where each person needs to sign.
- Click Add Spot and drag it to the correct page and position.
- Assign each spot to a signer (you'll add signers in the next step).
- Add as many spots as needed — one per signer is common, but a single document can have multiple spots per person.
Placing spots precisely matters. Signers tap the spot to sign; there's no free-form placement on their end.
Step 3: Add Signers
With spots placed, open the Signers panel and add everyone who needs to sign.
For each signer you'll enter:
- Full name — used to identify them and will appear on the signature.
- Email address — where their signing invitation is sent.
You can add yourself as a signer if you also need to sign the document.
Step 4: Review and Send
Before sending, double-check:
- Every signature spot is assigned to the right person.
- Email addresses are correct — a typo here means the invitation never arrives.
- The document preview looks as expected.
When you're satisfied, click Send for Signature. Each signer receives an email with a secure link — no account required on their end.
Step 5: Track Progress
Back on your dashboard, the contract now shows a status badge:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pending | Awaiting one or more signatures |
| Completed | All parties have signed |
| Cancelled | Sending was cancelled before completion |
You can open any contract to see exactly who has signed and who hasn't. DottSign sends automatic reminders to signers who haven't acted within 48 hours, so you rarely need to follow up manually.
Step 6: Download the Signed PDF
Once all parties sign, the status changes to Completed and the final PDF is ready for download. This file contains:
- The original document content.
- Each signer's digital signature embedded in the correct position.
- A tamper-evident certificate — any modification after signing will break the verification.
Store the completed PDF somewhere safe. It's your legal record.
Tips for a Smooth First Send
Use descriptive contract titles. Your dashboard will fill up fast. A title like "Consulting Agreement — Acme Corp — Apr 2026" is much easier to find than "Contract (1)".
Test with yourself first. Add your own email as both the sender and signer on a dummy document. You'll see exactly what your signers experience before you send anything to a client.
Check spam folders. Signing invitation emails occasionally land in spam, especially with corporate email filters. If a signer says they didn't receive anything, that's the first place to look.
Ready to send your first contract? Log in to DottSign and get it done.