20+ Types of Business Documents You Need | Signature (2023)

As a business, document signing is an essential workflow for operations. Knowing what documents you might need is crucial to avoiding legal problems.

In this article, we'll walk you through 20+ different types of business documents your team might need.

We discuss business documents for:

• organization and operation
• finance
• HOUR
• Sales and Marketing

By the end of this article, you will know exactly which documents your company needs.

Let's start.

What are business documents?

A business document is a collective term for any document relating to the operation of an existing business. This can include anything from business plans and business structure documents to employee contracts, income statements, and even content calendars.

Business documents can take many forms, e.g. B. on paper or electronically, and serve different purposes. Some documents are created for legal and compliance purposes, while others are designed to help a business operate more effectively and efficiently.

Types of business documents: 20+ examples of essential business documents

Below are 20+ important business documents. We've divided them into groups based on what aspect of a business they relate to.

organization and operation

Below we list 9 different organizational and operational documents. These help you to structure your company and increase the efficiency of work processes.

Business plan

A business plan is a document that defines a company's goals and describes how those goals will be achieved. More accurate,a business plancovers a variety of topics, possibly including:

• Product/service analysis
• market analysis
• risk assessment
• financing
• Sales forecast and budget
• Sales and Marketing

A business plan will help keep your business organized and increase the chances of success. The document includes a timeline to ensure milestones, forecasts and budgets are on track.

You also need a plan if you want to access multiple loans, grants, and investors. A business plan gives these parties (like banks or venture capitalists) confidence about whether or not you can earn a return on your investment.

business reports

Annual reports are documents that provide information and analysis about the functioning of a company. This can affect the entire organization or just a specific department/workflow.

The purpose of an annual report is similar to that of a case study: to identify a problem and offer a solution. Organizations will use these reports to find bottlenecks and inefficiencies and improve overall operational efficiencies.

Typically, an annual report contains the following:

• A summary: similar to a summary that provides cliff notes.
• an introduction: Sets the stage for what the report will cover.
• A body: dives deep into the problem, providing data and insights.
• a conclusion: addresses how the results should be interpreted and offers possible solutions.
• references: A list of possible features/data referenced in the report.
• a deputy: Provides additional context information not included in the report.

Annual reports are useful because they provide valuable information about your company's operations. They will uncover any deficiencies/bottlenecks and suggest practical solutions.

They also provide a clear audit trail, making it easy to get investments, grants and loans.

Statutes

Company charters are documents that define how an organization will function and describe how it is to be governed. They are usually designed by the founders or a board of directors or homeowners association.

A company's bylaws often contain identifying information, such as the company's name, address, and location. Indicates whether the company is public or private and includes the fiscal year period.

Longer articles of incorporation will also cover shareholder and ownership group issues.

Depending on the structure of your company, you may be required by law to have an articles of incorporation. Having one also helps you better organize and structure your team so everyone is on the same page and knows their roles and expectations.

company contract

A partnership agreement is a legally binding contract between two or more partners that defines ownership/interest and role. More specifically, it describes:

• ownership percentage
• Profit/loss distribution
• Administrative authority/role
• partnership duration
• finishing options
• purchase options

Partnership agreements are created when partnerships begin and are intended to provide solutions for all possible scenarios that may arise. What happens in case of failure? What if a partner wants to sell their property? The written agreement covers these situations.

There are many reasons why you should have a partnership agreement. First, it helps to clearly define the roles and expectations of all parts of the association. It also provides legal, tax and liability protection.

LLC Operating Agreement

An LLC operating agreement is a legal document that lists all member owners and defines their rights and obligations. It also provides insight into the inner workings of the organization.

LLC operating agreements can vary, but generally cover the following:

• Organization: When the LLC was formed, who the members are and the ownership structure.
• Management: Who has authority and manages the operation of the LLC.
• To choose: How members make business-related decisions.
• capital contributions:which of the members invested more in the LLC.
• distributions: how the profits and losses of the LLC are distributed among the members.
• Changes in the Association: The process of adding or removing members.
• resolution: the procedure for dissolving the LLC.

If your business is an LLC, you are likely required by law to have an LLC Operating Agreement. Even if it is not required in your state/country, it is still highly recommended. The document will help to avoid confusion among its members. It can also help provide legal protection.

non-compete clause

A non-compete agreement is a contract that employers use to ensure that their employees do not transfer to a competitor. These are legal documents designed to protect employers from industrial espionage.

The contract includes a definition of non-compete that describes the terms of the agreement. There will also be a "clause term" indicating how long the non-compete clause will last.

A non-compete clause is a good thing when you need to hire employees and train them extensively. It protects you from employee turnover and leaking valuable trade secrets to competitors.

The company provides aFree Model No Competition. We work with legal experts and reviewers to ensure everything is covered.

Download the document as a Word or PDF file and fill in the fields.

Terms of use

Terms of Service is a legal document that outlines the rules that must be followed when using a product or service. This includes not only user rights and obligations, but also liability issues.

More specifically, Terms of Service often include:

• The definition: Identification of terms used throughout the document.
• Description of allowed use: how you intend to use your product or service.
• Disclaimer and Liability: An overview of disclaimers, liability and obligation.

A terms of service agreement is important as it ensures your product or service is used correctly. That is, the way you intended. The Terms of Use documents are legally binding and protect you from all potential and contingent liabilities.

Privacy Policy

A privacy policy is a document that states what to do with a user's data or personal information. This is usually related to accessing a website, but it can also include other things involving personal data.

In particular, the document will detail the measures related to the collection, storage, protection and use of sensitive personal data.

Some forms of private information that a privacy policy might address include:

• Name
• ADDRESS
• date of birth
• phone number
• email address
• Financial/credit information
• medical history
• Uso de cookies do site

If your business has an online presence, which most do these days, you need a privacy policy. This ensures that you are legally protected and comply with all data protection laws.

In some regions of the world, companies are required by law to have a privacy policy. If you have customers, customers or users who are EU citizens, you must comply withGDPR.

Bonus if you work with agencies: agency agreement

An agency contract is a legal contract that allows one party to act on behalf of another party. It outlines the terms and conditions of the relationship and what they are allowed to do.

Agency contracts are often used by companies that outsource part of their workload to an agency. Some examples may include:

• An e-commerce brand whose digital marketing is operated by a digital marketing agency.
• People who hire a realtor to sell their property.
• A professional sports star is looking for an agent to help him land a new contract.

The contract covers a variety of topics, including:

• services: What does the agency do for the company?
• payment of damages: how much is paid to the agency.
• confidentiality: How confidential information is protected.
• termination: what happens when work ends or when society is dissolved.

If your company requires you to outsource some of your work processes, you definitely need agency contracts. An agency contract helps to clearly define deliverables, responsibilities and the appropriate course of action for all circumstances.

Subscription offers aagency contract template. We work with attorneys and reviewers to ensure that everything you need is met.

You can download the document in PDF or Word format. Then just fill in the blanks.

finance

Financing your business is very important, so we have listed 5 important documents below.

income statement

An income statement measures how much a company gains or loses. Keep track of total earnings and accrued expenses. It is an important financial document that tells you how profitable an organization is.

All businesses need income statements, including non-profit organizations. They are not required by law per se, but if you want to get investments, loans and grants, you need them. An income statement is good business practice as it helps you run your operations effectively and efficiently.

balance sheet

A balance sheet describes an organization's assets, liabilities, and equity at a specific point in time. It's a snapshot of what a company owns and owes. It is one of the basic financial documents that most, if not all, companies have.

Like an income statement, you need a balance sheet to buy investments, loans, and grants. This document will help those parties assess you financially and provide an accurate picture of your business. This lets them know how likely it is that you will be able to repay your investment.

A balance sheet can also provide you with valuable information that will help you better manage your business. It can tell you the liquidity and efficiency of your trade and the leverage you have.

cash flow statement

A cash flow statement shows how much cash comes in and goes out of a business in a given period of time. They measure how efficiently a company pays bills in the short term. The money comes and is classified as follows:

• operating: Revenue from the sale of products/services.
• Invest: Gains and losses from any potential trading assets.
• Financially: Money that is outside the company, such as B. Loans or investments.

Cash flow statements are important financial documents, like income statements and balance sheets. If you want an investment opportunity, loans and grants, you need them.

Having cash flow statements is also good business practice. They can help you identify the bottlenecks that are affecting your ability to pay off debt/expenses.

budget reports

Budget reports are used to compare an organization's projected forecast to its actual performance over a period of time. They are used to assess whether a company is on track with its own predictions.

Why do you need budget reports? It's simple: they allow you to actively make the necessary adjustments to your operation. they can help youidentify unnecessary expensesthis can have a measurable impact on your bottom line.

If you are also looking for investors, bank loans and even donations, then you need budget reports. With budget reports, these parties can assess the return on their investments.

Payment agreement

A payment agreement is a legally binding contract that specifies payment terms between a creditor and a payer. The document covers the amount owed, payment schedule and termination issues. The creditor can be anyone: a company, a bank or even an individual.

You enter into payment agreements when you want to buy investments, loans or grants. If you are investing in another company or individual, you will also need these forms.

The company provides aFree Payment Agreement Templatecompiled with the help of lawyers and reviewers.

The template covers it all; All you have to do is fill in the empty boxes.

HOUR

As your company grows, HR becomes more important and influential. Below are 6 different documents you will need.

work contract

Employment contracts are legally binding contracts between the employer and the employee. The document outlines the terms of employment and specifies benefits, hours, wages and benefits.

If you're more than just a trader, you'll hire people. That means you need contractual agreements. Without a legally binding contract, both parties could be at risk.

A contract arrangement protects employers from workers who fail to fulfill their expected roles. It also protects the employee from being exploited and not getting paid.

the company has aFree employment contract template. That's how you can easily expand your team.

It was compiled with the help of legal scholars and proofreaders.

Contractor's Proposal

Contractor bids, also known as construction proposals, are documents that contractors use to apply for a job. It allows them to offer their services and highlight their skills, experience and prices.

Due to their complexity, these proposals are necessary for civil construction. A project requires different skills that you would never find in a single provider.

Contractor bids are necessary as most construction jobs require them. If you want your company to make contracts, you need them.

They also give you a way to market your services instead of just making an offer. This gives you an edge over the competition.

Signaturely offers a greatFree Contractor Quote TemplateThis facilitates the application of construction contracts.

We've enlisted the expertise of legal advisors and reviewers to ensure it's rock solid. You can download it in Word or PDF format.

subcontracting contract

A subcontracting contract is a legal contract that defines an employment relationship between a company and a subcontractor. These businesses are typically found in construction, but also in other industries.

A typical outsourcing contract includes the following:

• services provided: What the subcontractor will do for the company.
• Price/Remuneration: how much the company will pay the subcontractor.
• timeline: when the job starts and ends.

You need this document if you are a company that outsources some of its operations to subcontractors. It gives you legal protection if the person hired fails to perform the required work.

Signaturely has an epicfree subcontracting contract templateensuring your outsourcing workflow runs smoothly.

Legal experts and reviewers helped create this template, which can be downloaded in PDF and Word.

Confidentiality agreement

A non-disclosure agreement, or NDA for short, is a contract that legally obligates a party not to disclose information. Such information is generally of a specific and sensitive nature, such as B. the inner workings of a business operation.

Non-disclosure agreements are necessary for your business because people cannot be trusted. Those with loose lips can and will leak their organization's secrets. An NDA offers legal protections to ensure this doesn't happen.

Do you think you need a confidentiality agreement? The company provides aFree Non-Disclosure Agreement Templateto protect your company's confidential information.

This template is available in Word and PDF format.

employment contract

An employment contract is a legal contract detailing the work of a freelancer/contracted talent/service provider. They are used in all types of industries such as creative, technical and commercial. The Contract includes the terms of the Agreement, which include:

• services provided: what the contractor does for the company.
• price fixing: how much the finished work will cost.
• property rights: Who owns the rights to the work performed.
• confidentiality: what can and cannot be disclosed.

If any of the operations in your operations are outsourced, you should use work-for-hire contracts. They ensure that you have legal protection if the contract is breached or terminated.

Do you think you will use work-for-hire contracts? the company has aFree employment contract templateto protect your business if something happens.

The template was created with the help of reviewers and legal experts, so it's completely legit.

internship contract

Internship contracts legally regulate the relationship between a company and a hired intern. In particular, the contract will contain:

• How much the intern is paid/compensated
• What hours of work are required
• How the contract is formed and how it can be terminated
• The result of termination of the contract.
• confidentiality clauses

Companies hire interns to screen recent graduates and see if they are worth hiring for a long-term job. It is a risk-averse way of finding new talent in the market.

As a company, you must use interns. They give you a cool way to try out new signings without committing too much. Internship contracts also cover you legally.

Are you considering hiring passers-by? Use SignaturelysFree template for an internship contract- Covers everything you need.

Downloadable in Word or PDF format.

Sales and Marketing

Sales and marketing are really important to a business – this is how revenue is generated. Without these two elements, even the best product will go nowhere. Therefore, we have listed 4 importantmarketing elementsyou need to have

marketing plan

A marketing plan is a document that describes an organization's marketing activities for the future. It's a map that helps you organize and execute different strategiespromote your business.

A marketing plan usually includes:

• Equipment assignment and workflow information
• tactic
• channels
• Goals
• Buyer personalities
• An analysis of your competition.
• An audit of your current content

A marketing plan will help you stay organized and on time so you're ready to execute your marketing strategies. It will also be visible to all team and department members to ensure everyone is on the same page.

content calendar

Content calendars, also known as editorial calendars, are planned calendars for your content publishing efforts. Or in other words, it's a schedule of when you want to publish blog posts, social media posts, YouTube videos, emails, whatever content.

Once published, the calendar includes content types, a publication date and an active URL. They cover all available content channels.

A content calendar is a great document because it keeps it organized, structured, and consistent. You must consistently post great content to market and sell your product or service. A calendar also keeps your entire team in the loop – transparency is keyManage multiple social media accountsand keep the strategy intact.

Deck

A pitch deck is a presentation that describes your company, your products and services, and your business plan. It is usually a small 10-20 slideshow. It is used as a tool to attract and attract investors and encourage partners and customers.

If you're looking for investments to help your business grow, you should definitely have a presentation platform. This will help persuade and convince them to get involved with your business. It can also be used as a form of public relations to boost morale and confidence.

Bid templates

Signaturely offers a variety of free sales and marketing templates that you might need.

SEO proposal template

Hefree seo proposal templateYou can present your SEO services to a client and highlight your skills and experience. The document contains the following:

• services
• Project Details
• case studies
• credentials

A quality offering is important when running a company offering SEO services. SEO is very confusing for potential customers – the easier it is for them to understand, the better.

Website Design Proposal Template

Are you a website creator or developer? If so, thefree website design proposal templateand to you.

This proposal template includes:

• a cover sheet
• services provided
• Payment/Fees

A solid offer is the key to getting more and better business as a website designer/developer.

Video Production Proposal Template

Do you have a video production agency? This may interest youfree video production proposal template. It contains basic information about who you are and what you do. This allows you to communicate what services you can offer potential customers.

The offer template contains:

• a service area
• case studies
• credentials

Proposing leads is a sure way to attract more quality clients to your video production agency.

Consulting contract template

HeFree sample consultation contractoffers you a way to effectively monetize your services as a consultant. It is a legally binding contract drawn up with the help of legal experts and reviewers.

The contract template includes:

• services provided
• Payment/Program Details
• refunds

His experience, expertise and knowledge are invaluable as a consultant. Making sure you use a legally binding consulting contract protects you from a client withholding payment.

Frequently asked questions about business documents

Do you have questions about business documents? We'll cover some frequently asked questions below.

How to sign business documents online? (Signature)

Businessallows you to easily sign business documents online. You can use pre-made templates - there is a huge library of them. You can find any type of contract, proposal or agreement you can imagine.

You can also create your own personal signature, which can be handwritten or signed. This is automatically added to every document you create. The digital signature is 100% legitimate and legally binding.

You can do this if you need multiple signers for a document. The contract will be sent to your email address, where you can sign it directly.

How long should you keep business documents?

It depends on the document.

You must maintain financial, organizational, personnel and operational documents at all times.

These documents will help you if you have to pay taxes and avoid problems with the government/IRS.

Other documents, such as those used for sales and marketing, are less important. However, it can be useful to keep them.

What is the right stationery for business documents?

You need proper stationery if you use a paper-based system for your business document workflow. This includes paper, printer ink and maintaining a printer.

If you use electronic signature software like Signaturely, then you don't have to spend money on these expenses.

What legal documents are needed to start a small business?

The legal documents needed to start a small business can vary depending on the type of business you own.

For example, your company structure influences the documents you need. If you are an LLC, you will need an LLC Operating Agreement as well as the Articles of Incorporation. be sure to checkabout legal documentsyou need for yourbusiness structure.

The industry and nature of your business will also affect the documents you need. You may need licenses and permits.

Diploma

This article covered 20+ types of business documents that you and your team might need.

If you are in business, signing documents is an important way to legally protect your business. It is important to know which documents can benefit your business.

do you have questions? Leave us a comment. We would love to hear from our readers.