Electronic Signature Pricing: 4 Considerations Before You Buy

How much does electronic signature software cost? The answer isn’t always obvious. Plans are often based on the volume of documents, the number of users, included features, or some combination thereof. Although it’s not always easy, when evaluating electronic signature software it’s important to understand the true cost of each solution to ensure it will meet your needs and budget. To help you identify the best offering for your organization, here are 4 pricing considerations when choosing electronic signature software:

Number of Users

A good place to start is to consider the number of users allowed within each plan. The number of users you will need will depend on how many people in your organization will be sending documents for signature and/or will need access to the files stored within the system. As a best practice, consider using one system across departments to keep information centralized and easily accessible. Once you know the number of users you will need, you can better assess what pricing options will provide the most value.  

Document Limits

Software providers commonly refer to the documents sent for signature as envelopes or packets. These serve as a container for a single, or group of documents sent to an individual or multiple signers included within the agreement(s). Check to see if the providers you are evaluating have limits on the number of envelopes or documents, you can send and how those limits apply - per user/per month, per account/per year, or other. If there are limits, estimate the volume of documents your organization will need to send. When estimating, remember to account for internal documents like HR agreements and employment contracts in addition to external documents like invoices, vendor contracts, etc. 

Overages

It can be difficult for organizations to pin down the precise number of documents they will need to send for signature. So be sure to check if the software provider charges for overages (when document limits are exceeded). Providers that charge overages may not alert you to the fact that you have gone over your plan allotment, which can easily lead to surprise fees and ballooning bills. If you don’t want the hassle of tracking the number of envelopes your organization sends, or worrying about possible overages, consider opting for a plan that allows for unlimited documents for greater flexibility. 

Implementation and Support

Is everyone in your organization tech-savvy? Will you want help implementing the software? Who will you talk to when questions or issues arise? It may be surprising to learn that many software solutions don’t provide live support, or only do so within particular pricing tiers. Having a smooth implementation process and ongoing customer support will help ensure you and your colleagues can take full advantage of the system's capabilities. Otherwise, what was the point of getting all the new capabilities in the first place? So when evaluating electronic signature pricing options, take into consideration what their implementation process is, how they provide customer support, and if any additional fees apply. 

The right electronic signature solution for your organization and budget may be entirely different from what’s best for another. So it’s worth keeping these 4 pricing considerations in mind and doing your homework before making your selection. To further assess the value provided by different software solutions, be sure to request a demo or free trial of the product. Click here to request your demo of ReadySign today.