Signing a PDF online, one step at a time.

There is no need to print a document, sign it by hand, scan it back in and email the result. Whether it is a lease, an employment agreement or a simple consent form, you can get a PDF signed in a web browser. This guide walks through the whole process, from the file on your computer to the signed copy in your records.

What to have ready

• The PDF you need signed, saved on your computer.
• A web browser. Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Edge all work, with nothing to install.
• An email address for your SignAndGo account, where the signed copies also arrive.
• The name and email address of each person who needs to sign.

No printer, no scanner and no trip to the post office.

Step 1: Upload your PDF

From your dashboard, start a new envelope and upload the document. Drag the file into the upload area or browse for it. Once it is uploaded you see a full preview of every page, so you can check it is the right version before going further.

Step 2: Place the fields

Next you show where each person needs to sign or fill something in. Drag fields onto the page and assign each one to the right signer.

• Signature. The signer can draw, type or upload their signature.
• Initials. Useful on longer agreements where each page needs initialing.
• Date. Filled in with the date of signing.
• Name. The signer's name.
• Text. Any other detail you need from the signer, such as an address.

Step 3: Add your signers and send

Enter the email address of everyone who needs to sign and add a short message for the invitation. With more than one signer you can set a signing order, which helps when a contract has to be signed in sequence, such as the employee first and then their manager.

When you send, each recipient gets an email with a secure link. They do not need an account. They open the link, review the document and sign in their browser.

Step 4: Track progress

Your dashboard shows where every envelope stands. You can see when each recipient opened the document, who has signed and who is still to sign, and the audit trail records each view and signature with the time and IP address. If someone is slow, send a reminder from the envelope or set reminders to go out automatically.

Step 5: Download the signed document

When everyone has signed, you receive an email saying the document is complete, and the signed PDF is available from your dashboard. It includes every signature in the document itself, a completion certificate showing who signed and when, and the audit trail. Because it is a standard PDF, you can file it wherever you keep your records.

Tips for a smooth signing

• Label your fields clearly so each signer knows exactly what to fill in.
• Set an expiry date so a document does not sit in someone's inbox indefinitely.
• Include a personal message explaining what the document is and why it matters.
• Send a test to yourself first to see exactly what your signers will see.
• Save recurring documents as templates so the fields are already in place next time.