Templates in SignNow let you create reusable versions of your frequently used documents — such as contracts, forms, or agreements — so you don’t have to start from scratch each time. This is especially valuable when managing multiple signers and their fields. Using templates ensures consistency, reduces errors, and speeds up the document preparation process. You can predefine roles, signature fields, and routing orders once, then send the template to new recipients anytime with just a few clicks, keeping your signing workflows fast, reliable, and organized.
With templates in SignNow, you can:
SignNow also offers two primary options for managing and sending files: Templates and Documents. Templates are reusable files designed for repeated use with variable fields, while Documents are one-time uploads for specific, non-repetitive use cases. Understanding these distinctions can help streamline your workflow and save time.
Quickly reuse your most frequently used documents and forms without recreating them each time.
Set up complex signing workflows with multiple roles, steps, and routing orders.
Generate unique signing links to collect multiple individually signed copies of the same document.
Send documents in bulk for signature to multiple recipients simultaneously.
Collaborate by sharing and managing templates within your workspace.
Pre-fill fields in templates to save time and ensure accuracy before sending.
Group multiple documents into a single package using document group templates for consistency and efficiency.
When to Use Templates vs Documents
Templates: Ideal for recurring documents with variable fields, such as contracts or leases, where the structure remains consistent but details change.
Documents: Best for one-time use cases, such as unique agreements or non-repetitive files, sent to specific recipients.
Create a Template
From the existing Document
You can turn any existing, fully prepared form into a template, ensuring that the original document remains intact and is not reused or overwritten. This allows you to preserve your base file with all fields, roles, and signing logic already configured.
Creating templates is especially valuable when you frequently send out similar agreements — for example, NDAs, HR forms, or sales contracts. Instead of re-uploading or reconfiguring fields each time, you can simply select your saved template, add new recipients, and send it out immediately. This not only saves time but also ensures consistency, accuracy, and a smoother signing process for every signer.
For instance, you can upload a blank lease agreement as a template and update tenant-specific details for each new lease. Similarly, templates can be used for contracts where the structure remains the same, but details like property and owner information change. These examples demonstrate how templates can save time and ensure consistency.
To create a template, open the document you want to reuse and click Make Template — either directly on the document or by clicking the Make Template button next to the document. Once created, your template will appear in the Templates folder on the left sidebar for easy access.
Create a fresh Template
You can also upload documents directly to the Templates folder to make them instantly reusable for future signing sessions. This is a fast way to build your library of ready-to-send forms and agreements without manually creating each one.
To upload templates, follow these steps:
Navigate to the Templates folder or any of its subfolders.
Click +Create at the top left corner of your SignNow account.
Select Templates.
Click Upload to select a form from your device or Select from Existing Documents to reuse your existing SignNow document as a template. Click here to learn more about migrating templates from DocuSign.
By uploading directly to the Templates folder, you can store your most frequently used documents in one centralized location, maintain consistent formatting and fields across all uses, and enable your entire team to access and send standardized templates quickly — ensuring efficiency, accuracy, and compliance across all signing workflows.
Additionally, pre-filling standard fields in templates before sending them can save time and reduce errors. Organizing reusable files under Templates and one-time files under Documents helps maintain a well-structured and efficient SignNow account.