Gone are the days of printing a document, signing it by hand, scanning it back in, and emailing the result. Today, you can sign a PDF online in under two minutes using nothing more than a web browser. Whether you need to sign a lease agreement, an employment contract, or a simple consent form, this guide walks you through the entire process from start to finish.
What You Need Before You Start
Signing a PDF online is straightforward, but having a few things ready will make the process even smoother:
- The PDF document you need to sign, saved on your computer or accessible via a link.
- A web browser — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge all work. No special software or plugins are required.
- An email address to create your free account and receive signed copies.
- Recipient details — if you are sending the document to others for their signatures, you will need their email addresses.
That is it. No printers, no scanners, no fax machines, and no trips to the post office.
Step 1: Create a Free Account
Head to SignAndGo's registration page and create a free account. You can sign up with your email address, or use Google or Microsoft single sign-on for a faster setup. The free tier gives you 5 envelopes at no cost — no credit card required.
Once you have confirmed your email, you are taken straight to the dashboard where you can upload your first document.
Step 2: Upload Your PDF
Click "New Envelope" from the dashboard. You will be prompted to upload your document. SignAndGo accepts PDF files up to 20MB. Simply drag and drop your file into the upload area, or click to browse your computer.
Alternatively, you can use one of SignAndGo's 14 pre-built Australian legal templates — including NDAs, employment agreements, contractor agreements, and more. Each template is customised with your company details using AI, so you can skip the document preparation step entirely.
Once uploaded, your PDF is displayed in a full-page preview so you can verify it looks correct before proceeding.
Step 3: Add Signature Fields
This is where you tell the system exactly where signatures, initials, dates, and other fields should appear on the document. SignAndGo provides a visual drag-and-drop editor that makes this intuitive.
Available field types include:
- Signature — the primary signing field. Signers can draw, type, or upload their signature.
- Initials — useful for multi-page agreements where each page needs initialling.
- Date — auto-populated with the signing date.
- Name — pre-filled with the signer's name from their account.
- Text — for any custom input the signer needs to provide (e.g., address, ABN).
SignAndGo's AI-powered field detection can also suggest where fields should go based on the document content, saving you time on common document layouts.
Step 4: Add Recipients and Send
Enter the email addresses of everyone who needs to sign. You can add a personalised message that will appear in the signing invitation email. If you have multiple signers, you can set a signing order — useful when contracts need to be signed sequentially (e.g., employee first, then manager).
Each recipient is assigned their specific fields, so everyone knows exactly what they need to complete. When you are satisfied with the setup, click "Send" and the signing invitations go out immediately.
Recipients receive an email with a secure link to sign. They do not need a SignAndGo account to sign — they simply click the link, review the document, and add their signature directly in the browser.
Step 5: Track Progress in Real Time
Once sent, your dashboard shows the real-time status of every envelope. You can see:
- Whether the email was delivered
- When each recipient opened the document
- Who has signed and who is still pending
- The complete audit trail with timestamps and IP addresses
If someone has not signed after a few days, SignAndGo sends automatic reminders. You can also send a manual nudge directly from the envelope detail page if needed.
Step 6: Download the Signed Document
Once all parties have signed, you receive an email notification confirming the document is complete. The signed PDF is available for download from your dashboard at any time. It includes:
- All signatures embedded directly in the PDF
- A certificate of completion with signing timestamps
- An audit trail showing every action taken on the document
The signed document is a standard PDF that you can store in your document management system, share with your accountant, or archive for your records. All documents are stored securely in Australian data centres (Sydney) for as long as your account is active.
Is It Legally Binding?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally recognised in Australia under the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (Cth) and corresponding state and territory legislation. An electronically signed document carries the same legal weight as a wet-ink signature for most purposes. For a deeper dive into the legal framework, read our guide on whether eSignatures are legal in Australia.
There are a few exceptions — wills, powers of attorney, and certain real property transactions may still require wet-ink signatures depending on your state. But for the vast majority of business documents — contracts, agreements, NDAs, consent forms, HR paperwork — electronic signatures are perfectly valid.
Tips for a Smooth Signing Experience
- Use clear field labels. When placing fields, add instructions so signers know exactly what to do. This reduces confusion and speeds up completion.
- Set a signing deadline. Adding an expiration date creates gentle urgency and ensures documents do not sit in inboxes indefinitely.
- Include a personal message. A brief note explaining what the document is and why it matters increases signing rates significantly.
- Test with yourself first. Send a test envelope to your own email to see exactly what the recipient experience looks like. This is especially useful when setting up templates you will reuse.
- Use templates for recurring documents. If you send the same type of document regularly (e.g., client agreements, NDAs), save it as a template. SignAndGo's template library includes 14 ready-made Australian legal templates you can customise and send in seconds.
Why Choose SignAndGo?
There are many online PDF signing tools available, but SignAndGo is purpose-built for Australian businesses. Here is what sets it apart:
- Australian data residency — your documents are stored in Sydney, not overseas.
- Free tier — sign up to 5 documents at no cost, no credit card required.
- AI-powered field detection — intelligent field placement suggestions save setup time.
- 14 legal templates — NDAs, employment agreements, contractor agreements, and more.
- No software to install — works entirely in the browser on any device.
- Affordable pricing — plans start from just $29/month with unlimited envelopes.
For a detailed pricing comparison with other platforms, visit our pricing page or read our SignAndGo vs DocuSign comparison.