There are three stages to every Deal: Guided Review, Approval and Signature.

Stage 1: Guided Review

Parties exchange proposals and agree on Key Terms, Additional Terms and Attachments (if applicable).

Taking Your Turn

• This stage is turn based. The top navigation shows whose turn it is (the party with the "Reviewing" status next to their company name):

• When it's your turn: You work in private until you click Next and Send your reply to your Counterparty. 
• When it's your counterparty's turn: You are in view-only mode seeing your last proposal. It will remain this way until your counterparty completes their review.

Key Terms

• You will be shown your counterparty’s current proposal for each Key Term (and any history). Your options are:
  • Accept if you agree with the proposal. Status will change to Accepted.
  • Change if you would like to propose one of the options below:
    • Select an Auto-Accept alternative (if provided). 
    • Create your own proposal for review by the counterparty.
    • Add an optional comment.
  • Edit a selection to adjust your proposals.

Additional Terms

Responding:

• You will be shown your counterparty’s current proposal for each Additional Term (and any history). Your options are:
  • Accept if you agree and want to move the status of item to Accepted.
  • Change if you would like to propose one of the options below:
    • Modify allows you to edit the proposed language and see changes as redlines.
    • Reject the term
    • Add an optional comment.
  • Edit a selection to adjust your proposals.

Creating your own Additional Terms:

• + Click to Open Playbook: allows you to propose your own Additional Terms with examples from the Standard Playbook. 
  • You can customize any Additional Terms you drag and drop from the Standard Playbook by clicking Edit. 
• + Create New Term: allows you to draft your own proposed Additional Term.

Attachments

Responding:

• You will be shown your counterparty’s current proposal for each Attachment (and any history).Your options are:

Accept
Moves the Attachment status to Accepted.

Change
Depending on the Attachment type, you may be able to:

• Mark the Attachment as Under Review while you continue your review.
• Open, then review and propose changes directly within the Attachment (docx attachments only).
• Replace the Attachment with an alternative document.
• Reject the Attachment without providing a replacement.

Add an optional comment
Provide context or feedback to your counterparty regarding the Attachment.

Proposing Your Own Attachments

+ Upload Attachment
Allows you to propose a new Attachment to your counterparty for review.

Ending your Turn

• Next: review your response to all Key Terms, Additional Terms and Attachments. Note: the Next button is not available until you have acted on all elements of a proposal. 
• Send: Returns Deal to counterparty with your proposals.

Moving to Approval Stage (Automatic)

• When all Key Terms, Additional Terms and any Attachments are Accepted, the parties are both moved to Approval stage.
   

Stage 2: Approval

Each party achieves approval for the Deal from any designated Approvers.

Approver Actions:

• Approve deal (with optional comment) or 'Request Changes' to send comment to Owner.

Owner Actions:

• Move to Signature, once any required Approvals are achieved.
• Remove Approver (requires Admin or Supervisor-level permission)
• Cancel Deal: permanently ends Deal.
• Set Reminders: send a reminder to all parties (on either side) who are required to act on a Deal to move it forward.
• Request to Change Terms: propose change to previously Accepted Key Term, Additional Term or Attachment.
  • Note regarding Request to Change Terms: your Counterparty will have the option of returning both parties to Guided Review to consider your proposal or keeping the parties in Approval stage with no further changes.  

Note regarding Guest Users: Guest Users do not have the ability to add Approvers or otherwise access Deal Team. To add Approvers, create a free account or upgrade to paid account.  
 

Moving to Signature Stage

• When a party has achieved any required Approvals, they may Move to Signature. 
• When both parties have selected Move to Signature, the Deal is moved to Signature stage.
   

Stage 3: Signature

The parties sign the Cover Page using an electronic signature workflow or by signing outside the Bonterms Platform.

Sender Designates Signature Method:

Initiate Signature (Docusign or HelloSign)

• Sender initiates signature of the Cover Page through their connected e-signature account. 

• Once signature is initiated, all designated Signers receive an email prompting them to review and sign the Cover Page. Depending on your organization's configuration, Signers may complete their signature directly within the Bonterms Platform or through the connected e-signature provider.

Download and Sign Off-Platform

• The Sender may opt to "Sign Deal Off-Platform", download the Cover Page and coordinate signature outside the Bonterms Platform.

• After all required signatures have been collected, the Sender can mark the Deal as signed off platform and upload the completed PDF.
• Important: If signing outside the Bonterms Platform, both parties are responsible for ensuring the signed Cover Page reflects the final agreed terms of the Deal.

Multiple Signers

A Deal may have up to two Signers per party.

When a second Signer has been added:

• Both Signers are required to sign.
• Either Signer may sign first.
• The Deal will not be considered fully executed until all required Signers have completed signing.

For more information, see Add a Second Signer.

Updated June 23, 2026 16:25