Using GoSign is straightforward once you understand how it's structured. But like any tool, knowing where everything lives and which workflow to reach for makes a big difference. This guide walks you through the three core workflows, the settings worth configuring from the start, and a few tips to get the most out of the platform.
The Three Core Workflows
When you log into GoSign, the dashboard presents a "Get started" panel with three options: Sign a Document, Send an Envelope, and Create Template. Everything in GoSign flows from these three actions.
1. Sign a Document
Use this when you're the one who needs to sign, no one else involved. Think countersigning a contract, approving an internal document, or signing an offer letter you've received.
How to do it:
- 1. From the dashboard, click Sign a Document.
- 2. Upload your PDF via drag-and-drop or click-to-upload.
- 3. Drag a Signature field onto the document. Add any other fields you need like Date, Initials, Text, etc.
- 4. Click SIGN YOURSELF in the top-right corner of the editor.
- 5. Click DOWNLOAD to save your signed PDF.
Here’s a quick Tip: You can save your signature ahead of time under Profile → Create Signature.
2. Send an Envelope
This is GoSign's main workflow. You upload a document, place the fields, and send it to one or more people to sign. Recipients get an email with a signing link, no account required on their end.
How to do it:
- 1. Click Send an Envelope from the dashboard (or go to Documents → + Create).
- 2. Give the document a clear name, e.g., "Service Agreement – Client Name."
- 3. Upload your PDF.
- 4. From the right panel, drag fields onto the document: Signature, Initials, Date, Text, Checkbox, Number, Image, and more. Each field is tied to a "party" (recipient).
- 5. To add multiple signers, click + next to "First Party," add your additional parties, and assign the relevant fields to each.
- 6. Click SAVE, then SEND. Enter recipient name(s) and email(s), confirm, and the envelope is on its way.
Tracking your envelopes: Go to Submissions in the top navigation. Each envelope shows a status — Sent, Viewed, Signed, Completed, or Declined, along with quick actions like Copy Link, View, and Archive. To see the full audit trail, click View on any envelope, then EVENT LOG in the top-right. This shows every view, every signature, and every device used, timestamped. This is your legal record if a signature is ever disputed.
3. Create a Template
If you're sending the same type of document more than once — service agreements, change orders, deposit forms, client authorizations, you shouldn't be re-uploading and repositioning fields every single time. Templates solve that.
A template is a document you configure once, then reuse indefinitely. The PDF, the field layout, the parties, all of it is saved and ready to go whenever you need it.
How to do it:
- 1. Click Create Template from the dashboard (or go to Documents → + Create).
- 2. Name it clearly and assign it to a folder.
- 3. Upload the PDF and place your fields — same process as Send an Envelope.
- 4. Click SAVE. The template is now stored in your Documents library.
Next time you need it, open the template and click SEND TO RECIPIENTS.
Settings to Configure Early
GoSign has a handful of settings that are easy to miss but genuinely worth your time. Most of these you only configure once, and once they're on, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner.
A few one-time setup steps will save you time and headaches down the line.
Profile → Create Signature / Create Initials Save your signature once so you don't have to redraw it every time you sign a document yourself.
Profile → Set up 2FA Enable two-factor authentication. These are legally binding documents — your account is worth protecting.
Account → Time Zone & Language Set your local time zone so that audit-log timestamps are accurate and usable in the event of a dispute.
Account → Preferences Four toggles worth switching on:
- Combine completed documents and Audit Log - bundles the audit page into the same PDF the signer receives.
- Always enforce the signing order - routes multi-party documents sequentially instead of all at once.
- Allow to decline documents - lets signers formally decline rather than leaving the envelope in limbo.
- Expirable file download links - completed-PDF links expire automatically, which is safer for email delivery.
Notifications → Sign Request Email Reminders Set up to three automatic reminders for unsigned documents. No more chasing people manually.
Personalization (Unlock plan and above) Upload your company logo and customize the three email templates — signature request, copy delivery, and completion notification, as well as what signers see after they complete a document.
E-Signature → Verify Signed PDF Drop in any signed PDF — from GoSign or another tool — to verify the signature is intact and untampered. Handy when a counter-party sends you a document signed elsewhere and you want to confirm it hasn't been modified.
A Note on Plans
GoSign's free tier covers 10 envelopes per month, 1 user, 10 templates, and core signing features including audit trails. That's enough to get a real feel for the platform.
The Unlock plan ($9/mo) removes those limits - unlimited envelopes, unlimited users with no per-seat fees, bulk send, and GoSign branding removed from documents.
Unleash ($25/mo) adds developer features: full REST API, webhooks, SSO/OAuth, API keys, and custom branding.
Deploy is for regulated or on-premises environments - HIPAA and SOC2 readiness, private cloud hosting, and dedicated support. Pricing is custom; contact the team.
Yearly billing saves 17% across all paid plans. Full details at gosign.work/#pricing.
Getting the Most Out of GoSign
Once you've completed the initial setup, the biggest efficiency gains come from templates and reminders. If you have even two or three document types you send regularly, converting them into templates and enabling automatic reminders will cut most of the back-and-forth out of your signing workflow.
Start with your most-used document, build the template, then let GoSign handle the follow-ups. That's when the tool really starts working for you.
