Is an offer letter the same as an employment contract?

Usually not. An offer letter summarizes key terms and, in the US, typically confirms at-will employment. An employment contract is a fuller agreement that may set a fixed term or detailed termination rights.

What should an offer letter include?

At minimum the job title, start date, manager, compensation and the nature of the employment relationship. Many companies add benefits, equity or contingencies such as a background check; add those in the editor.

How does the candidate sign?

You add the candidate's email and send. They open a link, review the letter and sign in the browser, with no account needed. You both get the signed PDF.

Free template

Offer letter template

An offer letter sets out the main terms of a job offer in writing: the role, the start date, who the person reports to and what they will be paid. The candidate accepts by signing it. Edit it in the browser and send it for signature from the same page; the free plan includes 5 sends a month and never asks for a card.

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When to use it

Making a written offer after a verbal yes, so both sides have the same terms.
Hiring at a company that does not have an HR system with offer templates built in.
Sending an offer that needs to be signed quickly, from a phone, before it expires.

What's in it

1.Position and start date
2.Compensation
3.Employment relationship
4.Acceptance

Plus signature, name and date fields for candidate and hiring manager.

The full template

The text you start from, exactly as it opens in the editor. Bracketed blanks are yours to fill in; highlighted fields are filled by each signer.

Offer of Employment

Dear Full name — Candidate,

We are delighted to offer you a position with our team. This letter sets out the principal terms of our offer.

Position and start date

Title: Text — Hiring manager

Start date: Text — Hiring manager

Reports to: Text — Hiring manager

Compensation

Base salary: Text — Hiring manager

Compensation is paid on the company's regular payroll schedule and is subject to applicable withholdings.

Employment relationship

Employment is at will. Either you or the company may end the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice.

Acceptance

To accept this offer, please sign below. This offer expires fourteen (14) days from the date it is sent.

Accepted by candidate

Signature: Signature — Candidate

Name: Full name — Candidate

Date: Date signed — Candidate

For the company

Signature: Signature — Hiring manager

Name: Full name — Hiring manager

Date: Date signed — Hiring manager

This template is a general-purpose starting point written in plain English for use in the United States. It is not legal advice and has not been reviewed for your situation; for anything high-stakes, have a lawyer review the final version.

How to send it for signature

Step 1
Start from the template
It opens as a document in the editor with both parties' signature, name and date fields already placed. Fill in the bracketed blanks and change any clause.
Step 2
Add who signs
Put an email address on each party, set the signing order if it matters, add an access code if you want one, and add a viewer for anyone who only needs to read it.
Step 3
Send it and track it
Each signer gets a link and signs in the browser, no account needed. You see who has opened and signed, and everyone gets the completed PDF with a certificate of completion.

Start free with this template

Questions

Is an offer letter the same as an employment contract?: Usually not. An offer letter summarizes key terms and, in the US, typically confirms at-will employment. An employment contract is a fuller agreement that may set a fixed term or detailed termination rights.
What should an offer letter include?: At minimum the job title, start date, manager, compensation and the nature of the employment relationship. Many companies add benefits, equity or contingencies such as a background check; add those in the editor.
How does the candidate sign?: You add the candidate's email and send. They open a link, review the letter and sign in the browser, with no account needed. You both get the signed PDF.

Your own templates, too.

Save any document as a template for the team, with its parties and signature blocks, and start the next one from it in a click.

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