Sign a customer quote online, in less than 2 minutes
Commercial quote electronically accepted with qualified timestamping enforceable in court. The acceptance forms the contract (Article 1101 Civil Code) and prevents any late dispute over scope, price, or timeline. Compliant with Article 1366 of the Civil Code and the eIDAS regulation — advanced signature recommended, bulk send for campaign peaks, 10-year archiving included.
- Legal framework
- Article 1101 Civil Code
- Signature level
- eIDAS AES recommended
- Legal archiving
- 10 years included
What is an electronically signed quote?
A quote is a detailed commercial offer that the service provider sends to their client: price, scope, conditions, timeline. As soon as the client accepts it (signature, approval confirmation), it constitutes contract formation — this is Article 1101 of the Civil Code. Advanced electronic signature (AES) timestamps this acceptance with a level of proof enforceable before commercial court. Article 1366 of the Civil Code grants electronic documents the same evidential force as paper documents, provided the signatory is identified and the document is intact — exactly what Certyneo guarantees via dual-channel OTP and SHA-256 fingerprint embedded in the PDF.
Why sign the quote electronically?
Timestamped acceptance enforceable in court
Qualified timestamping certifies the exact date of acceptance — the start of the contract (Article 1101 Civil Code). It prevents any late dispute over "I didn''t accept" or "the version was modified afterward". Admissible before commercial court in case of dispute over the order.
90% conversion within 24 hours
The client signs from their phone in less than 2 minutes, without downloading an app or creating an account. SMS OTP formally identifies the signatory. Observed conversion rate: 90% of quotes signed within 24 hours, vs 3-5 days on average for paper or email PDF quotes.
Bulk send Q3-Q4
Import 50 or 200 quotes at once from a CSV — each envelope is sent with its signatories and template, essential for handling back-to-school and year-end weeks without overwhelming production or sales teams.
eIDAS enforceable audit trail
Each signed quote comes with a proof PDF: signatory identity (email + SMS OTP), qualified timestamping, SHA-256 fingerprint, IP and rough geolocation, consultation log. Enforceable before commercial court in case of dispute over acceptance, scope, or price.
Sign a customer quote in 4 steps
From quote upload to enforceable archiving, in less than 5 minutes.
1. Upload the quote
Upload your PDF (Sage, EBP, Tiime quote, or Certyneo template) or start from a template. Recommended information: net/gross price, scope limitedly enumerated, timeline, payment terms, offer validity period.
2. Add the signing customer
Enter the name, email, and phone number of the decision-maker contact on the client side. They will receive a personalized secure link. For major account clients, add the procurement director as co-signer.
3. Choose the eIDAS level
Advanced signature (AES) recommended for B2B quotes: identity verification by SMS OTP, unique certificate per signer, qualified timestamp. Compliant with Article 26 of the eIDAS regulation. Simple signature (SES) is sufficient for very small amounts.
4. Sign and archive
The client signs from their phone or computer, generally within 24 hours. The accepted quote + proof PDF are archived for 10 years automatically, accessible at any time from your dashboard for tax audits or disputes.
Frequently asked questions
- Is an electronically signed quote equivalent to a firm order?
- Yes. Article 1101 of the Civil Code defines a contract as an agreement of wills intended to create legal effects — an accepted quote is equivalent to an order. Certyneo''s advanced electronic signature formally identifies the signer (dual-channel OTP) and guarantees the integrity of the quote as accepted (SHA-256 hash embedded in the PDF). Admissible before the commercial court in case of late dispute.
- Which signature level to choose: SES, AES, or QES?
- For a B2B quote with full legal value, advanced signature (AES) is the professional standard — identity verification by SMS OTP, unique certificate per signer, qualified timestamp. SES (simple signature) is sufficient for very small amounts or confirmatory quotes. QES is rarely necessary for commercial quotes.
- What happens if the quote is modified after acceptance?
- Any modification after acceptance invalidates the signature: the SHA-256 hash of the signed document is included in the proof PDF. If the quote is modified, the hash no longer matches, and the modification is instantly detectable. To formalize a modification, you must issue an amendment or a new quote to sign.
- How to manage a multi-page quote or with annexes?
- Certyneo signs the complete quote, multiple pages and annexes included, in a single unified PDF. The SHA-256 hash covers the entire document. You can add signature fields to each critical annex page (Terms and Conditions, payment schedule, technical sheet) to materialize detailed acceptance.
- For how long must accepted quotes be retained?
- 10 years from the last issuance, in accordance with Article L123-22 of the French Commercial Code. Certyneo retains the signed quote and its eIDAS audit trail for this entire duration, free of charge, with immediate access from your dashboard to respond to tax audits or advertiser audits.
- Can you automatically follow up with a client who has not yet signed?
- Yes — Certyneo sends configurable automatic reminders (default D+2, D+5, D+7). You can customize the delay and content, or disable reminders for sensitive clients. Each reminder is tracked in the audit trail (send date, opening, action).
- Does Certyneo integrate with my CRM or quote tool?
- Yes, via native Zapier and Make connectors and our webhooks. You can automatically trigger the creation of a Certyneo envelope upon validation of a HubSpot, Pipedrive, Sellsy, Axonaut, or any other CRM quote. Our REST API is documented on certyneo.com/developers for custom integrations.
- Is an electronically signed quote enforceable before a commercial court?
- Yes — French case law unanimously recognizes eIDAS-compliant electronic signatures. The presumption of reliability in Article 1367 of the Civil Code makes advanced signature (AES) enforceable without further proof, subject to producing the eIDAS audit trail in court (proof PDF automatically delivered by Certyneo). Recognized by French commercial courts for contractual disputes.
Also read
Sign your first client quote online
Permanent free plan (5 envelopes/month), no credit card required. Timestamped acceptance enforceable. Audit trail and 10-year archiving included.