Who Signs a Contract First — You or the Client? (And Why It Matters Legally and Energetically)

It might seem like a small, throwaway detail:

Do you sign the contract first, or wait for your client to sign?

But that tiny decision carries weight — both legally and energetically.
And understanding what it signals can change how you hold your offers, your boundaries, and your business.

Why Signature Order Matters

When a contract doesn’t include a clearly stated effective date, the law defaults to the date of the last signature as the start of the agreement. That means the person who signs last is the one who officially "accepts" the deal.

This isn’t just a technicality — it determines the legal start date and sets the tone for the entire working relationship.

What Happens If You Sign First

If you sign first, you’re placing the offer in the client’s hands — and leaving it open for edits, delays, or uncertain timing.

If the client makes any changes before signing, and you’ve already signed, it creates ambiguity:
Are you agreeing to what you originally sent, or what they revised?
And what if they sit on the contract for days or weeks, delaying the legal start date — while work has already begun?

This is where you lose clarity. And often, power.

The Power of Signing Last

When you let the client sign first, you become the final acceptance.
That means:

• You hold the final say
• You approve the exact version of the contract they’ve agreed to
• You maintain legal and energetic leadership

You’re not being difficult. You’re holding structure.

And if the contract includes a proper effective date — one that reflects when the work actually began — then you’ve created a clean legal and energetic container, regardless of who signs when.

But without an effective date?
Signing second means the contract begins when you sign — and that may be your best option to ensure coverage and control.

So What’s the Right Move?

Here’s your aligned, empowered process:

• Send the contract unsigned
• Let the client review and sign first
• Then you sign second, sealing it with your own aligned yes

This approach:

• Ensures you approve the final version
• Prevents legal ambiguity around start dates
• Holds the energetic boundary that your offer is strong and clear

Key Takeaways

This isn’t about playing power games.
It’s about being intentional with your agreements- and energy.

Because how you hold your contracts is how you hold your business — and the clients who step into it.

Check out the CEOLegalCoach Resources Page for support in holding your terms with grace and grounded authority.

With love and alignment,
Acacia Thornton
CEOLegalCoach.com