Introduction
We have all been there: the client says âyesâ on the doorstep, then everything slows down. Texts fade, details blur, and the job start slips. The problem isnât your price or your workmanshipâitâs the gap between a verbal nod and a signed agreement. Hereâs the fix. This deepâdive shows how Donizoâs builtâin eâsignature turns your clear proposal into a legally binding acceptance in hours, not days. Youâll see the problem, the feature, exactly how it works stepâbyâstep, and the real results small teams are gettingâtime back, fewer disputes, faster starts.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Many contractors find eâsign brings approval times down from days to 24â48 hours on small jobs.
- Converting an accepted proposal to an invoice in one click commonly saves around 45â60 minutes per job.
- Sending a sameâday, photoâbacked proposal often halves client backâandâforth compared with a textâonly estimate.
- Voice, text, and photo capture on site can cut proposal prep to under 10 minutes for straightforward works.
The Problem With Verbal Approvals
Verbal âgoâaheadsâ feel good in the momentâuntil scope gets fuzzy, deposits lag, and start dates drift. Itâs common for unsigned jobs to be the ones that sit in limbo while clients âjust check somethingâ. Without a clear, signed PDF that spells out inclusions, exclusions, and acceptance criteria, you carry the risk.
Why Verbal Yes Fails In Practice
- Details get reâinterpreted after family discussions.
- Screenshots and texts arenât a solid audit trail.
- Deposits stall because thereâs nothing formal to anchor payment.
- Starts shift because thereâs no binding acceptance.
Practical Impact
- In general, unsigned work takes noticeably longer to start than jobs with a sameâday eâsign.
- Contractors often report that disputes cluster around projects that never had a properly signed proposal.
The EâSignature Feature Inside Donizo
Donizoâs proposal flow builds acceptance into the document itself. You capture the job (voice, text, photos), generate a professional PDF, send it with client portal access, and your client signs digitally for a legally binding acceptance.
What You Get
- Voice to Proposal: Speak the work while youâre on site; add text and photos for clarity.
- Send Proposal: Email a clean PDF with client portal access so clients can review easily.
- EâSignature Integration: Clients sign digitallyâno printing, no scanning.
- Invoice Management: Once accepted, convert to an invoice in one click and start tracking payments.
Plans At A Glance
- Discover (Free): Unlimited proposals using voice/text/image, eâsignature, PDF export (with watermark).
- Ascension (Paid): Everything in Free plus custom branding, invoicing and payment tracking, basic templates, analytics dashboard, priority support, and no watermark.
- Autopilot (Paid): Everything in Ascension plus advanced templates, margin estimator for pricing, multiâlanguage support, and work report exports.
How It Works On A Real Job
Letâs walk a typical small jobâsay, replacing a leaking outside tap and resealing penetrations through brickwork.
StepâByâStep Workflow
-
Capture On Site (3â7 minutes)
- Use voice notes to describe access, isolation, and finish expectations.
- Add photos: existing tap, brick penetration, sealant failure, and the area after cleaning.
- Write one or two acceptance points (e.g., âNo visible leaks at operating pressure after 10 minutesâ).
-
Generate The Proposal (2â3 minutes)
- Donizo turns your voice, text, and photos into a professional PDF.
- On paid plans, add your logo and company details for immediate trust.
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Send For EâSign (Under a minute)
- Email the proposal; client opens via the portal, reads lineâitems, checks photos, and signs digitally.
- According to common experience, signed approvals arrive within 24â48 hours when the proposal goes out the same day.
-
Convert To Invoice (1 click)
- Once signed, convert to an invoice and start payment tracking (Ascension and Autopilot).
- Many teams find this removes 45â60 minutes of reâtyping per job.
- No more âCan you resend?â because everything lives in one portal link.
- Acceptance is clear: the signed PDF binds the scope and any exclusions you wrote.
- You move to scheduling with confidence because the job is formally accepted.
Real Results Contractors Are Seeing
When proposals go out fast with photos and clear acceptance criteria, clients decide faster. Itâs common for small works to move from site visit to signed proposal inside 24â48 hours when you send the same day.
Time And Risk, Reduced
- Admin Time: In general, voiceâled capture plus oneâclick invoice creation saves about an hour across the proposalâtoâinvoice chain on straightforward jobs.
- BackâAndâForth: Photoâbacked line items often cut followâup messages significantly because the client can see exactly whatâs included.
- Start Delays: Jobs with a signed PDF tend to start days sooner than those waiting on a âIâll confirm laterâ text.
Example: OneâDay Tap + Sealant Fix
- Site capture and proposal: under 10 minutes using voice, text, and photos.
- Client signed the same evening.
- Invoice issued in one click the next morning; payment tracking started immediately.
- Outcome: no scope confusion, no âI thought silicone was included everywhereâ callbacks.
Implementation Tips And Common Mistakes
Make Your Proposal DecisionâReady
- Add 2â3 acceptance criteria: e.g., âNo visible leaks at operating pressure; neat, continuous bead, no gaps.â
- Use photos as evidence: Before/after where sensible; markâup optional areas to avoid scope creep.
- State assumptions and exclusions clearly: Access, makingâgood limits, responsibility for existing defects.
Avoid These Common Pitfalls
- Vague timelines: Write a realistic start window and duration inside the proposal.
- Missing client details: Confirm legal name, site address, and best email before sending.
- Sending next week: Momentum dies; sameâday sends win. Many contractors see higher acceptance when the proposal lands within 24 hours of the visit.
Plan Choice In Practice
- Starting out or testing: Discover gives unlimited proposals, eâsign, and PDFs (with watermark) at no cost.
- Need brand credibility and cash clarity: Ascension removes the watermark, adds your branding, invoicing, payment tracking, templates, analytics, and priority support.
- Higherâvolume or complex scopes: Autopilot brings advanced templates, a margin estimator for pricing, multiâlanguage support, and work report exports.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are EâSignatures Legally Binding For Home Improvement Work?
Yes. In the UK and across the EU, electronic signatures are generally recognised as legally valid when they show clear intent, identity, and an audit trail. Donizoâs eâsignature collects a digital acceptance on your proposal so you have a signed PDF thatâs practical for residential works.
Do My Clients Need Special Software To Sign?
No. You send the proposal by email; the client opens it via the portal link, reviews the PDF, and signs digitally. No printing or scanning required.
How Fast Can I Go From Yes To Invoice?
Once your client signs, you can convert the accepted proposal to an invoice in one click. In general, small teams save around 45â60 minutes per accepted job by skipping reâtyping and starting payment tracking immediately (Ascension and Autopilot).
Can I Use EâSign For Revised Scopes?
Yes. Send a revised proposal and have the client eâsign that specific document. Each signed proposal stands on its own and keeps your paper trail clean.
What Do I Get On The Free Plan?
Discover includes unlimited proposals with voice/text/image input, eâsignature capability, and PDF export with a watermark. Itâs a solid way to prove the flow before upgrading for branding, invoicing, payment tracking, templates, analytics, and support.
Conclusion
Verbal approvals are where small jobs go to die. A fast, photoâbacked proposal with builtâin eâsignature closes that gap. Youâll get clearer scopes, fewer disputes, andâmost importantlyâsigned acceptance in hours, not days. When the client signs, convert to an invoice in one click and keep cash moving.
If you want that flow without extra admin, try Donizo. Speak the scope, attach photos, send a professional PDF with eâsign, and turn the signed proposal into an invoiceâdone.