Question 1

What is the e-signature integration?

Accepted Answer

Familiar sends contracts for signature through Documenso, an open-source e-signature platform. The author gets an email with a link to review and sign, with no account needed. Once everyone has signed, the signed PDF is saved to the book and the contributor it belongs to.

Question 2

Can I use my own contract templates?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Upload your contract as a PDF and place the signature, date and other fields in the template editor. Keep as many templates as you need (author agreements, illustrator contracts, work-for-hire) and mark one as the default. Uploading a revised PDF keeps the earlier versions in the template’s history.

Question 3

How do I set up default royalty terms in a template?

Accepted Answer

Each template carries its own royalty rates by format (with escalators if you use them), a default advance and a reserve policy. Familiar also reads the terms out of the PDF you upload and lists what it finds for you to review. Contracts created from the template start with those terms, and you can change a book’s terms at any time.

Question 4

Can I send contracts to multiple authors at once?

Accepted Answer

You can set up terms for many authors at once: apply a template to a list of books and contributors in one step, or import a CSV that names the template or terms for each book. Signature requests go to one author at a time, and every contract out for signature is listed in one place with its status.

Question 5

What happens after a contract is signed?

Accepted Answer

The signed PDF is saved to the book, and a message goes to the book’s message board for your team and any agent assigned to the book. The contract’s royalty terms were set up on the book when you created it, so the next royalty run already uses them.

Question 6

Are e-signatures legally binding?

Accepted Answer

Electronic signatures are generally recognized as binding, including under the US ESIGN Act and the EU’s eIDAS regulation, and Familiar records when each contract was opened and signed. If a contract has unusual requirements in your jurisdiction, check with your lawyer.

Question 7

What does contract management cost?

Accepted Answer

Contracts are part of royalty management. A book counts once it has royalty terms, the first 10 books are free, and each book after that is $1 per month. There are no per-signature fees.

Question 8

Can contributors access their contracts?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Once everyone has signed, each signer is emailed the completed contract and can download the signed PDF from there. Contributors and their agents can also see and download the addendums on their own books. They never see another contributor’s documents or your team’s internal notes. Your team can download any signed contract from the book.

Publishing contract managementSigned, countersigned and on the books

From template to signed contract

Set the terms once, on the template.

The author signs first, then your press.

Change the deal without redoing the contract.

Bring every existing contract in from one file.

From template to signature

Upload your contract

Set the terms

Send it

Signed and filed

Contract management FAQ

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