Creating a contract

Create a contract for a contact, add your agreement and use variables to fill in available client, booking and invoice details. CoreHue checks for missing details before you send it.

Start a new contract

1. Go to Documents → Contracts and choose New contract, or use the plus beside Contracts in the sidebar.
2. Under Related to, pick the contact, booking or inquiry this contract is for.
3. Optionally pick an Invoice (optional) to link, and set an Expiry Date if you want a deadline for signing.
4. Write the contract, or load a template (see below).
5. Choose Save Draft to keep working later, or Save & Send to move on to sending.

You can also start a contract from a contact, a booking or an inquiry. That way the Related to field is already filled.

What the details card does

• Related to decides who the contract goes to and where the client variables get their values.
• Invoice (optional) is where the invoice variables (total, deposit, balance) get their values. New invoice at the bottom of the picker takes you off to create one, so save your draft first.
• Expiry Date is the last day your client can sign. Leave it empty for no deadline.

Start from a template

1. Open Actions in the toolbar and choose Start from template.
2. Pick a template and choose Use template.

Loading a template replaces whatever is in the body and fields, so do it before you start writing. Your account comes with templates matched to your specialism, and Templates → Contracts has a library of more. See Contract templates.

Once loaded, the contract is its own document. Editing the template later won't change it.

Write and format

The editor works like a simple word processor. Pick Body, Heading 1, Heading 2 or Heading 3 from the block menu, then use bold, italic, underline, highlight, lists, dividers, alignment and links as you need them.

Headings make a real difference. A client who can find the cancellation clause in five seconds is a client who actually reads it. Not sure what to include? Writing a photography contract has a section-by-section checklist.

Add variables and blanks

Two buttons in the toolbar do the clever part:

• Insert Variable adds a variable that CoreHue fills in for you, like Client Name, Booking Date or Invoice Total.
• Client Field adds a blank your client fills in while signing, like the name of their day-of coordinator.

The blanks you add are listed under the contract body as Client fields, so you can see exactly what you're asking for. Variables and blanks has the full list and how each one is filled.

Signing first (optional)

Some clients expect to see your signature on the contract before they add theirs. Once the contract is sent, open it and choose Pre-sign from its menu, then draw or type your signature. Your client sees it when they open the link, and the moment they sign, the contract is Completed with no counter-signing step. See Counter-signing and completing a contract.

Save it as a template

When you've written a contract you're happy with, open Actions and choose Save as template. Give it a title and a short description so you can find it later.

If you started from a template and improved it as you went, Update source template pushes your changes back to that template. It's only offered while you're writing a new contract.

Numbering

CoreHue numbers contracts automatically, in order, as soon as you save the draft. Numbers are never reused.

Before you send, read it as your client

Open the draft and read it top to bottom as if you were the client. Check that every variable makes sense for this job. If a variable has nothing to fill it, CoreHue stops the send and tells you which one and why, so nothing goes out with a gap. Then head to Sending a contract for signature.

Frequently asked questions

Can I edit a contract after I've sent it?

Yes. You can edit a sent contract as long as nobody has signed it and it hasn't expired. CoreHue asks you to confirm first, keeps the earlier version as a private record, and only notifies your client if you choose Save & send. See Sending a contract for signature.

Can I make a copy of a contract for another client?

Yes. Open the contract and choose Duplicate contract from its menu to make a copy, then change Related to. For a contract you'll reuse often, save it as a template instead.

Can I upload a PDF or Word contract?

No. CoreHue contracts are written in the contract editor so variables, blanks and signatures work. Paste your existing wording in, then add headings and variables.

Can I delete a draft?

Yes. Open the draft contract and choose Delete draft from its menu. Sent contracts can't be deleted, but you can void one you no longer need.