Complete unsigned contract, pen and amber clause marker arranged for review

Before You Sign a Contract: Checklist

A signature can approve more than the headline deal. Trace every document, recurring obligation, exit route and personal promise first.

Confirmevery attachment
Locatethe exit terms
Recordpromises in writing

How to review a contract before signing

Assemble the complete contract

Collect every page, exhibit, schedule, policy and linked term. Record version dates and resolve every blank before review.

Calculate the full obligation

Map the price, recurring charges, increases, due dates, late fees, deposits and conditions that can trigger another payment.

Trace renewal, exit and disputes

Find notice deadlines, cancellation costs, automatic renewal, default, arbitration, venue and any personal guarantee.

Reconcile the signing copy

Compare the final document with the accepted offer and written promises. Pause when a term, attachment or number changed.

Tools for this decision

Use the final figures from the document in these calculators and checklists, then return to the guide for the clauses the result cannot test.

Before-You-Sign Checklist

Use a before-you-sign checklist to verify price, payment, renewal, cancellation, disputes and the complete document set.

Free tool · Assumptions shown

Contract Cancellation Deadline Planner

Find a safe date to send a cancellation notice. Work back from renewal using the contract's notice period and a delivery buffer.

Free tool · Assumptions shown

Contract checklists before you sign

Each page addresses a distinct question instead of repeating the same overview.

Personal Guarantees: What You Put at Risk

Use a personal guarantee checklist to verify scope, cap, duration, release, multiple guarantors and enforcement terms before signing.

4 min read · Reviewed October 22, 2026

Common questions before this decision

Short answers for the issues that most often change the next document check.

Can I rely on a promise that is not in the final contract?

Treat it as unresolved. Ask for the promise, price or exception to appear in the final agreement or an attached document, then check the signing copy before committing.

Does every contract have a cooling-off period?

No. Cancellation rights depend on the transaction, how and where it was sold, the contract and applicable law. Find the actual rule and deadline instead of assuming three days.

What should I do when an attachment is missing?

Pause the signature. Obtain the referenced exhibit, policy, schedule or online terms, record its version and resolve conflicts with the main agreement.

Connected decisions to check

Some obligations cross from one document into another. Follow the connection that applies to the same transaction.