How to Ask Someone to Sign an NDA (3 Email Templates + Tips)
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Asking someone to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) can feel awkward. Whether you are hiring a freelancer, discussing a joint venture, or interviewing a candidate for a sensitive role, you want to protect your company's intellectual property without coming across as overly aggressive or untrusting.
The secret to a successful NDA request is simple: keep it professional, explain why it's standard procedure, and make it incredibly easy for them to sign it online for free.
In this guide, we'll give you three ready-to-use email templates and show you how to streamline the signing process.
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Sign NDA Online Free →What to Include in an NDA Signing Request
Before you copy and paste a template, understand the four elements every NDA request email should have:
- The Context: Remind them of the project or discussion you are about to have.
- The Reassurance: State clearly that this is a standard procedure for your business, not a lack of trust in them personally.
- The Instructions: Tell them exactly what to do (e.g., "Please sign on page 4").
- The Convenience: Provide a link to a free online signing tool so they don't have to print, sign, and scan the document.
Email Template 1: Formal / Corporate
Use this template when dealing with larger corporations, formal partnerships, or enterprise clients.
Subject: NDA for Signature: [Project Name / Discussion Topic]
Hi [Name],
I'm looking forward to our upcoming discussion regarding [Project/Partnership].
Since we will be sharing proprietary information during our call, our company policy requires a standard Non-Disclosure Agreement to be signed beforehand. I have attached the document to this email.
Could you please review and sign the attached PDF? You can easily sign it digitally using a free tool like MyDigitSign if you don't have a PDF editor installed.
Once signed, please reply with the executed copy. Let me know if you have any questions about the terms.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Title]
Email Template 2: Freelancer / Creative Contractor
Use this slightly more conversational tone when hiring independent contractors, designers, or developers.
Subject: Next Steps: Quick NDA for [Project Name]
Hi [Name],
It was great chatting with you today. We're excited to move forward with [Project Name].
Before I can share the access credentials and internal briefs with you, I just need you to sign our standard contractor NDA attached below. It's a standard boilerplate agreement we use with all our external partners to protect our clients' data.
Feel free to sign it electronically (you can use a free browser tool like MyDigitSign so you don't have to print anything) and send it back when you have a moment.
Thanks,
[Your Name]
Email Template 3: Startup / Casual
Use this for very early-stage startup discussions, casual brainstorming sessions, or networking.
Subject: Getting ready for our chat (NDA attached)
Hey [Name],
Really looking forward to our call on [Day]!
To make sure we can speak freely about the new product roadmap, could you sign the attached mutual NDA? It just ensures whatever we brainstorm stays between us.
You can sign it right in your browser for free here: mydigitsign.com.
Talk soon,
[Your Name]
How to Sign an NDA Online (Step by Step)
If you are the one receiving the NDA, signing it is incredibly simple. You do not need Adobe Acrobat, and you definitely do not need a printer.
- Save the NDA PDF to your computer.
- Open MyDigitSign's free PDF signer.
- Choose to draw your signature or type it in cursive.
- Upload the PDF. (MyDigitSign is 100% private — the file is processed locally in your browser and never uploaded to any server).
- Drag your new signature onto the signature line in the document.
- Click Download and email it back to the sender.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it rude to ask someone to sign an NDA?
Not at all. In the modern business world, asking for an NDA is completely standard. As long as you frame it as a standard company policy rather than a personal lack of trust, professionals will expect and respect the request.
Can an NDA be signed electronically?
Yes. Under the ESIGN Act (US) and eIDAS (EU), electronic signatures on NDAs are fully legally binding and enforceable in court.
What if the person refuses to sign the NDA?
If someone outright refuses to sign a standard mutual NDA without giving a reasonable legal justification (such as a conflicting prior agreement), it is usually a red flag. In most cases, you should decline to share the confidential information.