How to Add Your TBL Contracts Into Dubsado

If you just bought a contract template from The Boutique Lawyer shop and you run your business on Dubsado, you're probably wondering how the two actually connect.

One of the best parts of TBL's contract templates is that they can be customized and added into any project or client management system you choose, and it only takes a few minutes.

The last thing we want is for you to purchase your contract templates and never actually use them, so this post is here to help you avoid exactly that.

Keep reading to learn exactly how to add contracts into Dubsado, starting with customizing your TBL template, then moving step by step through the Dubsado setup itself.

What Is Dubsado?

First things first, if you’re not familiar with Dubsado, it’s a client management platform (CRM) built for service providers and creative entrepreneurs.

It's where a lot of small business owners run their entire client workflow, including their lead capture forms, questionnaires, proposals, invoices, scheduling, and contracts with legally binding electronic signatures.

Instead of emailing a Word doc back and forth or juggling a separate e-signature tool, Dubsado lets you send your contract, collect a signature, and keep everything tied to that client's project in one place.

That's a big part of why it's one of the most popular CRMs among business owners using attorney-drafted templates like the ones in the TBL shop.

How to Customize Your TBL Contract Template Before Adding It to Dubsado

Before your contract touches Dubsado however, it needs to actually reflect your business and that’s where TBL's Contract Customization Guide comes into play! This is included with every TBL contract purchase so you know exactly how to customize your contracts. 

Here's the breakdown.

Step 1: Create Your Account and Download Your Files

When you make a purchase with TBL, you're automatically granted an account with the TBL online shop, so you always have access to your order history and original templates.

After making your purchase, click the download link in your order confirmation email to grab your files, then save them to a folder on your computer or in your Google Drive.

Each purchase includes two copies of your template, one in Word and one in Google Docs.

Step 2: Learn the Color-Coded System

Before you start editing, it helps to know what you're looking at. Every Boutique Lawyer contract template uses three color-coded markers throughout:

• Red instructions (*INSTRUCTIONS*): tips and guidance for what to include in that section. These get deleted before your contract is final.
• Yellow, bracketed replacement fields ([Company Name]): where you insert your own business details, or choose from the options given in the prompt.
• Green, curly-bracketed optional fields ({OPTIONAL}): clauses you may or may not need. Keep the language if it applies to you and delete the curly brackets around it, or delete the whole thing if it doesn't.

Step 3: Customize Your Working Copy

Now it's time to actually edit the contract. Here's how to go about it:

• Use Find and Replace to speed this up. Copy a bracketed field like [Company Name], press Ctrl+F on a PC or Command+F on a Mac, paste it into the search bar, then use Replace to swap every instance for your real business name at once.
• Go through the document and replace every yellow field with your own information.
• Decide on each green optional field. Keep it and remove the curly brackets, or delete it entirely.
• Delete every purple instruction once you no longer need it.
• Proofread the whole thing one more time before calling it done.

Step 4: Save Your Final Version

Save your finished contract as both an editable document and a PDF. You'll want:

• The editable version, if you plan to paste your contract text into Dubsado's form builder to enable e-signatures. This is the recommended setup and the one this post focuses on next.
• The locked PDF version, if you're only using Dubsado to store a contract that was already signed outside the platform, or sending it manually as an attachment.

Knowing which one you need before you open Dubsado will save you a step later.

A quick note from TBL: our templates are drafted to be jurisdictionally neutral for use anywhere in the U.S., but it's still a good idea to have your finished contract reviewed by a licensed attorney in your state. A quick review puts you on stronger footing and catches anything your edits may have changed.

Step by Step: How to Add Contracts in Dubsado

Once you’ve customized your contract template, it’s time to add it to Dubsado so you can actually start using it!

When adding contracts to Dubsado, there are two paths, depending on whether you want your client to sign the contract electronically inside Dubsado, or you're just uploading a contract that's already been signed.

	Option A: Build for E-Signature	Option B: Upload Signed PDF
Use it when	The client has not signed yet and will sign inside Dubsado	The client already signed outside Dubsado
Client can e-sign	Yes	No, it's read-only
Reusable template	Yes, saved under Templates and copied per project	No, uploaded per client
Triggers Dubsado automations	Yes, including contract completed emails	No
Setup time	Longer once, then two clicks per client	Short every time

Most TBL customers want the first one, so let's start there.

Option A: Build Your Contract Into Dubsado for E-Signature (Most Common)

Step 1: Create a New Contract Template

Inside Dubsado navigate to Templates >> Forms. From there, click to add a new form and choose Contract as the form type.

Step 2: Paste In Your Customized Contract Text

Open your customized TBL contract and copy the text, then paste it into the blank contract form in Dubsado. After that, use the form builder to format headers, spacing, and any bold or bulleted sections so it reads cleanly.

Step 3: Add Signature and Initial Fields

This is the step that makes it legally signable (and yes, digital contracts and signatures are legally legit.)

Under the federal ESIGN Act and state UETA laws, electronic signatures are generally treated the same as handwritten ones when the parties agree to sign electronically and the platform keeps a record of the signing, which is exactly what Dubsado is built to do.

In Dubsado, click or drag the Signature field to the bottom of the contract, and add Initials fields anywhere you want your client to confirm they've read a specific section.

If you want to countersign as the business owner (which is recommended!), add a second signature field and set it to "business owner" instead of "client."

Step 4: Save Your Template

Once your contract is formatted and the signature fields are in place, save it. This becomes your base contract template!

Dubsado makes a fresh copy of it every time you add it to a new client's project, so editing it for one client won't change the original.

Step 5: Add the Contract to a Client's Project

When you’re ready to actually send the contract to a client, open the client's project. In the project info card, find the Contract row and click it to assign your template – this is the fastest way to attach your primary contract.

You can also do this from the Forms tab if you're adding a sub-agreement or an additional contract.

Step 6: Send It to Your Client

Once the contract is added to the project, click Send. Dubsado pulls up a draft email with the contract link included, so you can edit the email if you'd like, then send it.

Your client can review and sign without needing a Dubsado account of their own.

Option B: Upload an Already-Signed Contract

If your client already signed a copy outside of Dubsado, such as a printed and hand-signed version, you can still keep it on file inside their project. Here's how:

1. Open the client's project and find the Contract dropdown in the project sidebar.
2. Scroll down and select Upload PDF file as signed contract.
3. Click Select PDF file, or drag and drop the file directly into the popup.
4. Click Add in the upper right corner to save it to the project.

Keep in mind that uploading a contract this way doesn't trigger any of Dubsado's automated contract completed emails, and because it's a read-only PDF, your client won't be able to sign it inside Dubsado.

This option is really just for keeping a record, not for collecting a new signature.

Frequently Asked Questions About Adding Contracts to Dubsado

Are contracts signed in Dubsado legally binding?

Contracts signed electronically in Dubsado are generally enforceable in the U.S. under the federal ESIGN Act and state UETA laws, which treat electronic signatures the same as handwritten ones when the parties agree to sign electronically and there is a record of the signing. What matters most is the contract itself. A clear, complete, properly customized agreement signed in Dubsado puts you on much stronger footing than a vague one signed on paper.

Can I use the same TBL contract template for every client?

Yes. Once you save your customized contract as a Contract form in Dubsado, it becomes a reusable template. Dubsado creates a fresh copy each time you attach it to a project, so adjusting scope, dates, or pricing for one client won't change the original template.

Do my clients need a Dubsado account to sign?

No. Clients receive a link by email and can review and sign the contract in their browser without creating an account.

Can I edit a contract after I've already sent it to a client?

You can edit the project copy of a contract in Dubsado before the client signs it. Once it's signed, treat it as a finished agreement. Any changes after that should be documented in a written amendment that both parties sign or accept, rather than quietly edited into the original.

Should I still have an attorney review my contract if I bought a template?

It's a good idea. TBL templates are attorney-drafted and jurisdictionally neutral for use anywhere in the U.S., but you're the one filling in the details. A licensed attorney in your state can confirm your edits say what you intended and flag anything specific to your industry or location.

Dubsado-Friendly Contract Templates for Online Business Owners

Once your TBL contract is customized and dropped into Dubsado, sending it to a new client becomes a two-click process instead of a whole afternoon.

The setup takes a little time upfront, but from there, your customized, attorney-drafted contract is sitting there ready to go for every client who comes through your door.

If you haven't grabbed the contract templates your business needs yet, whatcha waiting on?

Most service providers start with a client services agreement, and product sellers usually start with terms of purchase.

Browse the TBL contract template shop and grab the one(s) built for your specific business, customize it in minutes, and get it into Dubsado using the steps above!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR, AMBER GILORMO – ATTORNEY AND FOUNDER OF THE BOUTIQUE LAWYER

Amber Gilormo is the cool lawyer behind The Boutique Lawyer – a one-stop contract template shop for creative entrepreneurs, online business owners, coaches, and service providers.

From client agreements to digital product terms and everything in between, our lawyer-drafted templates take the guesswork out of staying legally protected online (no legal jargon required).

Here's how you can stay connected:

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