Client Sign-Off

What is client sign-off?

Client sign-off is the moment a project officially ends. In Finalizo, sign-off happens when your client reads the handover pack you sent them, confirms they have reviewed and received everything, and digitally signs the sign-off form.

Once signed, Finalizo records the acceptance timestamp, updates the project to signed, and makes a completion certificate available from the sign-off record. This certificate is your proof that the project closed on a specific date, with the client acknowledging the scope and support terms in writing.

Why it matters

Without a formal sign-off, projects never really end. Clients come back with requests that feel like support questions but are actually scope additions. Because there is no agreed boundary, it is hard to push back without damaging the relationship.

A signed handover pack changes that dynamic. The support window, included fixes, and excluded work are all in the document the client signed. You can reference it directly and professionally when a request falls outside the terms.

How the sign-off flow works

When you send a handover pack to a client, they receive a link via email. That link opens a clean, mobile-friendly page that shows:

1. The project scope summary you wrote
2. Credentials and access details
3. Training resources and links
4. Your support boundary: duration, included items, and excluded items
5. A link to the sign-off form

If the pack is password-protected, the client must enter the pack password before viewing it. Credential passwords stay masked until the client clicks Reveal. Each reveal is rate-limited, temporarily shown, and logged. The client does not need to create a Finalizo account.

The sign-off page asks the client for their name, email address, and confirmation that they received and reviewed the pack. Finalizo records the timestamp, IP address, and browser user agent with the sign-off.

What the client signs

The sign-off statement confirms:

• They have received the handover pack
• They have reviewed the deliverables
• They understand the support terms, including what is included and excluded
• They accept the project as complete as of the signing date

This is not a legal contract, but it is a clear, dated written acknowledgement, which is sufficient for the vast majority of freelance disputes.

What you receive after sign-off

Once your client signs, you receive:

• Email notification with the client's name and the timestamp of their signature
• Completion certificate: a downloadable PDF-style certificate from the signed project record
• Dashboard update: the pack is marked as "Signed" in your Finalizo dashboard

The completion certificate is archived against the project record. You can download it at any time.

What if the client does not sign?

Some clients are slow to respond. Finalizo handles this in two ways:

• Manual reminders: You can resend the sign-off request from the project sign-off page.
• Automatic reminders: Finalizo can send a 48-hour reminder when a sent pack is still unsigned.

You can still begin your support window clock from the delivery date regardless of whether sign-off has been completed. The timeline is set in the pack, not tied to the moment of signing.

Revoking or updating a pack

If you need to correct something before the client signs, update the handover pack from the dashboard and send the client the latest link again. If the client has already signed, treat material changes as a new closeout record and collect a fresh written acceptance for the updated scope.

Downloading your certificate

Go to Projects -> [Project Name] -> Sign-off to view the signed record and download the certificate. Keep a copy in your client folder as part of your project records.