# Create a contract

> Turn an approved quote into a contract with the contract wizard, then send it to your client to sign.

- URL: https://tillage.ai/docs/contracts/create-a-contract
- Section: [Contracts](https://tillage.ai/docs/contracts)

Contracts in Tillage are created from approved quotes. The contract wizard takes your quote's client, line items and total, applies a [contract template](https://tillage.ai/docs/contracts/contract-templates), and walks you through each section: deliverables, payment schedule, timeline and signature. When your client signs, the invoices in the payment schedule are created for you.

## Before you start

- **An approved quote.** See [Send and approve](https://tillage.ai/docs/quotes/send-and-approve). Each quote can have one contract.
- **A contract template.** Tillage doesn't include one, so [create a template](https://tillage.ai/docs/contracts/contract-templates) first.
- **A saved signature.** The wizard signs on behalf of your company. Save yours in **Account Settings → Signature**, or set one up from inside the wizard. See [Signatures](https://tillage.ai/docs/contracts/signatures).
- **Payment schedule templates**, if your contract template has a **Payment Schedule** block. Tillage adds a starter set the first time you need them. See [Payment schedules](https://tillage.ai/docs/contracts/payment-schedules).

## Start the contract wizard

1. Open the approved quote and click **Next Steps**.
2. In **Quote Approved! Choose Next Steps**, choose **Contract Flow**.

The wizard shows **Step X of Y** at the top. Use **Next** and **Back** to move between steps, and **Skip this section** on any block your template marks as optional. The wizard doesn't close if you click outside it, so you won't lose your work by accident.

## Wizard steps

The steps depend on the blocks in your template. Text and Signature blocks don't need a step; their content comes straight from the template.

| Step | What you do |
|---|---|
| **Select Template** | Choose the contract template. |
| **Basic Information** | Check the **Contract Title**, pre-filled from the template's title format, and set the **Project Start Date**. Dates in the payment schedule count from this date. |
| **Deliverables** | Tick the quote line items to include. Use **Select All** or **Deselect All**. |
| **Payment Schedule** | Choose how the client pays, or **Invoice in Full** for a single invoice. Click **Customize** to adjust it for this contract. |
| **Ongoing Services** | Set up the recurring service: name, start date, frequency and at least one line item. |
| **Project Timeline** | Add phases with **Add Phase**, each with a **Date Range**. Choose whether to **Show phase duration in contract** and **Show linked deliverables in timeline**. |
| **Attachments** | Turn on **Include Original Quote** to attach the quote as Appendix A. |
| **Company Signature** | Choose who signs for your company under **Sign on Behalf of Company**. Anyone on your team with a saved signature is listed. |
| **Contract Summary** | Review your choices. |
| **Preview Contract** | Read the full contract with all variables filled in. |
| **Send to Client** | Choose recipients and write the email message. |

The company signature is applied as soon as the contract is created, so your client signs a contract that's already signed by you.

## Send the contract

On the **Send to Client** step:

1. Under **Recipients**, tick contacts under **Client Contacts**, or add others under **Additional Email Addresses (comma-separated)**.
2. Write the **Email Message**.
3. Click **Send to Client**.

Tillage creates the contract and emails each recipient a **View & Sign Contract** button. The email's subject is "Contract:" followed by the contract title. The contract's status changes to **Sent**.

> **Note:** The email message is sent as written; variables like `{clientName}` aren't filled in. Write names out in full.

### Create it without sending

Click **Create Contract** instead to create the contract as a draft. Tillage copies the signing link to your clipboard, but clients can't open a draft yet; they see "Contract In Progress".

To share it yourself, open the contract, choose **Mark as Sent** from the **…** menu, pick the client contact (or enter an email) and confirm. The signed copy goes to that address. After that, the link works and **Copy Link** appears in the menu.

To email it later instead, choose **Send to Client** from the contract's **…** menu. This emails the client's primary contact.

Sending a contract doesn't require Stripe, but collecting payment on the invoices it creates does.

## Contract statuses

| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| **Not Sent** | A draft. Only you can preview it. |
| **Sent** | Sent or marked as sent, waiting for the client. |
| **Viewed** | The client has opened the link. |
| **Signed** | The client has signed. |
| **Executed** | Fully signed and in effect. Tillage moves a signed contract here straight away and creates its invoices. |

Contract numbers count up automatically as CT-0001, CT-0002 and so on.

## Edit a contract

Open the contract and choose **Edit Contract** from the **…** menu. In the contract builder you can change the title, edit blocks and click **Add Block**, then **Save Contract**.

- **Before sending**, edit freely.
- **After sending**, edits change the contract your client sees. Tillage warns you; let your client know about significant changes.
- **After signing**, the contract is locked and can't be edited.

## Delete a contract

Choose **Delete Contract** from the contract's **…** menu. Its blocks and activity history are deleted, and the quote goes back to **Approved** so you can create a new contract from it.

You can't delete an executed contract, or one with invoices or payment plans linked to it. There's no separate void or cancel action.

## Contracts without a quote

The web app creates contracts from approved quotes only. To create a standalone contract that just collects signatures, such as an NDA, use the Tillage API or an AI assistant connected through MCP. See [Claude and ChatGPT](https://tillage.ai/docs/integrations/claude-and-chatgpt) and [API and webhooks](https://tillage.ai/docs/integrations/api-and-webhooks).

## Related

- [Signatures](https://tillage.ai/docs/contracts/signatures)
- [Payment schedules](https://tillage.ai/docs/contracts/payment-schedules)
- [Contract templates](https://tillage.ai/docs/contracts/contract-templates)

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