How to sign an NDA: name, title and “on behalf of”
The signature block decides who is actually bound by the NDA: you personally, or the company you work for. Here is what each line means, how to sign as an individual or for a company, who may sign for a business, and the small mistakes that cause questions later.
Already have an NDAPDF plan? Sign in with your email
Open the NDA you were sent, sign it as yourself or for your company with name, title and date, and send it back. The PDF stays on this device the whole time.
Loading editor...
Updated 28 September 2026 · Written by Joe Farwick, who runs this site
The two kinds of signature block
A company block usually starts with the company's legal name, often in capitals, followed by “By:”, “Name:”, “Title:” and “Date:”. The layout tells the reader that the company is the party and that the person signing does so as its representative. UK agreements often put it in words: “Signed for and on behalf of Acme Robotics Ltd”.
An individual block is simpler: a signature line, the person's printed name underneath and a date. There is no title, because the person signs for themselves. If the NDA names you personally in its opening paragraph, this is the block you should see.
How to sign an NDA as an individual
Sign with your normal signature, print your full name exactly as it appears where the parties are named, and add the date. Leave any title line empty or delete it. If the NDA names you but you will actually do the work through your own limited company or LLC, ask for the company to be named as the party instead; otherwise you are personally bound and your company is not.
Signing electronically works the same way. The US ESIGN Act counts any electronic sound, symbol or process as a signature if the person adopts it intending to sign, so a drawn signature or a typed name placed on the PDF qualifies.
How to sign on behalf of a company
Check that the company's legal name in the signature block matches the one at the top of the NDA, including “Ltd”, “Inc.” or “LLC”. Sign on the “By” line, print your name and write your real title. If there is no company block and the NDA is meant to bind your employer, ask for one before signing: a signature without the company name can be read as a personal promise.
Who can sign an NDA on behalf of a company?
Someone with authority to commit the company to contracts. Directors and senior officers such as a CEO, president or managing director usually have it; other employees have it if the company has given it to them, for example through a signing policy that lets managers sign NDAs up to a certain level. If you are not sure, ask your manager or legal team before you sign.
In England and Wales the Companies Act 2006 says a contract may be made on behalf of a company by a person acting under its authority, express or implied, which covers ordinary NDAs. The stricter formalities in section 44, such as two authorised signatories or a director signing in front of a witness, apply when a document is executed by the company itself, and some counterparties ask for that style even for NDAs. In the US, the doctrine of apparent authority means a company can be bound by someone it never actually authorised, if the company's own conduct led the other side to reasonably believe that person could sign. That is why companies care who signs.
Should I sign an NDA as an individual or as a company?
Match the signature to whoever will receive and use the information. If your employer or your own company is doing the business, the company should be the party and you sign for it. If you are personally receiving the information, for example as an investor, adviser or job candidate, sign as an individual.
Sometimes a company asks key people to sign personally as well as for the company. That makes you personally liable in addition to the business. Ask why before agreeing; a clause requiring the company to make its staff keep information confidential usually achieves the same aim.
Signing the PDF here
Open the NDA in the NDAPDF signer, place your signature on the “By” or signature line, type your name and title with the text tool, and add the date with the date tool. Then download the signed PDF and send it to the other side. The file is handled in your browser, which matters for a document whose whole point is confidentiality.
Mistakes that cause questions later
Wrong block
Signing in the other party's block of a mutual NDA. Sign only under your own name or company.
Blank name or title
A signature alone can be hard to attribute. Print your name and title beside it.
Mismatched company name
The block should carry the same legal name as the opening paragraph of the NDA.
Personal signature for a company deal
Signing without the company name can make you, not the business, the party.
Ambiguous dates
03/04/2026 means March in the US and April in the UK. Write the month as a word.
Old version
Check it is the final agreed text before signing, with any changes initialled.
Filling the block, line by line
A typical company block has four lines under the company name.
1
By
Your signature, drawn or typed, on the line next to “By:”.
2
Name and title
Your printed full name and your actual job title, such as Director or CEO.
3
Date
The day you sign, written so nobody can misread it, e.g. 27 September 2026.
Signature block questions
What title do I write when signing an NDA?+
Your actual job title at the company you sign for, such as Director, CEO, Managing Member or Head of Partnerships. Signing as an individual, leave the title empty.
Can an employee sign an NDA for the company?+
Yes, if the company has authorised them to. Many businesses let managers sign standard NDAs. If you are unsure whether you have that authority, ask before signing.
Do I need to write “on behalf of”?+
Not if the block already shows the company name above “By:”. That layout already means you sign for the company. Where the block is blank, write the company name above your signature.
Can I type my name instead of drawing a signature?+
In many places, yes: laws such as the US ESIGN Act accept a typed name adopted with the intent to sign. If the other party requires a drawn signature, draw one.
What does it cost to sign an NDA with name and title here?+
You can add signature, name, title and date without paying. The signed PDF itself is downloaded on a plan at €2.99 a month or €24.99 a year; cancel at any time and use it until the paid period ends.
Fill your signature block
Open the NDA above and add signature, name, title and date in one go.
Open the NDA