When it comes to creating and sending contracts to new clients, already having your contract templates in Aisle Planner makes it fast and easy, so we recommend investing some time in getting your contract templates set up.  We'll walk you through the basics below!

Check out this short video of a sample contract with applied merge and input fields, then follow along below for a step-by-step guide 👍

To create your first contract template, head on over to the Business Settings Icon menu, which you'll find towards the top right of your Pro Dashboard and follow the steps below!

Step 1:
Click on the Templates tab towards the top of your screen and select the Document option, which you'll see on the left.

Step 2:
Click on the gold Add New button. 

Step 3:
Chose the Contract option from the menu.

Step 4: Give This Template A Name
The first thing you'll want to do is give your new template a name for future reference. Naming your templates is SUPER important, so you won't have any challenges finding the right template that you need down the road.  
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Pro Tip:  Since all documents, including brochures, proposals, questionnaires AND contracts are all housed here as document templates, we recommend starting your template name with some indication of WHAT type of document this is, just to make it super easy and straightforward - and since templates are organized alphabetically, it helps to see each type of document grouped together.

For example:  

Contract // Full Service Planning 

Step 5:
​Add an optional description for this template.

Note: This description is completely optional and is used as an internal reference for you and your team - your clients won't have access to see this!  

We recommend only adding a description if your template name isn't obvious for your team to understand what the template is for.  For example, "Platinum Planning" (vs. Full Service Planning)

Step 6:

Click the gold Edit Document button.

Step 7:
If you've already set up your company branding, we'll automatically pull in your company logo at the top.  But if your contract template has a great big white space at the top of your document, take a moment to head over to your branding center, where you can upload your logo for a better branded experience in Aisle Planner.

As a Side note: You also have the option to hide this heading if you prefer to get creative and use your own custom heading. Just uncheck the "Show heading" box on the contract template set up page for this template.

Step 8: Add In Your Content
​You can add four different types of content blocks into your contract template. 

Text Blocks

To help get you started, we've pre-populated a text block so that you can dive right in -  just click into the editable area of the document space shown.

This will open the document editing window for this text block, where you can add in the content of your contract. You can type in your content from scratch, or copy and paste text into the document editor, and then use the rich text menu towards the top for formatting. 

Adding Images Into a Text Block
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While we call this a "text block", you can still add images, pre-designed image collages, a sketches or graphics - just place your cursor where you want the image added and click on the Insert Image icon in the formatting menu. 

Adding Merge Fields Into A Text Block

You can also build in time saving merge fields into your proposal.  If you build merge fields into your proposal, when you use this template to create a proposal, we'll automatically populate any fields from your lead record for you (or alert you of any incomplete fields!)

Once you've completed your updates, click on the gold Save and Close button to close this menu and return to your contract template.

Adding Input Fields Into A Text Block

For information that you need from your client as they are filling out your contract, you can add in Input Fields.  If you build input fields into your contract, when you use this template to create a contract, we'll automatically populate any fields from your lead record for you and, if not, clients will be asked to fill in these areas before they sign. Choose from a predetermined list of input fields or create your own with the Custom Field option.

To easily differentiate between merge fields and input fields, input fields are highlighted yellow and if you click on it, you can customize the placeholder copy.

Once you've completed your updates, click on the gold Save and Close button to close this menu and return to your contract template.

Adding Initialed Sections to Your Contract

Is there a special section or sections of your contract that you'd like to call out and request that your clients take special note of with their initials?  You can add an initialed section block by hovering over the content block just above where you'd like the initialed section to appear, and then clicking on the gold + sign that appears to the left.

Then, select the Initials Area option from the menu.

This will add an initials area and related text, where you can click to enter content. If you'd like, you can change the font size and attributes as well as update the copy by clicking into the editable area shown, then typing in your updates. 

Adding Image Blocks to Your Contract

While you can add images within each text block, you also have the option to add an image block.  You can add an image block by hovering over the content block just above where you want to place the image, and then clicking on the gold + sign that appears to the left. 

Then, select the Image / Photo option from the menu.

Adding an Image Block at the Top Of Your Contract

If you want to add a custom heading image at the very top of your contract, click on the gold Add Item At Top button to place the image above already added content, and select the Image / Photo option from the menu.

 Then follow the prompts to upload your image.

Adding Page Breaks

While the system will automatically break up pages when necessary,  it's nice to be able to dictate your own page breaks so that you can format your content exactly how you want it. 

You can add a page break by hovering over the content block just above where you want to place the break, and then clicking on the gold + sign that appears to the left, then select page break option from the menu.

Pro tip:

Have you added a text block that has paragraphs and paragraphs of text?  Break them up into separate mini text block sections so you have the flexibility to add in page breaks in just the right places!

Step 9: Update Acceptance Text
​If you'd like, you can change the font size and attributes as well as update your proposal acceptance text by clicking into the editable area shown, then typing in your updates. We recommend that you include acceptance verbiage on all proposals and contracts - don't delete this! 

Step 10: Preview & Proof Your Contract
Once you've added content and completed formatting, we recommend that you take the time to preview your contract template to be sure that everything looks just right.
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To preview and print, click on the gold arrow button towards the top right of your screen, then click on the Preview and Print button.

Pro Tips: 

-Keep in mind that merge fields won't be populated with actual data at this point!

-While we'll show you a preview of what your clients see when you send them this digital proposal, we recommend that you take the extra steps to view this proposal template as a PDF to ensure that page breaks are exactly where you want them.  Learn more about adding page breaks here. (Link Coming Soon)

Step 11:
Now that you're set, click on the gold Done button to your top left, and you're set!

Now that you've set up this contract template, you'll be able to use this template to quickly and easily create new contracts. Don't worry, you can always further update and adjust your contract for each client as needed, but setting up your templates will give you a great head start.

Learn more about creating new contracts and sending them to clients to sign here.