Understanding Document Types

Gilded uses a single document builder for everything — proposals, contracts, and combined documents. The document type you choose determines the workflow your client goes through and whether a signature is required.

The Three Document Types

Proposal

A proposal presents your services, vision, and pricing to a prospective client. It does not require a signature.

What your client does: Opens the link, reads through your proposal, and clicks "I'd Like to Move Forward" to approve.

Best for: Initial pitches where you want the client to say yes before moving to a formal agreement. After approval, you create a separate contract for signing.

Workflow: Prospect > Sent > Viewed > Approved > (create contract next)

Contract

A contract is a binding agreement that requires your client's electronic signature. It includes a signature block at the end and can require initials on key sections.

What your client does: Opens the link, reads the contract, initials required sections, and signs at the bottom.

Best for: Formalizing the working agreement after a proposal has been approved, or when you already have verbal confirmation and want to go straight to the contract.

Workflow: Prospect > Sent > Viewed > Signed > Deposit Requested > Paid

Combined

A combined document merges a proposal and contract into one. Your client reads through the proposal content and signs the agreement — all in a single step.

What your client does: Opens the link, reviews everything, initials required sections, and signs.

Best for: Streamlining the process when you do not need a separate approval step. One document, one link, one interaction. This is the most efficient option when you are confident the client is ready to commit.

Workflow: Prospect > Sent > Viewed > Signed > Deposit Requested > Paid

How to Choose

| Situation | Recommended Type | |-----------|-----------------| | Client is still shopping around and you want to present your offering | Proposal | | Client already said yes verbally and you need a signed agreement | Contract | | You want to present and get a signature in one step | Combined | | You have a multi-step booking process (pitch, then formalize) | Proposal first, then Contract | | You want the fastest path from inquiry to signed agreement | Combined |

Switching Between Types

You choose the document type when you start building it. The type determines which sections are available in the section library and whether a signature block appears.

If you started a proposal but realize you need a contract, you would create a new document with the correct type. Documents cannot be converted between types after creation because the section libraries and signing behavior are different.

One Place in the Sidebar

All three types live under Documents in the sidebar — there is no separate proposals page or contracts page. The document list lets you filter by type using the tabs at the top: All, Proposals, Contracts, and Combined.

Next Steps

Ready to build? Head to Building Proposals or Building Contracts depending on what you need.