If your company sells through AWS, Azure, or GCP marketplaces, you’ve probably hit this roadblock: the deal’s closed, the private offer is accepted… and then finance or legal asks, “Can we get a signed contract too?”
Here’s the short answer: You usually don’t need a separate signature—private offer acceptance acts as a legally binding digital signature. But some legal/finance teams still require it for policy or risk tolerance reasons.
Let’s break down when you should—and shouldn’t—bother with signatures.
Why Private Offer Acceptance Counts as a Signature
When a buyer accepts a private offer on AWS, Azure, or GCP, they agree to the marketplace’s standard terms or the custom terms you’ve uploaded. This acceptance is digitally logged and serves the same legal purpose as a wet or e-signature.
If your deal uses these standard terms, the digital acceptance is generally sufficient.
When Signatures Are Still Requested
Even though they aren’t legally required, signatures are often requested when:
- Deal size exceeds an internal threshold (e.g., $20K, $50K, $100K+)
- Custom contract terms are negotiated outside the hyperscaler standard agreement
- Finance needs it for audit trail or compliance — common in public companies
- Legal policy defaults to “sign everything” — even marketplace deals
Additionally, Purchase Order (PO) management features can help simplify procurement and manage invoices. While a PO isn’t a traditional signature, it represents a formal agreement to purchase and helps track transactions. So, while not a signature, a PO can still serve as a legally binding document to finalize the purchase process.
A Simple Decision Framework
Use this quick test to decide if a signature is needed:
| Scenario |
Signature Required? |
| Standard marketplace contract, deal under $20,000 |
❌ No |
| Standard contract, deal over $20,000 |
⚠️ Potentially — consult finance |
| Custom contract uploaded to marketplace |
✅ Yes |
| Buyer’s legal counsel necessitates |
✅ Yes |
Best Practices
- Ask early if the buyer’s finance/legal teams will require a signature
- Leverage marketplace digital acceptance to speed up closing
- Have a lightweight order form template ready for buyers who insist on signatures
- Educate your internal finance/legal teams — share this guide and linked contracts
Bottom Line
If you’re selling through cloud marketplaces and using standard contracts, the offer acceptance is already a legally binding signature. Anything beyond that is about internal comfort levels—not legal necessity. And remember that Purchase Orders (POs) can also formalize the agreement without requiring traditional signatures.