Document Types Overview

Every ZipZign document has a type that determines what happens after creation.

The three types

`readable`

Generate a PDF from HTML. No emails sent, no signing, no payment. Use this for:

Receipts and invoices
Reports
Any document you need as a PDF

{
  "type": "readable",
  "title": "Invoice #1042",
  "content": "<h1>Invoice</h1><p>Amount due: ${{amount}}</p>",
  "variables": { "amount": "500.00" }
}

`signable`

Send a document to one or more signers. ZipZign emails each signer a link to a hosted signing page. Use this for:

Contracts and NDAs
Agreements and consent forms
Any multi-party document requiring signatures

{
  "type": "signable",
  "title": "Service Agreement",
  "content": "<h1>Agreement</h1><p>...</p>",
  "signers": [
    { "name": "Alice", "email": "alice@example.com" },
    { "name": "Bob", "email": "bob@example.com" }
  ]
}

Max 6 signers per document.

`payable`

Collect payment without signing. ZipZign emails the payer a Stripe checkout link. Use this for:

Deposits
Service fees
One-time charges tied to a document

{
  "type": "payable",
  "title": "Project Deposit",
  "content": "<h1>Deposit Invoice</h1><p>50% deposit for website project.</p>",
  "payment": {
    "amount": 50000,
    "currency": "usd",
    "description": "Website project deposit",
    "payerName": "Client Corp",
    "payerEmail": "billing@clientcorp.com"
  }
}

Amount is in the smallest currency unit (cents for USD). 50000 = $500.00.

Sign-then-pay

A signable document can include a payment object. After all signers sign, the payer is prompted to pay. The payer does not see signature UI; signers do not receive payment receipts.

See Sign-then-Pay for the full flow.

Status lifecycle

Each type follows a different status path:

Type	Status progression
`readable`	`created` → `complete`
`signable`	`created` → `awaiting_signatures` → `all_signed` → `complete`
`payable`	`created` → `awaiting_payment` → `paid` → `complete`
`signable` + payment	`created` → `awaiting_signatures` → `all_signed` → `awaiting_payment` → `paid` → `complete`

See Document Status & Lifecycle for the full reference.

Updated on: 16/04/2026

Was this article helpful?

Thank you!