The contract management process defines how agreements move through your organization from start to finish.
Therefore, each stage plays a role in keeping work clear, organized, and easy to follow.
This guide walks through the key stages of the process to show you how contracts move from request and drafting through review, approval, signing, and post-signature work.
Once a contract enters your workflow, the real work begins. Here's what each stage looks like:
Every contract starts with a need. Someone wants an agreement in place, and the clock usually starts ticking right away. How that request comes in makes a bigger difference than most teams expect.
For one, a clear intake step gives shape to the contract creation process before any drafting begins. Basic details like the type of agreement, timing, and the parties involved help set direction early.
When that context is missing, legal teams often pause their work to track down information that should have been captured from the start.
This stage also anchors contract lifecycle management (CLM). The original request explains why the contract exists and who owns it, and that context carries through review, approval, and signing. Weeks later, it still answers questions without digging through sources.
Once a request is approved, drafting turns intent into a real contract document. This is where structure matters, especially when speed and consistency both matter to you.
Most teams begin a new contract from an approved template rather than a blank page. The foundation is already in place, which makes contract generation more predictable and easier to review.
Details like involved parties, key dates, pricing, and scope get filled in without changing the core language each time.
At this stage, contract drafting should feel guided instead of manual. Clear inputs help the contract take shape faster and reduce back-and-forth later.
Common elements pulled into the draft include:
As the contract comes together, early visibility helps. Legal teams can spot gaps, confirm accuracy, and flag issues before the document moves further along. You avoid surprises later because the groundwork is already solid.
The contract review process turns a draft into something both sides can stand behind, and how feedback is handled makes a big difference.
Contract managers and legal teams focus on contract terms first, especially preliminary terms that shape risk and responsibility. As the contract review process progresses, input from other stakeholders adds important context without pulling the document in too many directions.
Here’s how this stage usually plays out:
Once revisions settle, contracts move into approval. The contract approval stage confirms that legal agreements align with internal standards and support a mutually beneficial outcome for everyone involved.
Contract approval often includes in-house legal teams, business managers, and legal departments working in sequence rather than all at once. Each group looks at the contract from a different angle.
For example, legal reviews risk and contractual obligations. Business teams confirm commercial terms. Leadership signs off on priorities and timing.
A simple approval workflow might look like this:
Clear routing keeps this stage moving. You can see who has the contract, what they are reviewing, and what comes next.
The negotiation phase brings real people into the mix, each with their own priorities, pressure, and timeline.
The contract negotiation process often moves in bursts. A few clauses get resolved quickly, then one issue slows things down while both sides talk it through.
Moreover, progress comes from clarity more than speed. When everyone understands what is flexible and what is already locked in, discussions stay focused and productive.
Collaboration plays a bigger role in contract negotiation than formal review. Questions come up, explanations matter, and decisions need context. So, when changes stay visible and tied to the same document, it’s easier to keep momentum without reopening settled points.
The goal stays simple throughout this phase: reach agreed-upon terms that reflect the deal as it actually stands. The contract then feels ready rather than fragile, and moving forward feels earned.
After teams settle on language, the focus shifts to locking the final version and getting it signed as efficiently as possible.
The document goes through a final accuracy check so the language matches what everyone approved. That version then moves into the signing process, with electronic signatures keeping things fast and straightforward.
Signers receive the contract in sequence, complete their part, and move it forward without chasing emails or handling paperwork.
Then, contract execution wraps up once all signatures are in place. The agreement becomes legally binding at that point, and there’s no ambiguity around what was approved or who signed. You can confirm completion immediately and move on with confidence.
This step should feel clean and decisive. Clear status visibility, a confirmed final version, and a smooth signature flow close the contract on a strong note and let real work begin.
Signed contracts still need structure to stay useful. Storage and organization keep the entire contract process connected long after execution wraps up.
A centralized repository gives contracts a clear home inside your contract management system. Tracking contracts becomes easier because each agreement stays linked to its history, approvals, and key details. You can pull up the right document quickly without guessing which version counts.
Data security plays a quiet but important role here. Access controls limit visibility based on role, which protects sensitive information while keeping collaboration practical. The right people see the right contracts, nothing more.
The Aline AI Repository supports this setup without adding friction. Contracts stay searchable, organized, and tied to the workflows that created them. That way, storage stops feeling like an archive and starts acting like a working system that supports decisions long after signing.
Signing finishes the deal, but contract administration keeps it working. Post-signature tracking helps you manage contracts over time and protect the business relationship tied to each agreement.
This stage focuses on keeping track of what happens after execution. Key dates, responsibilities, and obligations still matter, and missing them can create unnecessary exposure. So, staying organized here helps minimize risk and supports regulatory compliance.
Teams usually track a few core items after signing:
Of course, strong tracking turns contracts into active records rather than forgotten files. You always know what’s coming up, what needs attention, and what actions matter next.
At some point, contracts stop feeling manageable and start feeling fragile. That usually happens when the contract lifecycle process relies too heavily on manual processes and disconnected tools.
Legal technology changes how the entire contract lifecycle holds together. It removes guesswork, reduces handoffs, and supports effective contract management in a much smarter and more stable way.
The impact shows up in specific, practical ways:
Technology does not change how contracts work. It changes how much effort it takes to manage them well.
If managing contracts feels slower than it used to, the issue usually sits in the gaps between steps. Repetitive tasks creep in, the entire contracting process stretches out, and what should feel routine turns time-consuming.
A smoother CLM process brings everything back into focus. Each stage connects naturally, progress stays visible, and fewer details need manual follow-up. That kind of structure makes it easier to manage contracts without losing momentum or control.
Aline supports the CLM process from start to finish, keeping the entire process connected in one place. Drafting flows into review, approvals stay clear, signing stays simple, and post-signature work remains easy to track.
As a result, your repetitive tasks fade out of daily work, and attention shifts to decisions that make a genuine impact on your company.
Start an Aline trial and see how a more connected contract lifecycle fits into your day-to-day work!
The process of contract management covers how an agreement moves from contract initiation through drafting, review, approval, signing, storage, and ongoing oversight. Each step keeps the contract connected to its purpose and owners as it moves forward.
Strong contract management helps reduce risks while keeping pace with a changing legal landscape. Clear contracts support financial performance, give the sales team confidence during deal cycles, and create a stronger foundation for business growth.
The six stages usually include request and intake, drafting, review, approval, signing, and post-signature tracking. Together, these steps help contracts stay organized and managed efficiently as volume increases.
A five-stage CLM model often includes creation, negotiation, approval, execution, and ongoing management. Many teams rely on contract lifecycle management software to keep these stages connected and visible.
A seven-step view typically adds more detail: request, drafting, review, negotiation, approval, signing, and administration. Contract management software supports this flow, while contract monitoring helps track obligations and key dates after signing.
Brent is an attorney, a full-stack JavaScript engineer and the CEO of Aline.
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