> **Source:** https://knowledge.leegality.com/deal-collaboration/Contracts/initiate-contract
> **Site:** Leegality Knowledge Base — https://knowledge.leegality.com
> **About:** Leegality is a document execution platform covering eSigning, stamps, NeSL, workflows, and REST API integration.
> **Navigation:** Every article on this site has a plain-text version at `<article-url>.txt` (this format). To get an index of all articles with their `.txt` links, read: https://knowledge.leegality.com/llms.txt
> **AI Guide:** For instructions on how to navigate this knowledge base as an AI agent, read: https://knowledge.leegality.com/ai-readable.txt

---
# Initiate a Contract

This article guides you through the step-by-step process for initiating a new contract within the ***Deal Collaboration*** by Leegality.

#### Prerequisite

Ensure you have created following before proceeding.
- [Template](https://knowledge.leegality.com/deal-collaboration/Templates/create-template)
- [Workflow](https://knowledge.leegality.com/deal-collaboration/Workflows/create-workflow)

To initiate a new deal, select **Contracts** from the left navigation panel and Click the **+ Initiate Contract** button on the top right.

The deal initiation process is divided into four steps.
## Step 1 - Deal Form

1. Enter the **Counterparty name**. Start typing to search existing users, or click **+ Add Counterparty** to add a new one. Once added, the counterparty details can be reused in future deals.
2. Enter the **Deal Name**. Start typing to search existing deals, or click **+ Add Deal Name** to add a new one. 

> **Info**
>
> Deal name must be unique.

3. Select the desired **Workflow** by searching its name.
4. Select **Template** configured under the workflow.

> **Info — Note**
>
> In case you have used an Inbound Workflow- you need to upload the documents received from the counterparty.
>   * Supported format: Docx
>   * Maximum file size: 14 MB

5. **Assign Folder:** A folder field appears in the deal form.
   - If a folder was **pre-assigned** during [workflow configuration](https://knowledge.leegality.com/deal-collaboration/Workflows/create-workflow), the field appears **disabled** — the folder mapping is already set and cannot be changed here.
   - If the folder was **left unassigned** in the workflow, select a folder from the available options now.

6. Click **Proceed**.

## Step 2 - Document Details

1. On the next screen, you’ll be able to preview the document with all **Variable Fields** and **Sections** in the panel on the right side. 
> **Info — Note**
>
> You cannot edit the document content at this stage.
2. You need to input values for variable fields in the panel on the right.
3. You also keep or remove sections at this stage.
4. Click **Preview** to see what the filled template looks like and then **Proceed**.

## Step 3 - Collaborators

In this step, the deal initiator needs to provide the details of all collaborators. 

1. Enter the **Counterparty POC’s Name**.Note that special characters are not allowed.
2. Enter the **Counterparty Email Address**.

The counterpart POC name and email address can be modified at certain stages following **Deal Initiation**. This flexibility ensures that users are not constrained by the need to finalize POC details during the initial setup. If the correct POC is not known at the time of initiation, the information can be updated later as needed based on evolving requirements.

> **Info**
>
> The **Share via Leegality link** option is not available at this stage. To use this option, it must be configured during the **Workflow creation** process.

2. For other collaborators:
    - **Pre-sharing Reviewer**
    - **Business Negotiator**
    - **Legal Negotiator**

The initiator will see the details as configured in the workflow. If these collaborators were not added at the time of [workflow creation](https://knowledge.leegality.com/deal-collaboration/Workflows/create-workflow) they have to be added at this stage.

> **Info**
>
> In the above example, collaborator details were configured during workflow creation.

## Step - 4 Review and Confirm

You can review all provided information before initiating the deal.

1. Here, you will see the final document with filled variable fields and sections.
2. In the right panel, you can confirm variable fields and their respective values.
3. Also, you can check collaborators along with sections and variables assigned to them.
4. Once satisfied with all the document details, click **Initiate Deal**.

After a deal is initiated, it moves to the [negotiation](https://knowledge.leegality.com/deal-collaboration/deal-negotiation/introduction) stage.
User is redirected to the **Contracts** page.
> **Info**
>
> A pop-up appears:
> **Deal initiated! View Deal.**

5. Click **View Deal** to to go to the list of contracts under the deal.