So, you’re drowning in contract chaos and thinking about tools like Contractbook to fix your B2B sales process. Or maybe your boss handed you a list of contract management platforms and said, “Pick one.” Either way, you don’t want a shiny dashboard; you want a system that actually helps sales close deals faster, not just shuffle PDFs around.
This guide is for anyone who needs to cut through the marketing fluff and figure out which contract management tool—Contractbook or its competitors—will actually make your sales process run smoother. Let’s get real about what matters, what doesn’t, and how to pick a tool that won’t make you regret the whole project.
1. Get Clear on Your Real Sales Workflow
Before you even look at features, get honest about how your sales process works—messy bits and all.
- Where do contracts stall? (Drafting, approvals, signatures, back-and-forth redlining?)
- Who touches the contract? (Sales, legal, finance, all of the above?)
- What systems do you already use? (CRM, e-signature, email, file storage?)
Pro tip: Don’t just ask sales leaders—talk to the reps and coordinators who actually wrangle these documents. You’ll get a much clearer picture of the real headaches.
Ignore: Fancy features you don’t need, like AI clause suggestions, if your team spends most of their time just tracking down signatures.
2. Make a Short List of Tools (and Know What’s Typical)
Let’s be honest: there are a dozen contract management tools out there, and they all promise to “streamline” your sales process. The big names you’ll probably see are:
- Contractbook
- DocuSign CLM
- PandaDoc
- Ironclad
- Concord
- LinkSquares
Each has strengths and quirks. For B2B sales, you want something that:
- Handles templates and versioning well
- Makes approvals and signatures easy
- Plays nicely with your CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot, etc.)
- Isn’t a nightmare to set up or train people on
Ignore: Tools trying to be everything to everyone (procurement, HR, legal, etc.). You want focus.
3. Compare the Basics—Features You’ll Actually Use
Here’s where most buyers get lost in feature spreadsheets. Stay practical:
Core Features Checklist
- Template management: Can you build and reuse templates easily?
- Collaboration: Can multiple people edit and comment without sending 37 emails?
- Approval workflows: Is it simple to set up who needs to sign, in what order?
- E-signature: Is it built-in or a clunky add-on?
- Version control: Can you see who changed what, and when?
- CRM integration: Does it push/pull data from your sales system?
How Contractbook stacks up:
Contractbook is strong on templates, automation, and integrated e-signature. It’s built for teams that want to create, send, and manage contracts in one place—especially if you’re tired of stitching together Word, PDFs, and DocuSign.
What to watch for:
- Some competitors (like PandaDoc) shine for sales teams that want prettier, more interactive proposals.
- Ironclad and LinkSquares have powerful legal features, but you might pay for stuff you’ll never use in sales.
- DocuSign CLM is robust, but can be overkill for smaller teams or simpler workflows.
4. Test the Integrations—Not Just the Bullet Points
You’ve heard “integrates with Salesforce!” before. What does that really mean?
- Can your reps generate contracts from CRM data with one click?
- Do contract statuses sync automatically, or do you still have to update deals manually?
- Will the integration survive your first real-world contract (complex, messy, with last-minute changes)?
Pro tip:
Ask the vendor for a live demo using your actual CRM and contract template. If they can’t show it, that’s a red flag.
Ignore:
Vague promises about “open APIs” if you don’t have dev resources to build custom connections.
5. Check How Automation Actually Works
Automation is the big selling point for tools like Contractbook, but the devil’s in the details.
- Can you auto-fill data from your CRM into contracts?
- Can you trigger approval flows or reminders if a contract hasn’t been signed?
- Is it easy to set up, or do you need a consultant every time you tweak a process?
How Contractbook stacks up:
Contractbook shines with automation for routine sales contracts—think automatic reminders, approval routing, and even creating tasks in your CRM. The setup is more “power user” friendly than developer-heavy.
What to watch for:
- Some tools (Ironclad) can automate super-complex workflows, but you’ll need IT help.
- Others (PandaDoc) focus on speed and simplicity, but may have limits if your process is a bit weird.
6. Dig Into Pricing—The Boring, Necessary Part
Everyone hides their pricing behind “Request a Quote” buttons. Here’s what to look for:
- Do you pay per user, per contract, or flat fee?
- Are e-signatures extra?
- Is there a setup or onboarding fee?
- What does it cost to integrate with your CRM?
What’s typical:
- Contractbook’s pricing is transparent for core plans, but advanced automation or integrations may bump you to a higher tier.
- DocuSign CLM and Ironclad are usually enterprise-priced—think “talk to sales” and expect negotiation.
- PandaDoc and Concord are more SMB-friendly, but some features cost extra.
Pro tip:
Get a real quote based on your usage, not just what’s on the website. Prices add up fast once you factor in all the “optional” modules.
7. Demand a Real Trial (and Actually Use It)
You wouldn’t buy a car after looking at the brochure. Same goes here.
- Set up a trial with your real contract templates and CRM.
- Run through the full process: create, approve, sign, archive.
- Involve the sales reps and legal folks who’ll actually use it.
What to watch for:
- How long does onboarding take?
- Where do people get stuck?
- Do you need support every step, or does it just work?
Ignore:
Vendors who won’t let you trial the actual product, or only give you a “guided tour.”
8. Look at Support and Community—Especially When Things Break
Contracts are mission-critical. When something breaks, you need help fast.
- Is support responsive, or do tickets disappear into the void?
- Is there good documentation?
- Are there active user communities, forums, or chat support?
How Contractbook does:
Generally solid support with a knowledge base and live chat, but it’s always smart to test this yourself—send a few support questions during trial.
9. Make the Call—And Don’t Overthink It
After all this, you’ll probably still have a few unknowns. That’s normal. Here’s how to keep it simple:
- Pick the tool that makes your actual sales process faster and less annoying—not the one with the most features.
- Make sure it plays well with your CRM and doesn’t create more work.
- Don’t get distracted by “AI-powered” hype or promises of perfect automation. Nothing’s perfect.
Keep It Simple and Iterate
You’re not signing a contract with your contract tool for life. Choose something practical, roll it out to a small team, and see how it goes. If it doesn’t work, you’ll know fast—and you can switch. Better to move forward and adjust than get stuck in analysis paralysis.
Remember: contracts are supposed to close deals, not slow them down. Pick the tool that gets out of your way and helps your sales team win. That’s what matters.