So, you need to generate custom contracts in Dealhub, and you want a guide that’s clear, practical, and skips the fluff. You’re in the right spot. This walkthrough is for sales ops folks, admins, and anyone who has to wrangle contract templates, approvals, and all the bits that make most people’s eyes glaze over. If you’re stuck between legal’s requirements and sales’ urgency, this is for you.
Why Use Dealhub for Contracts, Anyway?
Let’s get this out of the way: Dealhub isn’t magic, but it does a decent job at pulling together contract workflows, templates, and approvals in one place. If you’re tired of hunting for the latest Word doc or chasing signatures, you’ll appreciate what it can do. But — and this matters — Dealhub’s contract automation is only as good as the setup. If the templates are a mess or the process isn’t clear, you’ll still have headaches. So, take the setup seriously and expect a few bumps as you get your process dialed in.
Step 1: Get Your Contract Templates Ready
Before you even log in to Dealhub, you need solid contract templates. This is the boring part, but skipping it will cost you hours later.
What you need:
- Final, approved templates from your legal team (Word or PDF usually, but Dealhub prefers DOCX for editing).
- Clear placeholders for deal-specific info (client name, pricing, dates, etc.).
- A list of variables you’ll want to pull in automatically (think: Account Name, Deal Value, Close Date).
Pro tip:
Don’t try to automate every last clause. Focus on what changes from deal to deal. The more “smart” you make your template, the more testing you’ll need.
What doesn’t work:
Trying to skip legal review. It’ll come back to haunt you.
Step 2: Upload and Map Your Template in Dealhub
Once your templates are buttoned up, log in to Dealhub and head to the contract module.
How to:
- Go to Templates (sometimes called “Documents” or “Contract Templates” in the navigation).
- Click “Upload New Template.”
- Choose your DOCX file (PDFs are okay for static docs, but you can’t inject variables into a PDF).
-
Map variables: Dealhub will scan your document for placeholder fields (like {{ClientName}} or <
>). You’ll need to match these to fields in your CRM or Dealhub deal record. - Common fields: Company Name, Contact, Product, Term, Price.
- You can create custom fields if something’s missing.
-
Save and name your template so it’s obvious to others which one to use (e.g., “MSA for SaaS - US”).
What to ignore:
Don’t bother mapping fields you’ll never use. Too many variables = more confusion.
Step 3: Set Up Conditional Logic (Optional, But Powerful)
If you want your contracts to change based on deal details (like region, product, or deal size), use Dealhub’s conditional logic.
How to:
- In the template editor, highlight the section you want to show/hide.
- Click “Add Condition” or similar (the UI changes, but it’s usually a little logic icon).
- Set the rules. Example: “If Product = Enterprise, include indemnity clause.”
- Test it with a few dummy deals.
Honest take:
Conditional logic is great, but don’t go overboard. Every “smart” bit adds complexity. If you’re not careful, you’ll spend more time troubleshooting than closing deals.
Step 4: Connect Dealhub to Your CRM
For most teams, Dealhub is hooked up to Salesforce, HubSpot, or Dynamics. This is how all the variables in your contract get filled out without copy-paste errors.
What you’ll need:
- Admin access in Dealhub and your CRM
- API credentials or OAuth access
How to:
- Go to Dealhub’s Integrations or Settings page.
- Choose your CRM and follow the steps to connect.
- Test the connection by pulling a test deal into Dealhub.
- Make sure key fields (Account Name, Contact, Amount, etc.) sync properly.
What works:
Native integrations are solid for Salesforce and HubSpot. If you’re on a custom CRM, expect some manual mapping.
What doesn’t:
Assuming a one-click setup. You’ll need to test, especially if your field names don’t match up exactly.
Step 5: Build Your Contract Generation Workflow
Now that your templates and data are set, you need to make it easy for sales reps to generate contracts.
How to:
- Decide when in your sales process the contract should be generated (e.g., after quote approval).
- In Dealhub, set up a workflow or playbook step for “Generate Contract.”
- Define who can generate, edit, or approve contracts. Lock down permissions so people can’t get creative with language.
- Set up approval flows if needed (e.g., legal or finance sign-off for deals over $50k).
Pro tip:
Keep your workflow as short as possible. Every extra approval step slows things down. Only add what’s truly needed.
Step 6: Test the Full Process (Don’t Skip This)
This is where most teams get tripped up. Don’t assume your setup works just because the template looks good.
How to test:
- Run a deal through from start to finish — generate a contract, check all fields, and send it for approval.
- Ask someone from legal and sales to review the output.
- Try a few edge cases (big deal, international deal, etc.).
- Fix anything weird before rolling out to the whole team.
What to ignore:
Superficial checks. Actually read the contract output, not just the first page.
Step 7: Send Contracts for Signature
Dealhub usually integrates with DocuSign, Adobe Sign, or its own e-signature tool. You can send contracts out directly from the platform.
How to:
- Once a contract is generated and approved, click “Send for Signature.”
- Choose signers and set order if needed (client first, then internal, etc.).
- Track status from Dealhub’s dashboard.
Honest take:
Dealhub’s native signature tools are fine for most use cases, but if you have strict legal or compliance needs, stick with DocuSign or Adobe Sign. They’re slower, but more bulletproof.
Step 8: Store and Track Executed Contracts
Once the contract is signed, Dealhub will store it in its own repository and (if configured) push a copy back to the CRM or your cloud storage.
Best practices:
- Make sure contract PDFs are stored in a place where legal and finance can easily access them (not just in sales' inboxes).
- Set up reminders or reports for renewals, expirations, or missing signatures.
What to ignore:
Don’t bother with fancy contract analytics unless you have a real use for them. Most teams just need to know: Is it signed? Where is it?
Keeping It Simple
That’s the real process. No grand promises, just a method that works if you stick to it. Start with clean templates, map the fields, test like crazy, and only automate what makes sense. Don’t get sucked into every “advanced” feature unless it solves a real problem for your team.
Iterate as you go—your first setup won’t be perfect, but it’ll get you a lot closer to painless contracts. And if you ever feel overwhelmed, just go back to basics: one template, one workflow, one approval. The rest can wait.