Here’s a concise, actionable guide to subscription fees for contract-management (CLM/contract-repository) software — how vendors price, typical cost ranges, common extra charges, contract clauses to watch, negotiation tips, and quick ROI measures.

1. Typical pricing models (what vendors charge for)

• Per-user / per-seat (fixed monthly or annual fee per named user). (ecom.docusign.com)
• Flat/tiered monthly plans (unlimited users but limits on documents, signatures, features). (contractworks.com)
• Per-document or “per-agreement” pricing (document count or processed/executed agreements). (docusign.com)
• Module/add‑on pricing (AI, analytics, integrations, advanced security, APIs). (ironcladapp.com)
• Fully custom/enterprise quotes (price built from features, number of workflows, integration and implementation needs). (agiloft.com)

2. Typical cost ranges (benchmarks)

• Small teams / simple repository + e-signature: low hundreds to low thousands per month (examples: some vendors advertise plans starting around $600–$700/month for unlimited users). (contractworks.com)
• Per-user e-signature / lightweight plans: roughly $10–$65 per user/month depending on plan features. (eSignature vendors show consumer/business tiers in that range). (ecom.docusign.com)
• Mid-market CLM: several thousand dollars per month (or tens of thousands per year) once you add templates, workflows, integrations and support. (ironcladapp.com)
• Enterprise CLM: often custom quotes; first‑year implementation + licensing can run from tens of thousands to several hundred thousand dollars (and material annual costs thereafter) depending on scale, integrations, AI modules, and premium support. (ironcladapp.com)

3. Common additional/hidden costs to budget for

• Implementation, data migration and legacy contract import. (ironcladapp.com)
• Configuration/custom workflows, clause libraries, and template automation. (contractworks.com)
• Training, change management, and ongoing admin support. (ironcladapp.com)
• Integrations (Salesforce, ERP, SSO) or API usage charges. (agiloft.com)
• Storage, document-processing or API overage fees. (Vendors may charge per-document overages.) (docusign.com)
• Premium SLAs, dedicated support or managed services. (ironcladapp.com)

4. Contract / billing clauses to watch (don’t sign without these clarified)

• Billing cadence and price increase formula (annual CPI/percent increases).
• Auto‑renewal terms and notice period to cancel.
• Overage policy and how overages are calculated (seats, documents, envelopes). Cite specific overage examples/terms when available. (docusign.com)
• Data ownership, export rights and format, return / deletion schedule on termination. (contractworks.com)
• Implementation scope in the SOW (deliverables, timeline, acceptance criteria). (ironcladapp.com)
• SLAs, uptime, security certifications (SOC2/ISO) and indemnities. (ironcladapp.com)

5. Negotiation and procurement tips to reduce TCO

• Ask for a total cost of ownership (TCO) for 3 years including licenses, migration, integrations, and support. (ironcladapp.com)
• Negotiate implementation fees, cap overage charges for an initial period, and ask for a pilot / limited-scope POC at reduced cost. (ironcladapp.com)
• Seek multi‑year discounts or pay‑annually savings; require price caps in renewal years. (ironcladapp.com)
• Insist on a clear exit/export clause (bulk export, data format, assistance) and limit lock-in. (contractworks.com)
• Bundle eSignature and CLM where it reduces per‑unit costs; confirm whether the vendor counts only executed contracts vs. all uploads for pricing. (Some vendors count only executed contracts for signature credits.) (ironcladapp.com)

6. Quick ROI measures to track after purchase

• Contract cycle time (days from first draft to signature).
• Number of FTE hours saved in contract admin per month.
• Renewal/cancellation capture rate improvement and avoided revenue leakage.
• Reduction in manual contract errors or missed obligations (fines/penalties avoided).
• Time to find and report on contractual obligations.

7. Example vendor pricing behaviour (to set expectations)

• Transparent, low‑entry plans exist (example vendor advertises starting plans around $600–$700/month with unlimited users and limited docs). Good for smaller legal teams. (contractworks.com)
• eSignature-only providers list per-user monthly tiers (example: Personal/Standard/Business Pro tiers in the $10–$40+/user/month range). (ecom.docusign.com)
• Major CLM vendors (Ironclad, Agiloft, Icertis, etc.) generally provide custom quotes tailored to volume, integrations and AI‑features; expect to engage sales for a detailed estimate. (agiloft.com)

8. Short vendor-selection checklist (10 quick questions to ask sellers)

• How is pricing calculated (per user, per document, per feature)? (docusign.com)
• What’s included in onboarding and is it charged separately? (ironcladapp.com)
• How do you charge for eSignatures / executed contracts? (ironcladapp.com)
• Are there document or storage limits and overage rates? (docusign.com)
• What integrations are included vs. paid? (agiloft.com)
• What SLAs and support levels are included? (ironcladapp.com)
• What security/compliance certifications do you hold? (ironcladapp.com)
• What is the export process and cost on termination? (contractworks.com)
• Can you provide references in our industry and a clear 3‑year TCO? (ironcladapp.com)
• Any caps or guarantees on price increases at renewal? (ironcladapp.com)

If you’d like, I can:

• Build a 3‑year TCO template you can fill with vendor quotes (licenses + migration + support + expected overages).
• Convert this guidance into a short RFP checklist tailored to your company size/industry.

Sources (examples referenced above)

• ContractWorks pricing & plans (example starting plans and explicit monthly figures). (contractworks.com)
• DocuSign eSignature public plan pricing and official product pages. (ecom.docusign.com)
• Agiloft pricing page (enterprise/custom quoting approach). (agiloft.com)
• Ironclad cost‑breakdown and CLM pricing guidance (common enterprise cost drivers and example investment figures). (ironcladapp.com)

If you want, tell me your organization size (number of users / contracts per year / must-have integrations) and I’ll draft an estimated 3-year cost range and a short RFP you can send to vendors.