Is an offer letter the same as a job offer letter?

In everyday use, yes. Both phrases describe a written offer of employment sent to a candidate. This template works for either, and it is written as an employment offer letter.

What should an offer letter include?

The job title, the reporting line, the start date, the compensation, a summary of benefits, the employment relationship, any conditions of the offer, an acceptance deadline and signatures. The template has a place for each of these.

Is an offer letter legally binding?

That depends on how it is worded and on the law where you operate. Many employers state that employment is at-will and spell out what the offer depends on. If you are unsure how a letter will be read, ask a qualified professional to review it.

Can the candidate sign the offer letter electronically?

Yes. With Propper you generate a PDF from the template and send it for e-signature, so the candidate can review and sign online.

Is this template legal advice?

No. It is a customizable starting point, not legal advice. Adjust it to your situation, and have a qualified professional review it if you are unsure it fits.

HR templates

Offer Letter Template

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Standard at-will employment offer letter with role, compensation, start date, and benefits summary.

Use this template See the sample

About This Template

An offer letter turns a verbal job offer into something the candidate can read, question and accept in writing. It confirms the role, the reporting line, the start date, the pay and the benefits, and it gives the candidate a clear date by which to respond. People search for an offer letter template and a job offer letter template interchangeably. They mean the same document, and this one covers both. It is built as an employment offer letter, with an at-will employment statement and a countersignature block for the candidate.

Use it once you have decided to hire someone and agreed the main terms, and before the person starts work. Keep the letter short and specific. Put the compensation and the start date in the letter itself, say what the offer depends on (for example a background check or proof of work authorization, if you require them), and set an expiry date so the offer does not stay open indefinitely. Longer terms such as restrictive covenants or a detailed intellectual property assignment usually belong in a separate employment agreement, which you can send alongside.

The template opens ready to fill in. Add the candidate's details and the terms, generate a PDF and send it for e-signature with Propper.

What This Template Covers

Letter date
Candidate
Employer
Role
Start date
Offer expiry date
Compensation
Benefits
Conditions of the offer

What to include in an offer letter

Start with the job: the title, who the person reports to and the start date. Then set out the compensation, including base pay, how often it is paid, and any sign-on bonus or equity, noting where a grant still needs approval.

Add a short summary of the benefits you offer, such as health coverage, retirement plan matching and paid time off. State the employment relationship (this template includes an at-will statement) and list any conditions the offer depends on.

Finish with an acceptance deadline and signature lines for both the employer and the candidate.

Offer letter or employment agreement

An offer letter is a short summary of the main terms. An employment agreement is the longer contract that covers details such as intellectual property assignment, restrictive covenants and termination. Many employers send an offer letter first to get a quick, clear yes, and follow it with an employment agreement or onboarding documents. Propper also has an Employment Agreement template if you want the fuller contract.

Common mistakes

Leaving out the expiry date, so the offer stays open with no end. Describing a bonus or equity in vague terms that the candidate and the company later read differently. Copying a previous letter and leaving the earlier candidate's name or salary in place. Stating benefits that differ from your actual plan documents. Sending the letter as a plain attachment, with no clear record of who accepted it and when.

Send an offer letter with Propper

Sign up with Google or a 6-digit email code and start a 14-day free trial, with no credit card. The template opens ready to fill in: complete the candidate and role details, generate a PDF, and send it for e-signature so the candidate can sign online.

Sample Offer Letter

A sample document with example details. Your template opens with fields ready to fill in.

This template is a customizable starting point, not legal advice. Laws vary by state and situation, so have a qualified attorney review any agreement before you rely on it.

Read the sample as text

!DOCTYPE html

Northwind Traders

Offer Letter

February 10, 2025

Offer of Employment

PositionSenior Software Engineer

Start DateMarch 3, 2025

LocationAustin, Texas (hybrid)

Reports ToAlex Nguyen

Classificationfull-time, exempt

Offer ExpiresFebruary 17, 2025

Taylor Brooks

taylor.brooks+candidate@propper.ai

Dear Taylor,

It is my pleasure to offer you employment with Northwind Traders (the "Company") in the role of Senior Software Engineer, reporting to Alex Nguyen, with a start date of March 3, 2025. We are excited about the prospect of you joining our team.

Position

This is a full-time, exempt position under the Fair Labor Standards Act and applicable state law, based in Austin, Texas (hybrid).

Compensation

Component

Detail

Base Salary

$175,000.00 per year, paid bi-weekly

Sign-on Bonus

$15,000.00, paid in your first paycheck

Equity

Stock option for 8,000 shares (see below)

Equity. Subject to approval by the Board of Directors, you will be granted an option to purchase 8,000 shares of the Company's common stock under the 2024 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), with an exercise price equal to the fair market value on the grant date as determined by the Board. The option will vest over four years, with 25% vesting on the first anniversary of your start date and the rest in equal monthly installments over the next 36 months, subject to your continued service, and will be governed entirely by the Plan and your award agreement. The Company intends, but does not guara

Any earned bonus is paid no later than March 15 of the year after the year in which it is earned.

Benefits

You will be eligible to participate in the Company's benefit plans, currently including medical, dental, and vision coverage and a 401(k) plan with an employer match of up to 4%, subject to each plan's eligibility rules and terms. The plan documents govern, and the Company may change or end its benefits at any time. You will accrue 20 days of paid time off per year under the Company's PTO policy and applicable law.

At-Will Employment

Your employment with the Company is at-will. You or the Company may end the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, except as otherwise required by applicable law. This letter is not a contract of employment for any specific period. The at-will nature of your employment can be changed only by a written agreement that says so expressly and is signed by an authorized officer of the Company.

Conditions of This Offer

This offer is contingent on:

your providing proof of your identity and authorization to work in the United States, as federal law requires. You must complete Section 1 of Form I-9 by your first day of work and present acceptable documents within three business days of your start date.

satisfactory completion of a background check. You will receive a separate disclosure and authorization form, and any check will be conducted in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act and applicable state and local law, including fair-chance hiring laws.

your signing the Company's Employee Confidentiality Agreement on or before your start date.

Acceptance

All compensation is subject to applicable tax withholdings and deductions. This letter, together with the Employee Confidentiality Agreement, is the complete statement of the terms of this offer and supersedes any prior discussions or representations. To accept, sign below on or before February 17, 2025; by signing, you accept this offer on the terms above and confirm that your employment is at-will. After that date, this offer expires unless the Company extends it in writing. We are excited to welcome you to the team.

Sincerely,

For the Company

Morgan Yu

Head of People, Northwind Traders

Accepted by

Taylor Brooks

How It Works

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