How to create a simple PDF form your clients can fill in.

Sending clients a form they can actually fill in digitally – without printing, scanning, or posting anything – saves everyone time. And the good news is you don’t need expensive software to make it happen.

Whether you want a simple contact form, a client intake questionnaire, or a feedback sheet, here’s how to create one that works.

What you’ll need

There are a few different ways to do this, depending on what tools you already have access to:

• Google Forms (free): great for simple questionnaires that people fill in online
• Microsoft Word + free PDF converter: good if you want more control over design
• Adobe Acrobat free tier: lets you create basic fillable PDFs directly

Option 1: Use Google forms (easiest)

If you just need a simple form and don’t mind it living online rather than as a PDF download, Google Forms is the fastest way to get something up and running.

1. Go to forms.google.com (you’ll need a free Google account).
2. Click the + button to start a new form.
3. Add a title and description, then use the + button on the right to add questions.
4. Choose your question type: short answer, paragraph, multiple choice, dropdown, etc.
5. Click the eye icon at the top to preview what it looks like.
6. When you’re happy with it, click Send to share via email or link.
7. Responses land automatically in a Google Sheet you can access any time.

Option 2: Create a fillable PDF using word and a free converter

If you want something that looks more polished and can be downloaded as a file, this is a solid approach.

• Open Microsoft Word and design your form layout. Use a table to create neat rows and columns for each field.
• Where you want someone to type their answer, add a line (using underscores) or leave a clear blank space.
• Once the layout looks right, go to File > Save As, and choose PDF as the file type.
• Upload your PDF to a free tool like PDF24 (pdf24.com) or Smallpdf (smallpdf.com).
• Look for their ‘Edit PDF’ or ‘Create fillable PDF’ feature and add text boxes over the blank areas.
• Download your finished form and share it with clients.

Tips for making your form easy to use

• Keep it short – only ask for what you genuinely need
• Label every field clearly so there’s no guessing
• Add a note at the top explaining how to fill it in and where to send it back
• Test it yourself before sending it to clients – open it, fill it in, and make sure everything works
• If using a PDF, make sure it’s saved in a way that allows editing (some PDFs are locked)

How to share it with clients

For Google Forms, just share the link by email or add it to your website.

For PDF forms, attach the file to an email with clear instructions. Ask clients to save a copy, fill it in, and email it back – or use a free tool like WeTransfer if the file is large.

Frequently asked questions

Do my clients need any special software to fill in a PDF form?

Most people can fill in a basic PDF using the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is widely installed. Alternatively, modern browsers like Chrome and Edge can open and fill in simple PDFs without any extra software.

Can I make the form look like my brand?

Yes – if you’re using Word to create the layout, you can add your logo, use your brand colours, and style it however you like before converting to PDF.

What if I want clients to sign the form too?

Tools like Adobe Acrobat or DocuSign let you add a signature field. DocuSign has a free tier that covers basic signing, which is worth looking at if signatures are important for your workflow.

Got questions? We’re here to help. Get in touch and we’ll walk you through it.