{"id":10219,"date":"2024-05-23T14:47:27","date_gmt":"2024-05-23T10:47:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/krisp.ai\/blog\/?p=10219"},"modified":"2025-01-29T16:04:18","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T12:04:18","slug":"meeting-minutes-template","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/krisp.ai\/blog\/meeting-minutes-template\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Free Meeting Minutes Templates"},"content":{"rendered":"

Does the following scenario ring a bell?<\/span><\/p>\n

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You join a meeting, you have your notes prepared beforehand, and everything goes smoothly. After the meeting ends, someone asks you about a specific task that you discussed earlier. But, lo and behold, you can\u2019t find any written track of it anywhere. People will just have to take your word for it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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If you\u2019ve been through something like this, it\u2019s probably because you didn\u2019t write meeting minutes during the call. We go through so many meetings every day, it\u2019s hard to have everything locked in memory. And that\u2019s where a <\/span>meeting minute template<\/span><\/a> rolls in to save the day.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is a Meeting Minutes Template?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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To answer that question, we first need to go over what meeting minutes are. To put things simply, meeting minutes are an official recording of what you discuss during meetings. Don\u2019t let the name mislead you, though! It has nothing to do with actual minutes. Instead, meeting minutes focus on key points and main takeaways. Here\u2019s why meeting minutes matter:<\/span><\/p>\n

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They are key documentation<\/b><\/h4>\n

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Meeting minutes are essentially written versions of topics that are discussed and decisions that are made during meetings. They cut the fluff and focus on what matters most: agendas, key discussion items, and outcomes. This is why minutes and <\/span>templates for meeting minutes<\/span> are key documentation that you can refer to at any time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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They help with communication<\/b><\/h4>\n

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Let\u2019s say one of your colleagues couldn\u2019t make it to a meeting, and another colleague had to step out. Meeting minutes will help them catch up to the main points that your team discussed over the meeting. Things will be more transparent, and everyone will be on the same page.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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They foster accountability <\/b><\/h4>\n

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A lot of tasks are thrown around during meetings. Responsibilities are given and deadlines are set. Meeting minutes<\/a> help with outlining all of these. You can use them as a reminder of what commitments each team member has, track progress on all tasks, and keep things streamlined.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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They help with the legal side<\/b><\/h4>\n

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Believe it or not, you can use meeting minutes for legal purposes. If your business is being audited or you\u2019re involved in legal and compliance proceedings, meeting minutes can come in handy. The more organized they are, the better they serve as evidence that your business is compliant and transparent.\u00a0 <\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>At this point, you\u2019re probably wondering how they are different from regular notes that we doodle during a call. Well, everyone can doodle. But there\u2019s usually one person who is in charge of meeting minutes. If you end up in that position, then you\u2019ll definitely need to use a <\/span>meeting minute template.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What to Include in a <\/span>Meeting Minutes Template<\/span>?<\/span><\/h2>\n

A meeting minute template can come in many shapes and sizes. But you usually include the same information:<\/span><\/p>\n

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    \n
  • The date and time of your meeting<\/span><\/li>\n
  • The list of people who attended and who couldn\u2019t make it<\/span><\/li>\n
  • The location of the meeting<\/span><\/li>\n
  • The topics that were discussed<\/span><\/li>\n
  • The decisions that were made<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Action plans for the future<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

     <\/p>\n

    A pen and a notepad won\u2019t cut it for all of this. With a <\/span>minutes of meeting template<\/span>, you can make sure that the right information goes into the right place. Everyone else will thank you for it later!<\/span><\/p>\n

    How Can I Create a Meeting Minutes Template?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    The first step before putting together a <\/span>template for meeting minutes<\/span> is figuring out whether your meeting is formal or informal. If it\u2019s formal, then your <\/span>business meeting minutes template <\/span>should also be formal. If not, then vice-versa. If you\u2019re looking for a <\/span>meeting minutes sample<\/span>, here are some you can use and customize:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Formal Meeting Minutes Sample<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    If your meeting is an official one and includes C-levels and board members, go for a formal meeting minutes template. Make sure you get into as much detail as possible. You don\u2019t want to miss out on key points in formal meetings! Here\u2019s an example to get you inspired:<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    [Organization Name]<\/span><\/p>\n

    [Meeting Date]<\/span><\/p>\n

    [Meeting Time]<\/span><\/p>\n

    [Meeting Location]<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Attendees<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    • [Name], [Title\/Role]<\/span><\/li>\n
    • [Name], [Title\/Role]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Absent with Apology<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      • [Name], [Title\/Role]<\/span><\/li>\n
      • [Name], [Title\/Role]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Absent Without Apology:<\/b><\/p>\n

          \n
        • [Name], [Title\/Role]<\/span><\/li>\n
        • [Name], [Title\/Role]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
            \n
          • Call to Order<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
              \n
            • The meeting was called to order at [Meeting Time] by [Name].<\/span><\/li>\n
            • Attendees reviewed and approved the agenda.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                \n
              • Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                  \n
                • The minutes of the previous meeting held on [Previous Meeting Date] were reviewed and approved without any amendments.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                    \n
                  • Agenda Item 1: [Agenda Item Title]<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                      \n
                    • Discussion: [Summary of discussion]<\/span><\/li>\n
                    • Decisions Made: [Summary of decisions made]<\/span><\/li>\n
                    • Action Items:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                        \n
                      • [Action Item 1]: [Assigned to], [Deadline]<\/span><\/li>\n
                      • [Action Item 2]: [Assigned to], [Deadline]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                          \n
                        • Agenda Item 2: [Agenda Item Title]<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                            \n
                          • Discussion: [Summary of discussion]<\/span><\/li>\n
                          • Decisions Made: [Summary of decisions made]<\/span><\/li>\n
                          • Action Items:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                              \n
                            • [Action Item 1]: [Assigned to], [Deadline]<\/span><\/li>\n
                            • [Action Item 2]: [Assigned to], [Deadline]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                                \n
                              • Other Business<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                                  \n
                                • [Additional agenda items discussed]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                • Discussion: [Summary of discussion]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                • Decisions Made: [Summary of decisions made]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                • Action Items:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                                    \n
                                  • [Action Item 1]: [Assigned to], [Deadline]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                  • [Action Item 2]: [Assigned to], [Deadline]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                                      \n
                                    • Next Meeting<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                                        \n
                                      • The date, time, and location of the next meeting were determined.<\/span><\/li>\n
                                      • Agenda items for the next meeting were proposed.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                                          \n
                                        • Adjournment<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                                            \n
                                          • The meeting was adjourned at [Meeting Time] by [Name].<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                            Next Meeting:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                              \n
                                            • Date: [Next Meeting Date]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                            • Time: [Next Meeting Time]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                            • Location: [Next Meeting Location]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                              Proposed Agenda Items:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                                \n
                                              • [Agenda Item 1]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                              • [Agenda Item 2]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                Submitted by:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                                [Name]<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                [Title\/Role]<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                [Date]<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                Informal Meeting Minutes Template<\/strong><\/h3>\n

                                                You can keep things a bit more casual with informal meeting minutes templates. You just need to focus on the main takeaways, without going into the nitty-gritty details. This is what an informal <\/span>meeting minutes template<\/span> looks like:<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                 <\/p>\n

                                                [Meeting Date]<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                [Meeting Time]<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                [Meeting Location]<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                Attendees<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                  \n
                                                • [Name]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                • [Name]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                  Discussion Points<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                  \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                  [Discussion Point 1]<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                    \n
                                                  • [Summary of discussion]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                  • [Key points raised]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                  • [Ideas shared]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                    [Discussion Point 2]<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                      \n
                                                    • [Summary of discussion]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                    • [Key points raised]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                    • [Ideas shared]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                      Decisions Made:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                                        \n
                                                      • [Decision 1]: [Summary of decision]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                      • [Decision 2]: [Summary of decision]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                        Action Items:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                                          \n
                                                        • [Action Item 1]: [Assigned to], [Deadline]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                        • [Action Item 2]: [Assigned to], [Deadline]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                          Next Meeting:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                                            \n
                                                          • Date: [Next Meeting Date]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                          • Time: [Next Meeting Time]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                          • Location: [Next Meeting Location]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                          • Proposed Discussion Points:<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                          • [Discussion Point 1]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                          • [Discussion Point 2]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                            Action-Oriented Meeting Minutes Template<\/strong><\/h3>\n

                                                            As the name suggests, this <\/span>minutes of meeting template<\/span> focuses on action. This is where you track who assigns tasks to whom, what the deadlines are, and how things are progressing. You can use the meeting minutes template below as a starting point:<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                             <\/p>\n

                                                            [Meeting Date]<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                            [Meeting Time]<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                            [Meeting Location]<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                            Attendees:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                                              \n
                                                            • [Name]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                            • [Name]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                              Agenda:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                                              [Agenda Item 1]<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                                \n
                                                              • Discussion: [Summary of discussion]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                              • Action Items:<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                              • [Action Item 1]: [Assigned to], [Deadline]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                              • [Action Item 2]: [Assigned to], [Deadline]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                                [Agenda Item 2]<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                                  \n
                                                                • Discussion: [Summary of discussion]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                • Action Items:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                                                                    \n
                                                                  • [Action Item 1]: [Assigned to], [Deadline]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                  • [Action Item 2]: [Assigned to], [Deadline]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                                    Next Steps:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                                                      \n
                                                                    • [Next Step 1]: [Assigned to], [Deadline]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                    • [Next Step 2]: [Assigned to], [Deadline]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                                      Next Meeting:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                                                        \n
                                                                      • Date: [Next Meeting Date]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                      • Time: [Next Meeting Time]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                      • Location: [Next Meeting Location]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                      • Proposed Agenda Items:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                                                                          \n
                                                                        • [Agenda Item 1]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                        • [Agenda Item 2]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                                           <\/p>\n

                                                                          Project-Based Meeting Minutes Template<\/strong><\/h3>\n

                                                                          You can use project-specific <\/span>templates for meeting minutes<\/span> to note down any updates about ongoing projects, milestones, scope, and other details. A project-specific <\/span>meeting minute template<\/span> helps with project management more than you can imagine. Here\u2019s an example:<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                                           <\/p>\n

                                                                          [Project Name]<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                                          [Meeting Date]<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                                          [Meeting Time]<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                                          [Meeting Location]<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                                          \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                                          Attendees:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                                                            \n
                                                                          • [Name]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                          • [Name]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                                            Project Updates:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                                                              \n
                                                                            • [Update 1]: [Summary of update]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                            • [Update 2]: [Summary of update]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                                              Agenda:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                                                              [Agenda Item 1]<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                                                \n
                                                                              • Discussion: [Summary of discussion]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                              • Decisions Made: [Summary of decisions made]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                              • Action Items:<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                              • [Action Item 1]: [Assigned to], [Deadline]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                              • [Action Item 2]: [Assigned to], [Deadline]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                                                [Agenda Item 2]<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                                                  \n
                                                                                • Discussion: [Summary of discussion]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                                • Decisions Made: [Summary of decisions made]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                                • Action Items:<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                                • [Action Item 1]: [Assigned to], [Deadline]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                                • [Action Item 2]: [Assigned to], [Deadline]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                                                  Next Steps:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                                                                    \n
                                                                                  • [Next Step 1]: [Assigned to], [Deadline]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                                  • [Next Step 2]: [Assigned to], [Deadline]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                                                    Next Meeting:<\/strong><\/p>\n

                                                                                      \n
                                                                                    • Date: [Next Meeting Date]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                                    • Time: [Next Meeting Time]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                                    • Location: [Next Meeting Location]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                                    • Proposed Agenda Items:<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                                    • [Agenda Item 1]<\/span><\/li>\n
                                                                                    • [Agenda Item 2]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                                                      Rookie Mistakes When Making Your Meeting Minutes Template<\/strong><\/h2>\n

                                                                                      If you\u2019re new to the world of meeting minutes, here are some mistakes to avoid when putting your <\/span>template for meeting minutes<\/span> together:<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                                                       <\/p>\n

                                                                                        \n
                                                                                      • Not having a meeting agenda<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                                                        If you don\u2019t have a meeting agenda prepared beforehand, writing meeting minutes will become tricky as you won\u2019t have a clear idea of the main discussion points.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                                                          \n
                                                                                        • Writing down everything you hear<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                                                          Remember, meeting minutes are about the details, not the fluff. Focus on what matters the most, and leave out the rest.<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                                                            \n
                                                                                          • Not using the right <\/b>meeting minutes template<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                                                            If you pick the wrong <\/span>meeting minutes template<\/span>, then you won\u2019t be able to match it to the information that\u2019s being discussed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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                                                                                            Avoid these mistakes to record your meeting minutes correctly, with zero effort. There are other ways that you can streamline the process even more:<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                                                            Go Beyond Meeting Minutes Template with Krisp
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