Monthly business review template
Most monthly business reviews turn into each function presenting its own slides for ten minutes while everyone else waits their turn. Nothing gets decided, and the same issues come back next month. This template replaces the slide parade with a shared scorecard, a short written memo read before the meeting, and a decision log that makes every open item someone's job.
Download it
What you get
- A 90-minute agenda with owners, inputs, and the output of each block
- A plan vs actual scorecard for the month and quarter to date
- A four-part memo structure for the pre-read
- A decision log carried from month to month
- A preparation checklist for RevOps
Who it's for
- RevOps leaders who run the go-to-market operating cadence
- CROs chairing the monthly leadership review
- Marketing and CS leaders who report into the MBR
What's inside
6 sections, each listed with its own size. The first is previewed below; the remaining 5 come with the download, with blank rows ready to fill in.
| Section | Size | Previewed |
|---|---|---|
| 90-minute agenda | 5 columns, 6 worked example rows | Below |
| Scorecard | 8 columns, 5 worked example rows | In the download |
| How the scorecard adds up | Guidance notes | In the download |
| Memo structure | 4 fields to complete | In the download |
| Decision log | 5 columns, 2 worked example rows | In the download |
| RevOps preparation | 7-point checklist | In the download |
Preview of section 1
90-minute agenda
| Time | Block | Owner | Input | Output |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0:00 to 0:10 | Decision log review | RevOps | Last month's decision log | Status on every open decision |
| 0:10 to 0:30 | Bookings and forecast | CRO | Scorecard, forecast for the quarter | Agreed quarter call and top risks |
How to use it
1. Send a memo, not slides
Distribute the scorecard and a one to two page memo at least one business day ahead. Start the meeting assuming everyone has read it; do not present it again.
2. Open with last month's decisions
Spend the first ten minutes on the decision log: what was decided, whether it happened, and what changed. This is what makes the MBR accountable.
3. Discuss variances, not the whole scorecard
Only metrics that missed or beat plan by more than your threshold get airtime. Metrics on plan get no discussion.
4. End with decisions and owners
Reserve the last fifteen minutes to write down decisions, owners, and dates. If a topic needs more work, the decision is who does the work and by when.
Frequently asked questions
What is a monthly business review?
A monthly meeting where the go-to-market leadership team reviews results against plan, discusses the largest variances, and makes decisions with owners and dates. It sits between the weekly forecast call and the quarterly business review.
What should be included in a monthly business review?
A plan vs actual scorecard for the month and quarter to date, a short written memo explaining what happened and why, a review of last month's decisions, and time reserved for new decisions.
How long should an MBR be?
About 90 minutes, with a written pre-read. Longer meetings usually mean the material is being presented rather than discussed.
What is the difference between an MBR and a QBR?
An MBR is an internal operating review focused on variances and decisions for the current quarter. A QBR looks back over the full quarter and sets priorities for the next, and is often held per team or with customers.