Looking to streamline your startup’s meetings? You’re not alone. Many new businesses struggle to keep track of their rapid-fire decisions and ever-evolving plans. That’s where corporate meeting minutes templates come in handy. These tools can turn your chaotic brainstorming sessions into well-organized records, saving you time and headaches down the road.
In this article, we’ll dive into the world of meeting minutes templates, exploring how they can benefit your growing business and highlighting some of the best options out there.
Top Corporate Meeting Minutes Templates for Startups
Northwest  4.8/5 Visit Site | Best Free Template
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ClickUp  4.6/5 Visit Site | Best for Customizability
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Rocket Lawyer  4.2/5 Visit Site |
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FindLegalForms  4/5 Visit Site |
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LawDepot  3.8/5 Visit Site |
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Corporate meeting minutes templates are predesigned documents that help businesses record and organize important information from their meetings. For startups, these templates can be a game changer because they provide a clear structure to capture key decisions, action items, and discussions without missing crucial details.
By using a template, startups can save time, ensure consistency across meetings, and create a reliable record of their company’s progress and decisions. This can be especially helpful when dealing with investors, legal matters, or simply tracking the company’s growth over time.
Having a set format also makes it easier for team members to quickly find and understand important information from past meetings, keeping everyone on the same page as the startup moves forward.
5 Best Corporate Meeting Minutes Templates of 2024
1. Northwest
Known for their formation services, Northwest Registered Agent is a trusted source for business services for limited liability companies (LLCs), corporations, and beyond. Through Northwest, business owners can access a library of legal and corporate forms — including meeting minutes templates. Northwest has meeting minutes templates for annual directors meetings, first directors meetings, and waiver of notice director meetings.
Pros
- Free to download with no sign up required
- Several types of meeting templates available
- Easy to use and fill out
- Northwest also offers several other affordable business services
Cons
- Not as detailed as some competitors
Pricing
Northwest offers their meeting minutes templates for free.
2. ClickUp
ClickUp is primarily a project management software provider. However, the company offers an extensive number of customizable documents that include 16 meeting agenda templates. Their board of directors meeting minutes template is available with the company’s Free Forever plan and is a ready-to-use, fully customizable template built to maintain the structure of meetings and track information discussed without interruption.
Pros
- Free to download
- Highly customizable
- Includes features to disclose and track task statuses
- Several views available, including Gantt, calendar, and more
Cons
- Must subscribe to one of ClickUp’s plans to access templates
Pricing
- Free Forever: $0 per month
- Unlimited: $7 per user, per month
- Business: $12 per user, per month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
3. Rocket Lawyer
Rocket Lawyer offers a convenient, step-by-step process that takes a meeting minutes template and turns it into the custom document your company needs — all at no cost for the first seven days when you take advantage of their free trial.
In addition to the free corporate meeting minutes template, your free trial includes the ability to have an attorney review the document for errors or issues.
Pros
- Access to other helpful legal resources
- Document can be signed with free RocketSign
- Legal consultations available
- Easy to complete with just a few short questions
Cons
- No free plan available
- Short trial period
Pricing
- RocketLegal+: $19.99 per month, billed annually
- RocketLegal: $39.99 per month, billed monthly
4. FindLegalForms
FindLegalForms has a huge document library of legal forms, including meeting minutes templates for board of directors meetings and shareholder meetings. With FindLegalForms, your corporate meeting minutes template is available in a variety of formats — all compatible with any operating system. Each template — prepared and updated by an attorney — includes a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
- Shareholder and board of directors meeting minutes templates available
- Free eSignature included
- Guaranteed to be valid in all states
- Attorneys prepare and update the templates
Cons
- No free templates available
Pricing
FindLegalForms meeting minutes templates are available for immediate download for $5.99. However, you also can opt for a Corporate Forms Combo Package and receive discounted pricing when you purchase five to 10 legal forms on the platform.
5. LawDepot
LawDepot makes it easy to create meeting minutes for your business using their templates. All you need to do is answer a few brief questions, and you can have your document downloaded and printed in as little as five minutes. Much like Rocket Lawyer, this company offers a week-long trial to their complete legal services. However, LawDepot also offers two paid plans that’ll allow access to your document for longer periods of time as well as give you access to more types of legal documents.
Pros
- State-specific templates
- Instant print and download
- Create your document in five to 10 minutes
- Subscriptions provide unlimited access to document downloads
Cons
- Several questions required to complete the form
- Account sign up required
Pricing
- Minutes of Shareholders’ Meeting (Five-Year Access): $39 one-time fee
- One-Year Pro Subscription: $8.99 per month, billed annually
How to Choose the Right Corporate Meeting Minutes Templates
Before you download any corporate meeting minutes template, you should first consider the cost, customizability, and type of template to ensure it’ll enable your business to meet any state requirements and properly document its corporate discussions and decisions.
Cost
There are many free meeting minutes templates available. Therefore, you should review the additional perks you’ll receive if you opt to pay for your template.
Customizability
A highly customizable template allows you to create documents that suit the needs of your business as well as fulfill state obligations. We recommend looking for a template that allows you to customize it to suit your business’s specific needs.
Type of Template
Before you choose a template for your corporate meeting minutes, you need to ensure it has the correct components. There are several types of meeting minutes templates — from board of directors meetings to shareholders’ meetings — so make sure you have the template you need for your company.
FAQs
What is the best format for meeting minutes?
Ideally, you want a clear, concise format that includes the meeting’s date, time, attendees, agenda items, decisions made, action items, and key discussion points. Use a consistent template with headings for easy navigation and comprehension.
How do you write minutes for a corporate meeting?
Record the essential information: date, time, attendees, and agenda. Take notes on key discussions, decisions, and action items. After the meeting, organize this information into a clear, objective summary by using a standard template. Include any attachments or references, and then distribute the minutes to relevant parties for review.
How detailed should meeting minutes be?
Meeting minutes should be detailed enough to capture the essence of the discussions and decisions without being a verbatim transcript. Include the meeting’s main points, outcomes, and action items. The level of detail may vary based on the meeting’s purpose and audience, but you should aim for concise, yet comprehensive coverage.
How do you write minutes effectively?
Use a consistent template and take notes during the meeting. Focus on key points, decisions, and action items. Write objectively, avoiding personal opinions. Organize information logically, use clear language, and include all necessary details. Review and edit the minutes for clarity before distributing. Consider using bullet points for easy readability.
What are the four types of minutes?
The four types of minutes are: “action” minutes, which focus on decisions and tasks; “discussion” minutes, which include more detail about conversations; “verbatim” minutes, which record everything said word-for-word; and “resolution” minutes, which formally document decisions made — often used in legal contexts.