What it is
Good minutes record what the board decided and why it was comfortable deciding it, not who said what. A standard agenda keeps meetings on the decisions that need the board.
The template has a nine-item agenda with presenter, time and whether each item is for information, discussion or a vote, then minutes with notice and quorum, attendance, discussion and resolutions with votes, executive session, action items and approval.
When to use it
- Every regular and special board meeting.
- When the firm prepares for an audit, which will ask for minutes.
- Training a new board secretary.
What’s inside
- Agenda with action type per item
- Meeting details, attendance and quorum
- Discussion, resolution and vote table
- Action items and secretary and chair approval
Standard cited
This template follows Governance. It is written in our own words, except for phrases the standard requires the document to contain, with [bracketed placeholders] for client details, amounts in USD and dates as MM/DD/YYYY. Check it against the current standard and your firm’s methodology before use.
Questions
How detailed should minutes be?
Record the decisions, the key information considered and any dissent or recusal. They are not a transcript, and sensitive discussions should be reviewed with counsel.
Do auditors read minutes?
Yes. They read minutes of the board and committees as part of risk assessment and to identify matters affecting the financial statements.
When are minutes approved?
At the next meeting. The template has a line for the approval date and the chair’s signature.
Related templates
- Board of Directors Charter
- Audit Committee Charter
- Audit Committee Annual Calendar and Agenda Planner (Excel)
- Related Party Questionnaire for Management (AU-C 550 / ASC 850)
Last updated 11/05/2026. All free templates.