How To Create Quarterly Business Review Agendas?

Crafting a powerful Quarterly Business Review Agenda (QRB Agenda) ensures a focused and effective meeting that yields tangible results.

In this blog, we will explore the eight essential elements that make up a robust QBR agenda. From financial reviews to goal setting and stakeholder engagement, we'll provide examples and templates to help you create an impactful agenda that drives your business forward.

Read on to optimize your QBRs and unlock their true potential!

The importance of a quarterly business review agenda

A well-crafted QBR agenda drives productive discussions, prioritize key areas, helps set objectives, and enables teams to synchronize efforts, collaborate effectively, and foster a sense of purpose and direction.

It also encourages collaboration, engagement, and a culture of continuous improvement by reviewing the effectiveness of existing strategies, exploring new opportunities, and adapting to changing market dynamics.

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What does a quarterly business review agenda look like?

A typical quarterly business review agenda can include the following discussion points:

Introduction and objectives
Goal progress and KPI review
Challenges and opportunities
Review of successes, lessons learned, and ROI
Update and goal refinement
Stakeholder engagement and collaboration
Action plan and assigning responsibilities
Next QBR preparation and follow-up

1. Introduction and objectives

Begin by introducing the agenda and stating the objectives of the QBR to help participants understand the purpose of the meeting and set the tone for productive discussions.

2. Goal progress and KPI review

Evaluate the progress made towards previously set goals and track key performance indicators (KPIs).

Discuss which goals have been met, identify those on track, and address any that require adjustments or a recalibrated approach. Review KPIs to measure success and quantify the customer's return on investment (ROI).

3. Challenges and opportunities

Communicate openly about the challenges faced in achieving goals, ensuring transparency, and maintaining trust. Discuss the obstacles hindering progress and brainstorm potential solutions.

Present opportunities that can be leveraged to benefit the customer, showcasing how they can be capitalized on for success.

4. Review of successes, lessons learned, and ROI

Reflect on past successes, celebrate achievements, and discuss the lessons learned from challenges encountered. Review the ROI attained and assess the overall value delivered to the customer.

This analysis helps identify areas for improvement, reworking resources, and budget allocation. Plus, it encourages teams by celebrating wins.

5. Updates and goal refinement

What does a quarterly business review agenda look like?

Provide updates based on existing progress, challenges, and opportunities. Collaboratively refine shared goals for the upcoming period, ensuring a clear understanding of the customer's evolving needs and aspirations.

Create a new plan that aligns with your business goals and works on tackling the challenges in the last quarter.

6. Stakeholder engagement and collaboration

Encourage active participation and engagement among all stakeholders involved in the QBR. Foster a collaborative environment that encourages dialogue, idea-sharing, and problem-solving to ensure the organization remains agile and responsive to external factors.

Leverage the diverse perspectives and expertise in the room to drive meaningful discussions and strategic decision-making.

7. Action plan and assigning responsibilities

Determine the next steps required to achieve the refined goals. Plot a clear roadmap and assign tasks to relevant individuals or teams responsible for their execution.

Establish a framework for tracking the progress of these steps, ensuring accountability and follow-through.

8. Next QBR preparation and follow-up

Conclude the meeting by summarizing the main outcomes, expressing appreciation for contributions, and discussing the preparation needed for the next QBR. Define the data to be collected, analyze metrics, and identify agenda items based on upcoming priorities.

Ensure follow-up actions are clearly communicated and set expectations for continued progress tracking.

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This is a general baseline of what a quarterly business review agenda can look like. Each agenda can differ on a case-by-case basis.

3 Quarterly business review agenda templates

To get you started, here are 3 templates for quarterly business review agendas that you can customize or draw inspiration from depending on your meeting requirements and flow.

Sales quarterly business review agenda
Customer success quarterly business review agenda
Financial quarterly business review agenda

1. Sales quarterly business review agenda

This meeting focuses on reviewing sales targets, analyzing revenue data, discussing pipeline health, identifying opportunities, and aligning sales tactics with business goals.

1. Opening remarks and introduction• Welcome and introductions• Overview of the purpose and goals of the Sales QBR
2. Review of sales performance• Sales targets: Recap of the previous quarter's targets and goals• Revenue analysis: Review of sales revenue and growth trends• Sales pipeline: Examination of the pipeline health and opportunities• Key metrics: Discussion of key sales metrics, such as conversion rates, average deal size, and win/loss ratios
3. Sales strategy and initiatives• Sales strategies: Overview of the sales strategies implemented during the quarter• Market analysis: Discussion of market trends, competition, and customer insights• Sales initiatives: Presentation of new sales initiatives, campaigns, or programs• Feedback and suggestions: Open discussion for the sales team to share feedback and ideas
4. Customer engagement and relationships• Customer success stories: Showcase successful customer engagements and case studies• Customer feedback: Review of customer feedback and satisfaction scores• Account management: Discussion of account strategies, cross-selling, and upselling opportunities• Customer retention: Analysis of customer churn rates and strategies to improve retention
5. Training and development• Sales training: Overview of sales training programs and initiatives• Skill enhancement: Identification of areas for skill development and training needs• Coaching and mentoring: Discussion of coaching and mentoring opportunities for sales team members
6. Action plan and goals for the next quarter• Recap of the goals achieved in the previous quarter• Identification of new goals and targets for the upcoming quarter• Strategies and action steps: Development of a clear plan to achieve the set goals• Assigning responsibilities: Allocation of tasks and responsibilities to team members
7. Open discussion and Q&A• Opportunity for the sales team to ask questions, share insights, and address any concerns• Collaborative discussion on strategies, challenges, and opportunities
8. Closing remarks• Summary of the key takeaways and action items• Appreciation for the sales team's efforts and contributions• Next steps and follow-up actions

2. Customer success quarterly business review agenda

This meeting centers around discussing customer feedback, analyzing usage data, addressing challenges, and identifying opportunities to enhance the customer experience and drive their success.

This agenda focuses on evaluating the success and satisfaction of customers, identifying areas for improvement, and aligning strategies to drive customer retention and growth.

Here's a sample agenda for a Customer Success QBR:

1. Review of customer goals and objectives• Recap of the customer's business goals and objectives discussed in previous QBRs• Evaluation of progress made toward achieving those goals• Discussion of any changes or updates to the customer's objectives
2. Review of customer health and satisfaction• Assessment of the customer's overall health score or satisfaction metrics• Analysis of customer feedback, surveys, and Net Promoter Score (NPS)• Identification of areas where the customer is thriving or experiencing challenges
3. Usage and adoption analysis• Evaluation of the customer's usage and adoption of the product or service• Analysis of key usage metrics, such as feature utilization, login frequency, or engagement rates• Identification of any usage gaps or opportunities for improvement
4. Business impact and value delivered• Discussion of the tangible business outcomes or ROI achieved by the customer• Presentation of success stories or case studies showcasing the value delivered• Alignment of the customer's business objectives with the benefits derived from the product/service
5. Customer experience and relationship• Assessment of the customer's overall experience with the company and the Customer Success team• Review of communication channels, responsiveness, and quality of support• Identification of areas where the customer experience can be enhanced
6. Renewal and expansion opportunities• Evaluation of the customer's renewal likelihood and discussion of any upcoming renewals• Exploration of expansion opportunities, upsell or cross-sell potential• Alignment of the customer's evolving needs with additional products or services
7. Action plan and next steps• Collaborative development of an action plan to address challenges and leverage opportunities• Identification of key initiatives, milestones, and timelines for the next quarter• Assignment of responsibilities and clarification of expectations
8. Open discussion and Q&A• Opportunity for the customer and Customer Success team to address any questions, concerns, or suggestions• Collaborative discussion on strategies, improvement opportunities, and alignment of goals
9. Conclusion and next QBR preparation• Summary of key takeaways, action items, and decisions made during the QBR• Appreciation for the customer's partnership and contributions• Discussion of the preparations needed for the next QBR, including data collection and agenda items

3. Financial quarterly business review agenda

This meeting focuses on the financial aspects of the business. It involves analyzing financial statements, cash flow, profitability, and budget adherence and discussing strategies to improve financial performance and ensure fiscal health.

1. Financial performance review• Revenue analysis: Review of revenue streams, growth trends, and profitability• Financial statements: Examination of the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow• Key financial metrics: Discussion of key financial indicators, such as gross margin, operating expenses, and net income
2. Budget vs. actuals analysis• Comparison of actual financial results against the budgeted targets• Identification of areas where there were significant variances• Discussion of reasons behind the variances and potential corrective actions
3. Financial forecast and projections• Presentation of the financial forecast for the upcoming quarter(s) or year• Discussion of assumptions and drivers behind the projections• Analysis of potential risks and opportunities affecting the financial outlook
4. Investment and capital expenditure reviewEvaluation of investment opportunities and capital expenditure plansAssessment of the ROI and payback period for proposed investmentsDiscussion of prioritization and allocation of capital resources
5. Cost Control and Efficiency Measures• Examination of cost structures and expense management• Analysis of cost-saving initiatives and efficiency measures• Discussion of strategies to optimize operational costs without compromising quality
6. Financial Risk Management• Assessment of financial risks, such as market volatility or liquidity challenges• Review of risk mitigation strategies and contingency plans• Discussion of any insurance or hedging measures in place
7. Funding and Financing Options• Analysis of current funding sources and financing arrangements• Exploration of potential funding options or capital-raising initiatives• Discussion of debt management and refinancing strategies, if applicable
8. Stakeholder Reporting and Communication• Overview of financial reporting and communication practices• Discussion of reporting frequency, format, and key stakeholders• Alignment of financial reporting with regulatory requirements and best practices
9. Conclusion and Next Steps• Summary of key financial insights and action items from the QBRAppreciation for the finance team's efforts and contributions• Discussion of the preparations needed for the next QBR, including data collection and agenda items

Wrapping up,

There it is, the ultimate guide you'll ever need to make that perfect and powerful quarterly business meeting review agenda.

By following these tips and templates, you can create an agenda that ensures a productive and impactful meeting. From setting clear objectives to selecting relevant metrics and incorporating interactive elements, this guide covers all the essentials.

So, gather your team, prepare for insightful discussions, and make the most out of your quarterly business meetings.