What are meeting minutes?

Meeting minutes are a written record of what was discussed, decided, and assigned during a client meeting. They're not a word-for-word transcript - just the key points, decisions, and action items captured in a clear format.

For freelancers, meeting minutes are a quiet superpower. They turn verbal agreements into written records. If a client later says "I never agreed to that," you've got the minutes to point to.

When should you use them?

After every client meeting where decisions are made or direction is given - kickoff calls, feedback sessions, strategy discussions, progress check-ins, and project reviews. Send the minutes to the client within 24 hours.

What's included

Meeting details - date, time, attendees, and the purpose of the meeting.

Discussion summary - key topics discussed and any important context or reasoning behind decisions.

Decisions made - clear statements of what was agreed. "Client approved concept B" is better than "we discussed the concepts."

Action items - who's doing what, by when. Every action item has an owner and a deadline.

Next steps - what happens next and when the next meeting or check-in is scheduled.

Sign-off note - a line asking the client to confirm the minutes are accurate within 48 hours.