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QBR Agenda Cheat Sheet

The exact agenda order and time allocation for a QBR that ends in expansion, not just a signature — plus a compressed version and prep/follow-up checklists.

What's inside

  • The exact 60-minute QBR agenda with time allocation per segment
  • A compressed 30-minute version for smaller/lower-tier accounts
  • A pre-QBR prep checklist to run 3–5 days out
  • A post-QBR follow-up checklist for the 24 hours after
  • The one rule that separates a real QBR from a status update

The 60-minute agenda that ends in expansion, not just a signature

TimeSegmentWhat happens
0:00–0:05Relationship check-inPersonal, not scripted. Ask what's new for them, acknowledge a recent win or challenge. Sets tone before business starts.
0:05–0:10Business context recapRestate their goals for this period, in their language, from their last meeting or kickoff — not your notes. Confirms you're solving for their world.
0:10–0:25Value deliveredThe core of the meeting. Show outcomes tied to their goals (time saved, revenue influenced, risk reduced), not just usage charts. One slide per goal, max.
0:25–0:35Usage & adoption reviewWhich teams/users are active, which aren't, and a specific plan to close any adoption gap. This is diagnostic, not a report card.
0:35–0:45Roadmap alignmentWhat's coming that matters to them specifically — not your full roadmap. Ask what's coming on their side that you should plan around too.
0:45–0:55Expansion / whitespace conversationName specific unused capacity, an adjacent team that could benefit, or a module that maps to a goal they just mentioned. Ask, don't just present.
0:55–1:00Action items & next stepsRead back owners and dates out loud before the call ends. Confirm the next touchpoint on the calendar before you hang up.

The 30-minute compressed version (smaller/lower-tier accounts)

TimeSegment
0:00–0:03Relationship check-in
0:03–0:15Value delivered (combine with context recap)
0:15–0:22Usage review + one adoption action
0:22–0:27One expansion or roadmap point — pick whichever is more relevant
0:27–0:30Action items confirmed

Pre-QBR prep checklist (do this 3–5 days before)

  • Pull usage/health data for the full period, not just the last 30 days
  • Identify the single biggest win to lead with in the value section
  • Identify the single biggest adoption gap to name honestly
  • Confirm the right stakeholders are invited — not just your usual contact
  • Prepare one specific, named expansion idea (not "let us know if you want more")
  • Send a lightweight agenda in advance so no one is surprised by the expansion conversation

Post-QBR follow-up checklist (within 24 hours)

  • Send a written recap with action items, owners, and dates
  • Log the meeting and any risk/opportunity signals in your CRM/CS platform
  • Calendar the next QBR before momentum fades
  • Flag any expansion interest to your manager or the person who owns pipeline

The one rule

If your QBR is 100% look-back and 0% forward-look, you had a status update, not a QBR. The expansion/roadmap segments are not optional add-ons — they're the reason the meeting justifies the customer's time.

How to use it

Use the 60-minute agenda as your default template, adjust to the 30-minute version for smaller accounts, and run the prep checklist every time — the expansion conversation only works if you show up with a specific idea, not a general question.

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