Header
Company name, reporting month, preparer name, and contact information.
A clear Monthly Business Note creates a single, consistent record of month-end performance, decisions, and outstanding actions that supports governance, auditability, and cross-team alignment. It reduces ambiguity around who approved what, when, and under what assumptions.
The Monthly Business Note is commonly prepared by finance, operations, or program managers and reviewed by department heads, controllers, or executive leadership.
Recipients and reviewers vary by organizational structure; include a stable distribution list and designated approvers to ensure consistent sign-off each month.
Company name, reporting month, preparer name, and contact information.
One-paragraph highlight of performance, major changes, and recommended actions.
Revenue, expenses, cash position, and notable variances from budget or prior month.
Key project milestones, KPIs, and resource or supply constraints affecting delivery.
Material compliance, legal, or financial risks with mitigation steps and owners.
Designated approver signature lines with title, date, and optional electronic signature evidence.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Template | Create a reusable template with locked header and required fields |
| Routing | Set role-based routing order: preparer → manager → controller → exec |
| Authentication | Require email + code or SSO for approvers |
| Retention | Auto-save signed copies to central document repository |
Choose a platform that supports secure e-signatures, multiple authentication methods, and integration with your document repository.
Ensure the platform captures an audit trail (timestamps, IP, signer identity) and stores signed records in a secure, access-controlled location.
2 business days after month-end for general ledger lock
5 business days after month-end for preparer to submit draft
7 business days after month-end for first-level approval
10 business days after month-end for controller/executive sign-off
Within 15 business days after month-end ensure signed copy is archived
Gather financials and reconcile variances before drafting the note.
Prepare the summary and attach supporting schedules for reviewer context.
Route to approvers and capture signatures with authentication evidence.
Store the signed note in the designated repository with retention metadata.
Brian Fitzgibbons used a standardized monthly note to centralize financial highlights and action items for portfolio companies.
Tim Martin replaced mixed email updates with a single signed monthly note for property operations.
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Free Trial | 7-day free trial | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |