Renewal Process Template
A template for managing the customer renewal process from 120 days out through close, with checklists and talking points.
Use this template to manage every renewal. Start the process 120 days before the contract expiration date. Customize the timeline based on your contract length (shorten for quarterly, extend for multi-year).
Renewal Overview
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Account name | |
| CSM | |
| AE / Account Executive | |
| Current ARR | |
| Contract end date | |
| Renewal start date (T-120 days) | |
| Health score | Green / Yellow / Red |
| Expansion opportunity | Y / N |
| Estimated renewal ARR | |
| Risk level | Low / Medium / High |
Phase 1: Internal Prep (T-120 to T-90 days)
Complete these steps before reaching out to the customer about renewal.
| Task | Owner | Deadline | Done |
|---|---|---|---|
| Review account health score and trend | CSM | T-120 | [ ] |
| Pull product usage data for the contract period | CSM | T-120 | [ ] |
| Review open support tickets and CSAT scores | CSM | T-115 | [ ] |
| Document ROI and value delivered | CSM | T-110 | [ ] |
| Check for expansion signals (usage above license, new teams) | CSM | T-110 | [ ] |
| Review any open commitments or unresolved issues | CSM | T-105 | [ ] |
| Align with AE on renewal strategy and pricing | CSM + AE | T-100 | [ ] |
| Flag high-risk renewals to CS leadership | CSM | T-100 | [ ] |
| Prepare renewal deck with value summary | CSM | T-95 | [ ] |
Phase 2: Customer Engagement (T-90 to T-60 days)
| Task | Owner | Deadline | Done |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schedule renewal conversation with champion | CSM | T-90 | [ ] |
| Present value summary and gather feedback | CSM | T-85 | [ ] |
| Identify any objections or concerns | CSM | T-85 | [ ] |
| Confirm decision maker and procurement process | CSM | T-80 | [ ] |
| Discuss expansion opportunities if applicable | CSM + AE | T-75 | [ ] |
| Address any open issues or feature requests | CSM | T-70 | [ ] |
| Send formal renewal proposal with updated terms | AE | T-65 | [ ] |
Phase 3: Negotiation and Close (T-60 to T-0 days)
| Task | Owner | Deadline | Done |
|---|---|---|---|
| Follow up on renewal proposal | AE | T-55 | [ ] |
| Negotiate terms if needed | AE | T-45 | [ ] |
| Send final contract for signature | AE | T-30 | [ ] |
| Escalate unsigned contracts to leadership | AE + CSM | T-15 | [ ] |
| Confirm contract signed | AE | T-7 | [ ] |
| Update CRM with new contract details | AE | T-0 | [ ] |
| Schedule post-renewal success planning call | CSM | T+7 | [ ] |
Renewal Conversation Framework
Use this structure for the T-90 renewal meeting.
Part 1: Value Review (10 minutes)
- Review the customer’s original goals when they purchased
- Present specific metrics showing value delivered (usage data, time saved, revenue impacted)
- Share 2-3 highlights from the contract period
Part 2: Feedback (10 minutes)
- Ask: “What has worked well this year?”
- Ask: “Where have we fallen short of your expectations?”
- Ask: “What are your priorities for the next 12 months?”
Part 3: Forward Plan (10 minutes)
- Present a plan for the next contract period aligned with their stated priorities
- Discuss any product updates or new features relevant to their goals
- If expansion is relevant, introduce the conversation naturally based on their growth
Part 4: Next Steps (5 minutes)
- Confirm renewal interest and timeline
- Identify any internal approvals needed on their side
- Agree on next meeting date and deliverables
Risk Assessment Matrix
Score each factor and calculate overall risk.
| Risk Factor | Low Risk (1) | Medium Risk (2) | High Risk (3) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health score | Green | Yellow | Red | |
| Champion status | Active and engaged | Engaged but changing roles | Left or disengaged | |
| Product usage | Growing or stable | Declining slightly | Declining significantly | |
| Open issues | None or minor | 1-2 moderate issues | Critical unresolved issues | |
| Competitive threat | No competitor activity | Competitor evaluation rumored | Active competitor evaluation | |
| Budget / procurement | Straightforward renewal | Budget review required | Budget cuts or reorg | |
| Total | /18 |
| Total Score | Risk Level | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 6-8 | Low | Standard renewal process |
| 9-12 | Medium | Increase touch frequency, address concerns proactively |
| 13-15 | High | Executive escalation, create dedicated save plan |
| 16-18 | Critical | Immediate executive engagement, daily internal review |
Post-Renewal Actions
| Task | Owner | Deadline | Done |
|---|---|---|---|
| Send thank-you email to customer | CSM | T+1 day | [ ] |
| Update health score and account notes | CSM | T+3 days | [ ] |
| Schedule success planning for new contract period | CSM | T+7 days | [ ] |
| Request referral or case study (if health is green) | CSM | T+14 days | [ ] |
| Log renewal outcome and lessons learned | CSM | T+7 days | [ ] |
Related templates
Churn Prevention Scorecard
A scorecard for identifying at-risk accounts and taking proactive action to prevent churn.
ScorecardCustomer Health Scorecard
A scoring template to assess customer health across usage, engagement, support, and business outcomes.
FrameworkABM Account Tier Framework
A scoring framework for segmenting target accounts into tiers based on fit, intent, and strategic value.
Want the how-to behind this template?
Check out our playbooks for step-by-step process guides.