# Client Report Template > Designs client reporting templates with executive summaries, data visualizations, and next-step recommendations. - Skill: `reaperinvest/client-report-template` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add reaperinvest/client-report-template` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/reaperinvest/client-report-template/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Docs & Writing - Author: reaperinvest (https://skillmd.com/u/reaperinvest) - Updated: 2026-09-22 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/reaperinvest/client-report-template --- # Client Report Template ## When to Use This Skill Use this skill when you need to: - Create recurring client report templates (weekly, monthly, quarterly) - Structure executive summaries that busy decision-makers actually read - Present data with clear visualizations and narrative context - Include actionable next-step recommendations in every report **DO NOT** use this skill for internal team reports, financial statements, or one-time project deliverables. This is for ongoing client-facing progress and performance reports. --- ## Core Principle A CLIENT REPORT SHOULD TAKE 3 MINUTES TO SCAN AND 10 MINUTES TO READ IN FULL — IF THE CLIENT HAS TO ASK "SO WHAT?" AFTER READING IT, THE REPORT FAILED. --- ## Phase 1: Report Requirements ### Required Inputs | Input | What to Ask | Default | |-------|------------|---------| | **Report type** | "Is this weekly, monthly, or quarterly?" | Monthly | | **Service area** | "What are you reporting on — marketing, development, consulting, other?" | No default — must be provided | | **Key metrics** | "What 3-5 KPIs does your client care about most?" | No default — must be provided | | **Client's goal** | "What outcome is the client paying you to deliver?" | No default — must be provided | | **Audience** | "Who reads this — founder, marketing director, C-suite?" | Business owner / founder | **GATE: Confirm report structure and KPIs before building the template.** --- ## Phase 2: Report Template ### Report Structure ``` ## [Client Name] — [Month/Period] Report **Prepared by:** [Your name] **Date:** [Date] **Reporting period:** [Start date] — [End date] --- ### Executive Summary [3-4 sentences maximum. State the top result, the most important trend, and the #1 recommended action. A busy CEO should be able to read only this section and understand how things are going.] **Bottom line:** [One sentence — are we on track, ahead, or behind the goal?] --- ### Key Metrics Dashboard | Metric | This Period | Last Period | Change | Target | Status | |--------|-----------|------------|--------|--------|--------| | [KPI 1] | [value] | [value] | [+/-X%] | [target] | ✓ On Track / ⚠ Watch / ✗ Behind | | [KPI 2] | [value] | [value] | [+/-X%] | [target] | ✓ / ⚠ / ✗ | | [KPI 3] | [value] | [value] | [+/-X%] | [target] | ✓ / ⚠ / ✗ | --- ### What We Did [Bullet list of completed activities and deliverables this period. Keep it factual — actions taken, not just plans made.] - [Activity 1] — [result or output] - [Activity 2] — [result or output] - [Activity 3] — [result or output] --- ### What Worked [Highlight 1-2 wins with context. Explain WHY it worked so the client understands the strategy, not just the result.] --- ### What Needs Attention [Flag 1-2 areas of concern with honest assessment. Include what you are doing about it — never present a problem without a plan.] --- ### Recommendations & Next Steps 1. **[Action item]** — [Why and expected impact]. Owner: [who]. By: [date]. 2. **[Action item]** — [Why and expected impact]. Owner: [who]. By: [date]. 3. **[Action item]** — [Why and expected impact]. Owner: [who]. By: [date]. --- ### Appendix (Optional) [Detailed data tables, screenshots, campaign breakdowns, or supporting information for clients who want to go deeper.] ``` --- ## Phase 3: Data Presentation ### Visualization Guidelines | Data Type | Best Format | Avoid | |-----------|------------|-------| | Trend over time | Line chart | Pie chart | | Comparison between categories | Bar chart | 3D charts | | Part of a whole | Stacked bar or simple table | Complex pie charts | | Single key number | Large bold number with context | Buried in a paragraph | | Before/after | Side-by-side comparison | Long narrative description | ### Narrative Rules - Every number needs context — "2,400 visitors" means nothing without "up 35% from last month" - Compare to the goal, not just the previous period - Explain anomalies — spikes and dips need one-sentence explanations - Use plain language — "conversion rate improved" not "we observed a positive delta in CR" --- ## Phase 4: Delivery & Follow-Up ### Delivery Checklist - [ ] Executive summary is under 4 sentences - [ ] All KPIs show period-over-period comparison and target status - [ ] Every section answers "so what?" — not just data, but interpretation - [ ] Recommendations are specific, assigned, and time-bound - [ ] Report is formatted cleanly — consistent fonts, alignment, spacing - [ ] Proofread for accuracy — one wrong number destroys credibility ### Delivery Best Practices - Send the report 24 hours before any review meeting - Include a 1-sentence email summary: "Revenue is up 18% — full report attached" - Schedule a 15-30 minute call to walk through the report and discuss next steps - Archive all reports for trend analysis and annual reviews --- ## Anti-Patterns - **Data dump with no narrative** — raw numbers without interpretation make clients feel like they are doing your job for you. - **Burying bad news** — hiding underperformance in an appendix erodes trust. Address it head-on with a plan. - **Reports that take 30+ minutes to read** — if the client needs a meeting just to understand the report, it is too long. - **No recommendations** — a report without next steps is a history lesson. Always tell the client what to do. - **Inconsistent formatting** — changing the report layout every month makes it impossible to compare periods. - **Vanity metrics only** — reporting impressions and followers when the client cares about revenue and leads. --- ## Recovery - **Client never reads the report:** Shorten it drastically. Lead with the executive summary and offer details on request. - **Client questions a number:** Always have the source data ready. Show the calculation and methodology transparently. - **Metrics are not improving:** Acknowledge it directly. Present the diagnosis and a revised strategy. Do not spin bad results. - **Client wants different metrics:** Update the KPI dashboard immediately. Ask why the new metrics matter to align your work. - **Report takes too long to create:** Templatize everything. Use the same structure each period and only update the data and narrative.