Client status report template
By Tom Hunt · Updated October 2026
The weekly status report is the single cheapest way to keep clients calm and reduce churn - it answers "what's happening?" before they have to ask. Copy the template below, or stop writing it every week and give clients a live status page that updates itself.
0/3 filled - the rest of the [prompts] you finish in your copy.
The weekly cadence that keeps active projects calm.
[CLIENT] - Weekly status | Week of [date] | Prepared by [name] OVERALL STATUS: [pick one] 🟢 On track - going to plan 🟡 At risk - a date or outcome is in doubt; see blockers 🔴 Blocked - stalled until something is resolved [Set the colour honestly - a 🟡 with a clear ask earns more trust than a fake 🟢.] 1. HEADLINE [One sentence the client could forward to their boss. e.g. "Logo signed off; on track to finish a week ahead of the Q3 rollout."] 2. DONE THIS WEEK - [An outcome shipped, not activity: "Shipped the booking flow", not "worked on booking".] 3. IN PROGRESS - [Item] - [% or status] - [owner] - [expected done] 4. NEXT WEEK - [Planned item] 5. BLOCKERS / NEEDS FROM YOU - [Exactly what you need, from whom, by when. If nothing, write "Nothing - thanks!"] 6. METRICS (the 1-2 numbers the client cares about) | Metric | This week | Last week | Trend | |---------|-----------|-----------|--------------| | [KPI] | [value] | [value] | up/flat/down | 7. NOTES [Anything else worth flagging - a risk, a decision you need, a win.]
pick a version, copy it, or download as .docx or .pdf - then make it yours.
How to fill it in
Lead with status
A single green / amber / red at the top answers the client's only real question before they read a word.
Done, doing, next
Three short lists beat a wall of text. Write outcomes ('shipped the booking flow'), not activity ('worked on the booking flow').
Make the ask explicit
The 'needs from you' section is the most valuable - name what you need and by when, or the blocker is silently yours.
Show a metric
If you can tie the work to a number the client cares about, the report sells the next month for you.
Keep it skimmable
It should take 60 seconds to read. If it's longer, it won't get read.
A filled-in status report
A realistic, filled-in version - so you can see what good looks like before you start.
Acme Roasters - Weekly status | Week of 6 Apr 2026 | Prepared by Maya OVERALL STATUS: 🟢 On track 1. HEADLINE Logo signed off; on track to finish a week ahead of the Q3 rollout. 2. DONE THIS WEEK - Shipped final logo files; Dana signed off - Color + type scale approved 3. IN PROGRESS - Brand guide PDF - 70% - Maya - due Thu 16 Apr 4. NEXT WEEK - Deliver brand guide + walkthrough call (Thu) 5. BLOCKERS / NEEDS FROM YOU - Sign-off on the guide draft by Wed 15 Apr to hold the Thursday call 6. METRICS (the 1-2 numbers the client cares about) | Metric | This week | Last week | Trend | |---------|-----------|-----------|-------| | On time | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | up | 7. NOTES Tracking a week ahead of the Q3 rollout date.
Common mistakes
- Listing activity instead of outcomes - 'worked on X' tells the client nothing.
- Hiding blockers to look good, then missing a date with no warning.
- Sending a different format every week, so the client has to relearn it each time.
- Writing a page when a screen will do - long reports don't get read.
- Never tying the work to a metric the client actually cares about.
Stop writing it weekly - make it live
A status report is a snapshot that's stale the moment you send it. Forge builds a branded status page per client that shows progress, milestones and next steps in real time - and tracks how often the client checks it, so you can prove they're engaged.
Frequently asked questions
What goes in a client status report?
Overall status, what was done, what's in progress, what's next, blockers/needs, and key metrics.
How often should agencies send status reports?
Weekly is standard for active engagements; a live status page removes the need to send anything at all.
What's better than a weekly status email?
A live, branded status page clients can check anytime - fewer "any update?" emails and visible proof of progress.