FREE TEMPLATE

Mutual Action Plan Template That Keeps Deals on Track

Stop losing deals to inaction. Create a shared plan with your buyer that defines every milestone from evaluation to go-live, so nothing falls through the cracks.

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What Is a Mutual Action Plan?

A mutual action plan (MAP) is a collaborative document shared between a seller and buyer that outlines the key milestones, tasks, owners, and deadlines required to complete a deal. Unlike an internal sales plan, a MAP is co-created with the prospect, ensuring both sides are aligned on what needs to happen and by when.

Mutual action plans are a hallmark of high-performing sales organizations. They transform vague next steps into concrete, accountable actions with clear ownership. By involving the buyer in the planning process, MAPs create commitment and reduce the likelihood of deals going dark or stalling in late stages.

The most effective MAPs cover the entire buyer journey, from technical evaluation and security review to legal approval, procurement, and go-live. They surface hidden blockers early, identify all decision-makers, and give both sides a shared source of truth for tracking progress.

37%
faster deal cycles when sellers use mutual action plans with their buyers

Key Components of a Great Mutual Action Plan

Milestone Tracker

Define the critical milestones from evaluation through go-live. Each milestone should have a clear deliverable, owner, and target date to keep momentum.

Stakeholder Map

Identify every person involved in the buying decision on both sides. Map out roles, responsibilities, and influence to ensure no one is left out of the loop.

Timeline & Deadlines

Visualize the path from today to go-live with realistic timelines. Include buffer for common delays like legal review, security approvals, and procurement cycles.

Risk & Blocker Log

Document potential risks and blockers proactively. Having a shared place to surface concerns builds trust and prevents surprises late in the deal.

Success Criteria

Agree upfront on what success looks like for both parties. Clear success criteria ensure expectations are aligned and make it easier to measure outcomes.

Communication Plan

Set cadence for check-ins, preferred communication channels, and escalation paths. Consistent communication keeps deals from going dark.

What's Inside This Mutual Action Plan Template

A collaborative, interactive plan designed to keep both buyer and seller aligned on every step of the deal process.

Pre-built milestone tracker with customizable stages
Stakeholder mapping section with role assignments
Interactive timeline with drag-and-drop milestone editing
Built-in task assignment and status tracking
Risk register for proactively managing blockers
Go-live readiness checklist to ensure smooth deployment
WHO IT'S FOR

Who Is This Template For?

🎯

Account Executives

Guide complex deals with a structured plan that buyers actually engage with. Reduce deal slippage and forecast more accurately by tracking milestone completion in real time.

🔧

Solutions Engineers

Coordinate technical evaluations, POCs, and security reviews with a shared timeline that keeps all stakeholders on the same page throughout the evaluation process.

📊

Sales Leaders & VPs

Improve pipeline predictability by standardizing your team's approach to deal execution. MAPs give you visibility into deal health and help identify at-risk opportunities.

When to Use a Mutual Action Plan

🤝

Enterprise Deal Cycles

Complex enterprise deals with multiple stakeholders and long evaluation periods benefit the most from a shared action plan that keeps all parties accountable.

Implementation Planning

Bridge the gap between closed-won and go-live by using a MAP to define implementation milestones, training schedules, and launch criteria.

🔄

Renewal & Expansion

Align on renewal timelines and expansion milestones with existing customers. A MAP ensures renewal conversations start early and upsell opportunities are properly scoped.

🔍

Post-Discovery Alignment

After discovery, create a MAP to formalize next steps with the buyer. This establishes a professional cadence and signals that you are invested in their success.

WHY DISTRIBUTE

Why Build Your Mutual Action Plan with Distribute?

Distribute makes it easy to co-create, share, and track mutual action plans that drive accountability and keep deals moving.

📊

Live Progress Tracking

See which milestones are complete, which are at risk, and who is responsible. Get notified when buyers engage with the plan so you can follow up proactively.

Ready in Minutes

Start from a proven template and customize it for each deal. Drag-and-drop blocks let you add milestones, stakeholders, and resources without starting from scratch.

🤖

AI-Assisted Planning

Let AI suggest milestones based on your deal type, industry, and sales stage. Generate professional content and task descriptions in seconds.

🔗

CRM Integration

Sync MAP activity directly to Salesforce, HubSpot, and other CRMs. Keep your pipeline data accurate without manual updates.

🎨

Professional Branding

Present a polished, branded plan that reflects your company's professionalism and builds buyer confidence in your organization.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

A sales plan is an internal document that outlines your strategy for winning a deal. A mutual action plan is a shared document co-created with the buyer that defines milestones, tasks, and deadlines for both sides. The key difference is that a MAP involves the buyer, creating shared accountability and transparency throughout the deal process.
The best time to introduce a MAP is after discovery, once you have confirmed mutual fit and the buyer has expressed interest in moving forward. Introducing it too early can feel presumptive, while introducing it too late means you miss the opportunity to shape the evaluation process. For complex deals, introduce the MAP during or immediately after a strong discovery call.
The level of detail should match the deal complexity. For enterprise deals with multiple stakeholders, include detailed milestones for technical evaluation, security review, legal, procurement, and go-live. For simpler deals, a streamlined plan with five to eight key milestones is sufficient. The goal is clarity, not complexity.
Frame the MAP as a tool that benefits the buyer, not just you. Position it as a way to keep their internal team aligned, avoid delays, and ensure a smooth evaluation. Make it easy to access by sharing a link rather than a document attachment. Use Distribute's engagement tracking to see if the buyer is reviewing the plan, and reference specific milestones in your follow-up conversations.
Absolutely. The template is fully customizable. You can add, remove, or reorder milestones, adjust timelines, change stakeholder roles, and modify any section to match your specific sales process. Save different versions as templates for different deal types, such as enterprise, mid-market, or expansion deals.
Yes. Distribute integrates with major CRMs including Salesforce and HubSpot. When a buyer engages with your mutual action plan, activity data can be synced to the corresponding opportunity in your CRM, giving your team real-time visibility into deal progress without manual data entry.