Spreadsheets are where contract tracking starts — but for most businesses, they're also where it breaks down. Here's why, and what the alternative looks like.
Try MyRenewals Free →The spreadsheet approach works until it doesn't. Here are the points where it reliably breaks down.
A spreadsheet is a passive document. It won't remind you that a contract expires in 30 days. You have to remember to check — and that's exactly what doesn't happen when you're busy. Contracts auto-renew, prices increase, and you only notice when the invoice lands.
Who has the latest version? Who deleted a row? Who updated the renewal date but forgot to note the old one? Shared spreadsheets get corrupted, emailed copies diverge, and there's no record of what changed or when.
If a renewal decision was made six months ago, a spreadsheet gives you no record of who made it or what alternatives were considered. For regulated businesses, professional services firms, or anyone managing contracts on behalf of clients, this is a serious gap.
When the person who maintains the spreadsheet leaves, their knowledge goes with them. Which contracts are high priority? What are the notice period quirks? Which supplier to call? None of that is in a spreadsheet — it's in someone's head.
A 12-month contract and a contract expiring next week both look the same in a spreadsheet unless someone has applied conditional formatting and kept it updated. You have to actively hunt for what needs attention rather than having it surfaced for you.
| Feature | Spreadsheet | MyRenewals |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic email alerts before renewals | ✗ | ✓ 90, 60, 30 & 7 days |
| Full audit history of every change | ✗ | ✓ |
| Dashboard of urgent/upcoming renewals | Manual | ✓ Auto-updated |
| Client/supplier grouping | Filters only | ✓ |
| Cost tracking by category | Manual formulas | ✓ |
| Accessible from anywhere | If cloud-hosted | ✓ |
| CSV import from existing data | N/A | ✓ |
| No maintenance required | ✗ | ✓ |
| Free to start | ✓ | ✓ |
Built specifically for contract and renewal tracking — not adapted from a general-purpose tool.
Every renewal you add automatically generates email alerts at 90, 60, 30, and 7 days before expiry. No formulas, no setup — it just works.
Every change is logged with a timestamp and user. You always have a complete record of what was decided, when, and by whom.
See every renewal grouped by client or supplier — not just a flat list. When a client calls, you can answer their questions in seconds.
See your total contract spend by category, flag price increases at renewal, and understand the financial impact before it hits your accounts.
Import your existing contracts from CSV and be up and running in minutes. Free plan available — no card required.
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