Condominium and HOA boards rely on accurate records to document decisions, votes, and discussions. These records—known as meeting minutes—serve as the official history of board actions and governance decisions.
Because of the importance of these records, many boards hire professional meeting minute takers or specialized meeting minutes services to attend board meetings and prepare the official minutes afterward.
But what exactly does a meeting minute taker do? How much do professional minute takers cost? And are there alternatives available today?
This guide explains how meeting minute taking services for condo boards work and when boards may choose to hire them. For a software alternative—how recordings become structured minutes, pricing, and privacy—see mycondo.space/products/minutes; the live workspace is linked at the end of this page.
What Does a Meeting Minute Taker Do?
A meeting minute taker is responsible for recording and preparing the official minutes of a board meeting. These minutes summarize the key discussions, decisions, and actions taken during the meeting.
Professional minute takers typically document:
- The date, time, and location of the meeting
- Attendance and quorum confirmation
- Motions made and seconded
- Voting results
- Board decisions and resolutions
- Assigned action items
- Adjournment details
The goal of a board meeting minute taker is not to record every word spoken. Instead, the minute taker prepares a clear, concise summary that reflects the official decisions of the board.
For condominium corporations and homeowner associations, these minutes become part of the corporate record and may be referenced by board members, managers, auditors, and sometimes owners. Boards comparing human note-taking to AI-assisted minute drafting usually still want the same sections: attendance, motions, votes, and adjournment.
Why Condo Boards Hire Professional Minute Takers
Many boards rely on professional minute taking services rather than asking a director or property manager to prepare the minutes themselves.
There are several reasons for this.
- Neutral documentation — A professional minute taker for a board meeting provides a neutral perspective. Because they are not part of the board, they can document proceedings objectively.
- Accuracy and consistency — Experienced meeting minutes services are familiar with governance terminology and meeting procedures. They know how to properly record motions, votes, and resolutions.
- Reduced workload for board members — Board members are volunteers in many communities. Hiring a condominium minute taker allows directors to focus on the discussion instead of taking notes.
- Professional formatting — Many meeting minutes services deliver professionally formatted minutes that follow governance best practices.
Cost of Professional Meeting Minute Takers
The cost of hiring a meeting minute taker for a condo board meeting varies depending on several factors.
Typical pricing for meeting minutes services in North America often falls into these ranges:
- $150 – $300 per meeting for basic minute taking
- $300 – $500 per meeting for longer meetings or complex boards
- Additional fees for travel, transcription, or expedited delivery
Some minute taking services charge hourly, while others offer a flat rate per meeting.
For larger condominium corporations that hold frequent board meetings, these costs can add up quickly.
Limitations of Traditional Meeting Minute Taking Services
While professional minute takers provide a valuable service, traditional minute taking also has limitations.
- Scheduling availability — Boards must coordinate schedules with the meeting minute taker, especially during busy governance seasons such as annual meetings.
- Cost per meeting — Hiring a board meeting minute taker often means paying for each meeting individually.
- Delays in producing minutes — Some meeting minutes services may take several days to deliver finalized minutes.
- Reliance on manual notes — Traditional minute taking depends on handwritten or typed notes during the meeting, which may occasionally miss details.
For these reasons, many property managers and boards are exploring newer approaches to recording meeting minutes. The My Condo Space minutes offering is described for condo and HOA audiences at mycondo.space/products/minutes.
AI Meeting Minutes vs Professional Minute Takers
Technology is beginning to change how meeting minutes are created.
Instead of relying solely on professional minute taking services, some boards now use software that records meetings and automatically generates structured minutes. Features and positioning for that workflow are published on mycondo.space/products/minutes (Ontario-focused compliance context for boards is still in our condo board meeting minutes in Ontario article).
The difference between traditional minute takers and AI-generated minutes often comes down to workflow and cost.
| Professional Minute Taker | AI meeting minutes |
|---|---|
| Attends meeting in person or virtually | Uses meeting recording |
| Manual note taking | Full audio transcription |
| Per-meeting cost | Lower cost per meeting |
| Scheduling required | Available anytime |
| Minutes delivered later | Minutes generated quickly |
While meeting minute takers still play an important role in many communities, automated solutions are becoming more common in property management. Compare per-meeting economics and security claims on the Minutes product site before you commit to either path.
When Boards Still Prefer Human Minute Takers
Despite advances in technology, there are situations where boards may still prefer professional minute takers.
Examples include:
- Highly contentious meetings
- Legal or arbitration proceedings
- Large annual meetings with complex voting procedures
- Boards that prefer a third-party observer
In these cases, an experienced condominium meeting minute taker can help ensure accurate documentation.
The Growing Shift Toward Automated Meeting Minutes
In recent years, many boards have begun exploring alternatives to traditional meeting minutes services.
Instead of hiring a professional minute taker for every meeting, some communities now record their meetings and generate minutes automatically using software—see mycondo.space/products/minutes for how My Condo Space presents that option to boards and managers.
These tools can:
- Transcribe the entire meeting
- Identify motions and decisions
- Produce formatted minutes
- Track action items for the board
For property managers who handle multiple communities, this approach can significantly reduce the time spent preparing meeting minutes. Rollout questions (pricing tiers, who sees recordings) are easier to sanity-check on the marketing site: mycondo.space/products/minutes.
Choosing the Right Approach for Your Board
Whether a board chooses a professional meeting minute taker, a meeting minutes service, or automated minutes often depends on:
- The size of the community
- The complexity of board meetings
- Budget considerations
- Management preferences
Many communities still rely on professional minute takers, while others are gradually adopting technology to simplify the process.
Regardless of the method used, the goal remains the same: creating clear, accurate condo board meeting minutes that properly document the decisions of the board.
FAQ
- Do condo boards need a professional minute taker?
- Not necessarily. Many boards prepare minutes internally through the secretary or property manager. However, some boards hire professional minute takers to ensure accuracy and neutrality.
- How much do meeting minute takers cost?
- Professional meeting minute taking services typically cost between $150 and $500 per meeting depending on the meeting length, location, and complexity.
- What should be included in condo board meeting minutes?
- Meeting minutes generally include attendance, motions, votes, board decisions, and action items. They serve as the official record of the meeting.
- Can meeting minutes be generated automatically?
- Yes. Some modern tools can generate structured meeting minutes from recorded meetings, offering an alternative to traditional minute taking services. Overview: mycondo.space/products/minutes.