RiskNote
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Risk register template: free Excel/CSV

A ready template with 10 example risks and all common fields. Opens in Excel, Google Sheets, or Numbers. Customise to your business. No account, no email, just download.

~2 KB. Includes UTF-8 BOM for correct character handling in Excel.

What's in the template

  • 14 standard columns

    ID, Risk, Category, Likelihood (1–5), Consequence (1–5), Score, Severity, Owner, Action, Status, Identified, Last reviewed, Next review, Comment.

  • 10 worked example risks

    From cyber to HR, compliance and finance, representative of a typical SME. Replace with your own.

  • Consistent scale explanation

    The examples use the same 1–5 scale throughout so you can see how score is calculated (L × C).

  • Cross-compatible formatting

    UTF-8 with BOM, semicolon-compatible (works in both Excel EN and SE). Opens directly in Excel, Numbers, or Google Sheets.

How to use the template

  • 1. Download the CSV

    Click the button above. File saves as riskregister-mall.csv.

  • 2. Open in Excel or Google Sheets

    Double-click. Pick semicolon or comma as the separator if Excel asks. Save as .xlsx to keep formulas.

  • 3. Replace the example risks with your own

    Keep the structure but enter your actual risks. 10–30 risks is typical for an SME.

  • 4. Add conditional formatting to the score column

    1–3 green, 4–7 yellow, 8–14 orange, 15–25 red. Makes the severity visible in the table.

  • 5. Review quarterly

    A risk register that never updates is useless. Put a quarterly meeting on the calendar.

Excel works, until it doesn't

This template works well for a first risk assessment or for SMEs with fewer than ~15 risks.

When the register grows, or when multiple people need to edit at the same time, or when an auditor asks for a per-risk trail, Excel becomes the bottleneck. That's when it's time to switch to a dedicated tool.

See our [Excel vs RiskNote comparison](/en/alternativ-till-excel-riskregister) for when it's time to switch.

Compare Excel vs RiskNote

Frequently asked questions about the template

Why CSV and not .xlsx?

CSV works in every spreadsheet tool (Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers, LibreOffice) and can be imported anywhere. Excel's binary format (xlsx) locks you into Microsoft. CSV is also easier to version-control in Git or store in an archive.

Can I customise the columns?

Absolutely. Remove columns that aren't relevant, add your own (e.g. “Insurance type”, “ISO 27001 control”, “Regulatory reference”).

Do I need to credit you?

No. The template is free to use however you want. No attribution required. But if you like it, tell a colleague!

Do you have a more advanced version?

Yes, in RiskNote. There you get AI suggestions for risk identification, a 5x5 matrix that updates live, per-risk version history, PDF export, and the ability to share with colleagues or clients. 7-day free trial.

Can you make an .xlsx version?

We're considering it. Right now we focus on building the RiskNote web app. Contact us at hello@risknote.io if you need another template format.

Or skip straight to something better

RiskNote gives you AI suggestions, a living matrix, and audit-ready PDF reports. Start a 7-day free trial.