Need an Approval Workflow Template Your Team Will Actually Use?
Turn a request tracker into a real approval workflow template your team actually uses, with routing, sign-off, and status everyone can see.
Google Sheets Approval Workflow Overview
By converting your Google Sheets request tracker into an active approval workflow app, this template provides clear routing, sign-off capabilities, and an intuitive user interface, ensuring your team never has to search through spreadsheets to check a request's status.
Powered by GoodTaco, this dynamic system lets you fully adapt your approval process, including routing rules, sign-off permissions, and access controls. Because it integrates seamlessly with your existing Google Sheet, your formulas, history, and requests remain completely intact.
Why Use This Approval Workflow Template
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Stop chasing approvals through email and chat: Route requests to the right approver automatically, so nobody has to forward a thread or ask "did you see this yet?"
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Catch stuck requests before they stall a project: See what's pending, what's approved, and what's been sitting too long, so a request doesn't quietly wait a week for a signature.
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Give every role the view they need: Requesters see their own submissions and status. Approvers see what's waiting on them. No one has to scroll a shared sheet to find their piece.
Template Features
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Automated routing Send requests to the right approver based on type, amount, or category, pulled live from your Google Sheet, instead of manually forwarding each one.
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Status tracking Move requests through statuses like Pending, Approved, and Rejected in a real interface, so anyone can check current status without asking.
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Sign-off and approval history Log who approved what and when, keeping a clear record attached to each request instead of scattered across email threads.
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Role-based access Give requesters a view of their own submissions, while approvers see only what's waiting on their sign-off. No one has to dig through requests that aren't theirs.
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Multi-step approval chains Route a request through more than one approver when needed, like a manager followed by finance, without rebuilding the process each time.
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Comments and notes Let approvers leave a note on a request, like a reason for rejection or a condition for approval, keeping context attached to the request itself.
Who Is This Template For
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Small business owners who need requests routed and approved without adopting a full workflow platform built for larger organizations.
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Finance and operations teams approving invoices, purchase requests, or contracts, where sign-off needs a clear record and requests can't sit unnoticed in an inbox.
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Marketing and creative teams routing content or creative assets for approval, where multiple stakeholders need to sign off before something goes live.
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Agencies and service teams managing client approvals on deliverables or contracts, where the requester and approver are often on different teams entirely.
Setup Steps
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Sign up with Google Sheets. Connect the spreadsheet you're already using to track requests.
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Connect your data. GoodTaco reads your existing columns (requests, requester, status) so you don't have to restructure anything.
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Customize your app. Describe what you want in plain language: routing rules, approval chains, and who should see what.
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Publish and share. Give your team access to the app. Your Google Sheet stays the source of truth behind it.
Turn Your Google Sheet Into an Approval Workflow
Still chasing sign-offs through email and chat? Turn your Google Sheet into an approval workflow your whole team can actually trust.
Approval Workflow Template FAQs
What is an approval workflow template?
An approval workflow template is a pre-built structure for routing requests to the right approver and tracking sign-off. This one is built on GoodTaco, so instead of a static file you copy and fill in, it's a working app connected to your Google Sheet that updates in real time.
Do I need to reformat my Google Sheet to use this?
No. GoodTaco connects to your sheet as it already exists. Clearly labeled columns help, but there's no required migration or restructuring.
Why use a template like this instead of email or a plain spreadsheet?
Email buries requests in threads, and a spreadsheet has no way to notify the right person or track sign-off. This template gives your Google Sheet a proper app on top: routing, status tracking, and permissions, while your data stays exactly where it is.
Can a request go through more than one approver?
Yes. You can set up multi-step approval chains, like a manager followed by finance, so a request routes through every required sign-off in order.
Will this replace my Google Sheet?
No. Your Google Sheet stays the source of truth. GoodTaco adds an app interface on top of it so your team can work without opening the spreadsheet directly.
Can requesters see the status of their own requests?
Yes. Requesters get a view scoped to their own submissions, so they can check status without asking an approver directly.
What happens if a request needs a new type of approval later?
Add it to your sheet, and GoodTaco's routing picks it up. No rebuild required.
Do I need to know how to code to set this up?
No. You describe what you want in plain language and GoodTaco builds the app around your existing sheet. No developer or technical setup required.
Is my approval data secure?
Your data stays in your Google Sheet, and access to the app is controlled by the roles and permissions you set.