Complete Timeline Guide

SaaS Exit Timeline

A realistic, month-by-month roadmap from deciding to sell to closing the deal. Most successful SaaS exits take 12-18 months of preparation.

The Reality of Exit Timelines

12-18 mo

Ideal preparation time for maximum value

6-9 mo

Minimum preparation for decent outcome

3-6 mo

LOI to closing (due diligence period)

Reality Check: Rushing the process often leaves millions on the table. Buyers can smell desperation, and unprepared companies get lower valuations.

18-12 Months Before

Strategic Planning & Assessment

Understand your position and set exit goals

Key Tasks:

Get initial business valuation

Define exit goals and timeline

Assess exit readiness across all areas

Identify major gaps and weaknesses

Create high-level preparation roadmap

Begin tracking key metrics consistently

12-9 Months Before

Financial & Legal Cleanup

Fix red flags that reduce valuation

Key Tasks:

Clean up financial statements (3+ years)

Standardize accounting practices

Document all revenue streams

Review and update legal agreements

Ensure IP is properly assigned

Fix cap table issues

Get legal entity in order

Start building data room

9-6 Months Before

Operational Excellence

Systematize and document everything

Key Tasks:

Document all processes (SOPs)

Reduce founder dependencies

Improve key metrics (churn, CAC, LTV)

Build management team if needed

Create customer success playbooks

Optimize unit economics

Improve gross and net margins

Build scalable infrastructure

6-4 Months Before

Marketing & Positioning

Make your business attractive to buyers

Key Tasks:

Create compelling pitch deck

Write executive summary

Build financial model with projections

Identify ideal buyer profiles

Prepare marketing materials

Get customer testimonials

Document competitive advantages

Create investment memo

4-3 Months Before

Buyer Outreach

Start conversations with potential acquirers

Key Tasks:

Create target buyer list

Warm up buyer relationships

Hire M&A advisor if needed

Send teaser documents to buyers

Set up NDA process

Prepare for buyer questions

Practice pitch presentation

Get valuation from multiple sources

3-2 Months Before

Due Diligence Preparation

Get ready for deep buyer scrutiny

Key Tasks:

Complete virtual data room

Organize all contracts and agreements

Prepare technical documentation

Get legal review of all documents

Prepare answers to common DD questions

Run internal DD audit

Fix any last-minute issues

Brief team on confidentiality

2-1 Months Before

Negotiation & LOI

Receive and negotiate offers

Key Tasks:

Review multiple offers

Negotiate terms and valuation

Sign Letter of Intent (LOI)

Enter exclusivity period

Engage legal counsel

Agree on deal structure

Set closing timeline

Communicate with stakeholders

1-0 Months (Closing)

Due Diligence & Closing

Final verification and deal closing

Key Tasks:

Respond to DD requests promptly

Negotiate final purchase agreement

Handle buyer's technical DD

Resolve any deal-breaker issues

Finalize employment agreements

Sign closing documents

Transfer ownership

Celebrate and transition!

Common Timeline Delays

What Slows Things Down:

•Messy financials requiring 3+ months cleanup
•Missing legal documents (IP assignments, contracts)
•Technical debt requiring major refactoring
•Key person dependencies (buyer wants recurring revenue, not you)
•Customer concentration issues (one customer = 50% of revenue)

How to Stay On Track:

Start 18 months early, not 6 months
Keep clean books from day one
Document processes as you build them
Build systems, not founder dependencies
Use tools like EvalyMe to track progress

Timeline by Business Size

Micro SaaS ($100K-$1M ARR)

9-12 months

Simpler structure, fewer stakeholders. Can move faster but still need solid fundamentals.

Small SaaS ($1M-$5M ARR)

12-18 months

Sweet spot for preparation. Enough complexity to require thorough DD, small enough to move efficiently.

Mid-Market SaaS ($5M-$20M ARR)

18-24 months

More complex operations, larger teams. Due diligence is extensive and time-consuming.

Enterprise SaaS ($20M+ ARR)

24-36 months

Strategic buyers, complex negotiations, regulatory considerations. Plan well in advance.

Start Your Exit Timeline Today

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