12-Month Exit Prep Checklist

Month 1–2: Define Strategy & Goals

Objective: Establish clarity around owner goals, value drivers, and readiness.

☐ Conduct an Owner Readiness Assessment – define financial, lifestyle, and legacy goals.

☐ Engage Merit Investment Bank advisors to develop an Exit Strategy Blueprint.

☐ Identify key value drivers and risks (customer concentration, scalability, IP, etc.).

☐ Commission a preliminary valuation to benchmark current enterprise value.

☐ Align leadership and stakeholders on target outcomes, deal structure preferences, and timeline.

☐ Begin documentation audit – organize financials, corporate records, and legal agreements.

Month 3–4: Optimize Financial & Operational Systems

Objective: Prepare the business to withstand buyer due diligence and maximize valuation.

☐ Clean up accounting: ensure GAAP compliance, accurate P&L, and reconciled balance sheets.

☐ Finalize 12–24-month financial forecasts supported by validated assumptions.

☐ Review and optimize working capital management (AR, AP, inventory).

☐ Eliminate non-essential or discretionary expenses to enhance EBITDA.

☐ Ensure contracts and vendor agreements are current and transferable.

☐ Evaluate IT infrastructure, data security, and system scalability.

Month 5–6: Strengthen Management & Governance

Objective: Build buyer confidence through leadership stability and succession readiness.

☐ Identify critical managers; develop retention or incentive plans.

☐ Clarify governance and decision-making structures.

☐ Document key operational procedures and workflows.

☐ Create an organizational chart highlighting post-sale continuity.

☐ Assess HR policies, benefits, and compliance posture.

☐ Begin grooming potential successors or secondary leadership layers.

Month 7–8: Accelerate Growth & Value Drivers

Objective: Drive momentum and highlight performance before the sale process.

☐ Implement Grow Fast & Exit Profitably® initiatives: boost revenue velocity and margin.

☐ Introduce new product/service lines or expand recurring revenue.

☐ Strengthen brand positioning and market awareness.

☐ Collect client testimonials and case studies for the buyer data room.

☐ Review pricing models and customer contracts to ensure sustainability.

☐ Address customer concentration—diversify where possible.

Month 9–10: Transaction Preparation

Objective: Build the foundation for a seamless deal execution.

☐ Finalize Quality of Earnings (QoE) and normalized financial statements.

☐ Establish a Digital Data Room for diligence documentation.

☐ Prepare Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM) with Merit advisors.

☐ Align with legal counsel on deal terms, indemnifications, and representations.

☐ Conduct internal “mock due diligence” to anticipate buyer questions.

☐ Finalize tax and estate strategies with CPA and wealth advisors.

Month 11–12: Go-to-Market & Close Preparation

Objective: Enter the market confidently and close under optimal terms.

☐ Launch buyer outreach through Merit’s M&A process (strategic, PE, and international).

☐ Review and qualify multiple LOIs to maintain competitive tension.

☐ Conduct management presentations and site visits.

☐ Negotiate deal structure: cash, rollover equity, earnouts, or seller financing.

☐ Plan internal and external communications for post-closing transition.

☐ Prepare reinvestment or liquidity strategy post-sale.

☐ Celebrate responsibly — then transition to Post-Sale Planning.

Merit Investment Bank as a leading boutique investment bank is focused on entrepreneurial middle-market companies. Merit Investment Bank Executes sell-side M&A, buy-side M&A, and capital advisory services, debt and equity capital raises, corporate finance, and valuation services.

Securities offered through Finalis Securities LLC Member FINRA/SIPC. Merit Investment Bank and Finalis Securities LLC are separate, unaffiliated entities.