The 90-Day Sprint: How Software CEOs Can Get Acquisition-Ready Fast
TL;DR - Software companies that prepare properly for an exit sell months faster and command higher valuations than those that wing it.
Smart companies operate with the end in mind from day one, staying organized and acquisition-ready as they grow. However if this is NOT you and an unexpected offer comes in or speed becomes critical, you can get market-ready in 90 days by focusing on the right moves in the right order. Here’s how:
Days 1-30: Clean House
Get your SaaS metrics bulletproof
Monthly recurring revenue (MRR) growth rate
Net and gross revenue retention rates
Customer acquisition cost (CAC) and lifetime value (LTV)
Critical: Not only must you produce these almost instantly, but they need to tell a coherent story and pass the reasonableness test - buyers will spot inflated LTV calculations and unrealistic growth projections immediately
Fix your customer concentration risk
If any customer represents >15% of revenue, document your retention strategy
Create expansion plans for top 10 accounts
Why: Buyers walk away or will reduce their offer if they see customer concentration bombs without prior knowledge
Clean up your cap table
Resolve any outstanding equity disputes (I’ll admit, this may be tough in 30 days but clear this up before close)
Document all employee option grants
The catch: Messy cap tables kill deals in due diligence or complicate closing
Days 31-60: Craft Your Story
Document your competitive moats
What makes you defensible beyond "first to market"
Customer switching costs and integration depth - How mission critical are you to your customers?
Buyer perspective: They're buying future cash flows, not past achievements
Create your roadmap for growth
18-month product development plan (be as specific as possible)
Market expansion opportunities (geographic, vertical, product)
Key insight: Buyers pay premiums for clear growth visibility
Organize your team documentation
Key person dependencies and succession plans
Retention agreements for critical employees
Deal killer: When the CEO is the only person who knows how anything works
Days 61-90: Package for Results
Prepare your management presentation
15-slide deck covering market, product, metrics, team, vision
Practice delivering it in 20-25 minutes
Pro tip: This presentation determines your initial valuation range or at a minimum gets a buyer more interested
Gather third-party validation
Customers that are willing to take buyer calls for references
Technology assessments and security audits
Credibility factor: External validation eliminates buyer skepticism
Set your data room foundation
Financial statements (3 years of monthly data)
Customer contracts (highlight key items like termination for convenience, notice for change of control, etc.) and retention data
Employee census that includes salary, bonus and commission structure, functional area (R&D, S&M, G&A), hire date
Speed advantage: Organized sellers close deals 40% faster if they can quickly provide access to a well populated data room
The Payoff: A Successful Deal
Companies following this 90-day sprint may typically see:
3-5 qualified buyer meetings within 60 days of going to market
Meaningfully higher initial offers (preparation eliminates buyer risk discounts and enables competitive processes)
6-month faster close times
What's next: Most software CEOs know they should "get ready someday." The companies that execute this sprint in Q4 2025 for example, will hit the market when buyer activity peaks in Q1 2026.
At Ocean Crest Advisors, we typically work with software companies that are already acquisition-ready. However, we regularly see the difference preparation makes - and know which buyers are actively hunting for companies that check these boxes. If you're sprint-ready or want to discuss your market positioning, we'd welcome the conversation.
