The Deal Is Done. Now Comes the Hard Part.

Selling the business is just the beginning.

The Post Sale Transition Checklist, developed by the Exit Planning Institute, helps owners and leadership teams execute a thoughtful, process-driven handoff after the transaction is complete.

This comprehensive checklist covers everything you’ll need to navigate the first 90 days, next 90 days, and beyond—including leadership, communication, cultural integration, and ongoing measurement.

Whether you’re selling to a strategic buyer, private equity group, or inside successor, this resource ensures your transition isn’t just an event, but a successful process.

What You’ll Gain Clarity On:

🧩 Pre-Close Priorities

• Integration timeline, team, and relationships
  
• Anticipating stakeholder questions
  
• Communication and organizational planning
  
  

🚀 First 90 Days Post-Sale

• Initiate communication programs
  
• Engage and excite stakeholders
  
• Confirm workflows, due diligence, and “quick wins”
  
• Start/Stop exercises and escalation planning
  
  

🔁 Next 90 Days: Execution & Alignment

• Introduce leadership changes (if applicable)
  
• Strategic planning for 1–3 years
  
• Metrics, rhythm, and accountability frameworks
  
  

🔄 Ongoing Quarterly Implementation

• Learn, pilot, revise, and accelerate value
  
• Re-establish priorities and integrate functional teams
  
• Expand synergies and eliminate roadblocks
  
  

Who It’s For:

This checklist is ideal for:

• Business owners preparing for or just completing a sale
  
• CEOs and leadership teams managing a post-exit handoff
  
• PE firms, strategic acquirers, or internal transition buyers
  
• CEPA advisors guiding owners through the post-close window
  
  

Why It Matters:

The period after a sale is where deals succeed or fall apart.

Without a plan, you risk confusion, cultural misalignment, and value erosion. With this checklist, you stay organized, strategic, and aligned across every function—before and after the close.