How to Prepare Your SaaS for Due Diligence in 2026

Introduction: Due Diligence Is Where Deals Die

Many SaaS founders focus on growth and valuation—but due diligence is where acquisitions actually succeed or collapse. In 2026, buyers are more sophisticated, cautious, and data-driven than ever.

Preparation shortens timelines, increases trust, and often results in better offers.

Financial Transparency Is Mandatory

Subscription Revenue

Buyers will verify every dollar. Your Stripe, Paddle, or PayPal dashboards must match your claims.

• MRR and ARR breakdowns
• Refunds and failed payments
• Plan distribution

Expense Clarity

Separate personal and business expenses. Clearly identify hosting, software, contractors, and marketing spend.

Customer & Retention Metrics

Churn Analysis

Buyers want to understand why customers leave. Be ready with explanations and mitigation strategies.

Cohort Data

Retention cohorts show long-term product value and dramatically increase confidence.

Technical Due Diligence

Infrastructure Overview

Document hosting, APIs, third-party services, and dependencies.

Codebase Quality

Clean, documented code reduces buyer risk—even if they plan a rewrite.

Founder Dependency Reduction

Buyers discount founder-led support heavily.

• Automated onboarding
• Self-service billing
• Documented support responses

Legal & IP Readiness

Ensure you fully own the product:

• Open-source licenses reviewed
• Contractor IP assignments signed
• Clear domain ownership

Conclusion

Due diligence rewards preparation. Founders who organize early close faster, command better terms, and reduce stress.

Think of due diligence as your final sales presentation—backed by proof.