We want to test our organization's readiness for a buyer's due diligence process before we actually hire an investment banker. How do we run a simulated due diligence drill using our Level 10 Meeting framework?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

You do not want to discover gaps in your records during actual due diligence when a buyer has you under an exclusivity agreement. To prevent this, run a simulated due diligence drill on your exit runway. Start by appointing a deal champion on your Accountability Chart, typically your Integrator or finance leader. Create an internal shared folder that mimics a standard buyer data room. This folder must contain all corporate governance documents, customer contracts, employment agreements, intellectual property assignments, and tax filings. Then, use your weekly Level 10 Meeting to issue random requests to your leadership team. For example, ask your operations leader to produce the signed master service agreement for a top-five client within two hours. If they cannot find it quickly, or if the contract is missing signature pages, you have a gap. Run these tests repeatedly until your team can locate any major corporate document in under four hours. This drill exposes weak points in your document storage and process discipline before they can derail a real transaction. It ensures your team is prepared for the intense administrative pressure of a real buyer investigation.