100-Day Transition Planning
Turn chaos into cash flow with the perfect handover blueprint
The 100-Day Success Formula
- Days 1-30: Stabilization (Don't change anything)
- Days 31-60: Understanding (Learn and document)
- Days 61-90: Optimization (Small improvements)
- Days 91-100: Transformation (Major changes)
Pre-Closing Preparation (T-minus 30 days)
Essential Pre-Close Actions
- □ Shadow owner for 2-3 full days
- □ Get introduced to key employees as "consultant"
- □ Document all processes you observe
- □ Identify top 20% customers by revenue
- □ Meet key vendors and understand terms
- □ Review all employee files and compensation
- □ Understand daily/weekly/monthly routines
- □ Get all passwords and access credentials
- □ Identify immediate risks or issues
Day 1: Taking the Keys
Morning: The Announcement
All-Hands Meeting Script:
"Good morning everyone. As [Previous Owner] mentioned, I'm [Your Name], the new owner. First, I want to assure you - no one is losing their job today. In fact, I bought this business because of the great team here.
For the next 30 days, nothing changes. Same procedures, same expectations. I'll be learning from all of you. After that, we'll look at ways to grow and improve together.
My door is always open. I'll be meeting with each of you individually over the next two weeks. Any immediate questions?"
Afternoon: Critical Tasks
- Change bank signatories (bring bank forms)
- Update insurance policies
- Send introduction email to customers
- Send introduction email to vendors
- Post on social media about transition
- Walk the floor, be visible
Days 2-7: Stabilization Week
Daily Priorities
Day |
Morning |
Afternoon |
Goal |
2 |
Shadow operations manager |
Review financial systems |
Understand workflow |
3 |
Shadow sales process |
Customer calls (top 10) |
Secure revenue |
4 |
Shadow service delivery |
Vendor meetings |
Ensure supply chain |
5 |
Review all contracts |
IT systems audit |
Identify risks |
6 |
Ride-alongs with field teams |
Review safety protocols |
Build trust |
7 |
Week recap with seller |
Plan week 2 |
Address concerns |
Days 8-30: Deep Dive Phase
Week 2: One-on-One Meetings
Employee Interview Questions:
- "What's working well that we should keep?"
- "What's your biggest frustration?"
- "If you owned this business, what would you change?"
- "Who are our best/worst customers and why?"
- "What's your career goal here?"
Document everything in Employee Profiles:
- Strengths and skills
- Career aspirations
- Improvement ideas
- Flight risk assessment
- Succession potential
Week 3: Customer Retention Campaign
Top 20% Customer Visits:
"Hi [Customer], I'm [Name], the new owner of [Business]. I wanted to personally thank you for your business and assure you that we're committed to maintaining the same great service you're used to - and finding ways to serve you even better. What's most important to you in our relationship?"
Customer Retention Tactics:
- Lock in with 12-month contracts
- Offer loyalty discount for commitment
- Get detailed feedback on service
- Identify upsell opportunities
- Ask for referrals
Days 31-60: Understanding Phase
Deep Analysis Projects
Week 5-6: Financial Deep Dive
- True customer profitability analysis
- Service line margin analysis
- Employee productivity metrics
- Vendor cost benchmarking
- Cash flow optimization opportunities
Week 7-8: Operational Assessment
- Time and motion studies
- Technology gaps assessment
- Quality control audit
- Safety compliance review
- Competitive analysis update
Days 61-90: Optimization Phase
Quick Win Implementations
Area |
Quick Win |
Impact |
Cost |
Operations |
Route optimization software |
15% efficiency gain |
$200/mo |
Sales |
CRM implementation |
20% more follow-ups |
$100/mo |
Finance |
Payment terms tightening |
$50k cash flow improvement |
$0 |
HR |
Performance bonus system |
10% productivity increase |
Variable |
Marketing |
Google My Business optimization |
30% more leads |
$0 |
Days 91-100: Transformation Launch
Major Change Rollout
Day 91: Vision Announcement
"Team, we've spent 90 days learning together. You've shown me what makes this company great. Now I want to share my vision for our future: [Specific growth goal]. Here's how we'll get there together..."
Transformation Initiatives:
- New service line launch
- Major technology upgrade
- Expansion into new territory
- Key hire announcements
- Culture shift initiatives
Managing the Seller Transition
Common Seller Challenges
The "Helicopter Seller"
- Keeps showing up unannounced
- Undermines your decisions
- Solution: Clear boundaries, scheduled check-ins only
The "Ghost Seller"
- Disappears immediately
- Won't answer questions
- Solution: Daily calls first week, taper down
The "Saboteur Seller"
- Bad-mouths to customers/employees
- Competes if no non-compete
- Solution: Legal enforcement, damage control
Key Relationship Management
Stakeholder Communication Plan
Employees:
- Week 1: Individual meetings
- Week 2: Department meetings
- Week 4: All-hands update
- Day 60: Progress celebration
- Day 100: Vision rollout
Customers:
- Day 1: Email announcement
- Week 1-4: Top 20% visits
- Day 30: Service improvement survey
- Day 60: Loyalty program launch
- Day 90: Success stories campaign
Vendors:
- Week 1: Introduction calls
- Week 3: Renegotiation meetings
- Day 45: New terms implementation
- Day 60: Performance reviews
Performance Tracking Dashboard
Metric |
Day 1 |
Day 30 |
Day 60 |
Day 100 |
Target |
Revenue retention |
100% |
98% |
95% |
105% |
>95% |
Employee retention |
100% |
95% |
93% |
95% |
>90% |
Customer satisfaction |
Baseline |
+0% |
+5% |
+10% |
+10% |
Operational efficiency |
Baseline |
+0% |
+10% |
+20% |
+15% |
EBITDA margin |
15% |
15% |
17% |
20% |
+5pts |
Crisis Management Playbook
Common Day 1-100 Crises
Key Employee Quits:
- Immediate: Redistribute workload
- Day 1-3: Counter-offer if critical
- Week 1: Fast-track replacement
- Long-term: Build redundancy
Major Customer Threatens to Leave:
- Same day: Owner calls directly
- Next day: In-person visit
- Offer: Temporary discount + service guarantee
- Goal: 6-month commitment minimum
Cash Flow Crisis:
- Immediate: Draw on line of credit
- Week 1: Accelerate collections
- Week 2: Negotiate vendor terms
- Month 1: Implement factoring if needed
Technology Quick Wins
30-Day Tech Implementations
- Week 1: Password manager for security
- Week 2: Cloud backup system
- Week 3: Basic CRM (HubSpot free)
- Week 4: Time tracking app
- Month 2: Automated scheduling
- Month 3: Financial dashboard
The 100-Day Success Checklist
Must-Complete Milestones
- Day 1:
All critical transitions complete
- Day 7:
No operational disruptions
- Day 14:
All employees met individually
- Day 30:
Top customers secured
- Day 45:
First quick win implemented
- Day 60:
Full assessment complete
- Day 75:
Optimization initiatives launched
- Day 90:
Vision communicated
- Day 100:
Transformation begun
© The Blueprint System™ - 100-Day Transition Planning
Part of the Complete Blueprint System (Document #18 of 32)