Phase 2 · Strategy & Planning · From Idea to Executable Plan
Investor Due Diligence Preparation
Due diligence does not kill deals. Surprises in due diligence kill deals. Preparation is the only thing that prevents surprises.
Investor due diligence preparation is the rigorous pre-process work that identifies and resolves the issues an investor's due diligence team will surface — before they surface them. We conduct a pre-due diligence audit of the business's commercial, legal, financial, operational, and team fundamentals, identify the gaps that would create concern or condition the investment, and manage the resolution before the formal process begins.
The Pain We Solve
You may recognise yourself in one of these.
Three audience scenarios · because the same service produces a different transformation depending on where you are in the business journey.
Scenario 1
The founder who has had a deal fall over in due diligence and does not fully understand why
The term sheet was signed. Due diligence began. Something surfaced — a contractual issue, a financial inconsistency, a team structure concern — and the deal either fell through or closed at a significantly reduced valuation. The preparation could have prevented it.
Scenario 2
The business with a complex corporate structure, historical issues, or incomplete documentation that knows due diligence could be uncomfortable
There are things in the business's history that are not straightforward — a lapsed contract, an unresolved dispute, a cap table that has complexity, or a financial year that looks unusual without context. These need to be addressed and narrated before the investor finds them.
Scenario 3
The founder about to enter a formal fundraising process without knowing what investors will look for
Due diligence is a structured process with predictable content — commercial, legal, financial, technical, and people. Most founders have never been through it and discover the requirements for the first time under the pressure of a live deal.
The Impact It Creates
The Moment You Will Feel the Difference.
Issues identified and resolved before they surface as deal conditions or valuation adjustments
Due diligence process runs more efficiently because the data room is organised and complete
Investor confidence maintained through a process that reveals no unpleasant surprises
Deal timeline compressed because gaps are not discovered mid-process
What You Receive
The Specific Deliverables.
Tangible outputs · documented, dated, and yours to keep.
- Pre-due diligence audit — commercial, legal, financial, and team
- Issue identification and remediation plan
- Data room structure and population
- Financial record organisation and commentary preparation
- Legal document review and gap-fill
- Due diligence Q&A preparation — typical investor questions with coached responses
The Outcome
Where You Will Be on the Other Side.
The due diligence process runs smoothly, no material surprises emerge, and the investor's confidence in the business is maintained or strengthened through a process that demonstrates commercial maturity and transparency.
Primary Focus
Preparing a business for investor due diligence by identifying and resolving issues in advance and organising the data room for a smooth, confidence-building process.
KPI Measurement
- Issues identified pre-process vs surfaced during due diligence
- Due diligence timeline vs comparable unprep transactions
- Valuation adjustments from due diligence findings
- Data room completeness score
- Investor confidence score post-due diligence
Investment & ROI
Pricing Engineered Around the Value You Create.
Every engagement is sized against the value we believe we can create with you · the fee is always a fraction of the outcome. Four tiers · so the investment matches your stage of business.
Tier 1
Foundations
£5,000 – £15,000
Right for
Pre-startup, startup, and micro-business founders ready to build on evidence rather than instinct.
Typical Value Created
£100K+ in sharper resource allocation and avoided strategic missteps
Engagement
4 – 8 weeks
Target Return
5 – 10× ROI
within 12 – 18 months
Tier 2
Acceleration
£15,000 – £50,000
Right for
Growing SMEs and established small businesses ready to scale a working model into the next revenue band.
Typical Value Created
£500K – £3M in faster execution and pipeline acceleration
Engagement
8 – 16 weeks
Target Return
5 – 10× ROI
within 12 – 18 months
Tier 3
Transformation
£50,000 – £250,000
Right for
Medium enterprises and scale-stage businesses ready to commit to a multi-quarter, organisation-wide shift.
Typical Value Created
£2M – £20M in strategic value through repositioning, model redesign, and growth-system installation
Engagement
3 – 9 months
Target Return
5 – 10× ROI
within 12 – 18 months
Tier 4
Enterprise
£250,000 – £2M+
Right for
Large enterprises, global operators, and complex organisations ready for a multi-year strategic partnership.
Typical Value Created
£10M+ in major strategic initiatives, capital deployment efficiency, and competitive repositioning
Engagement
12 months and onward
Target Return
5 – 10× ROI
within 12 – 18 months
Why We Price This Way
Every engagement is sized around the value we believe we can create with you. The fee is always a fraction of the outcome · typically 10 – 20% of the expected first-year return.
This is how we make sure pricing aligns with results. The conversation is never “what does this cost?” · it is always “what is this worth to your business?” We answer that together in the first call, transparently, and decide the right tier from there.
If we cannot articulate a credible 5–10× return for your specific situation, we will tell you in the first call. That honesty is part of why our clients trust us with the work that matters most.
Why This Conversation Matters
“The founders who sail through due diligence are not the luckiest ones — they are the most prepared. We do the preparation that means nothing the investor finds changes the outcome.”
A 90-minute structured strategy session · produces a usable roadmap whether you engage further or not.
More in Phase 2