What Is 100-Day Plan?
A structured action plan for the first 100 days after a PE acquisition, focused on quick wins, team assessment, and laying groundwork for the value creation plan.
100-Day Plan Explained
The 100-day plan is the playbook PE firms execute immediately after closing an acquisition. It bridges the gap between due diligence findings and long-term value creation by prioritizing actions that build momentum and establish credibility with the management team.
The first 30 days focus on assessment: understanding the team, validating due diligence assumptions, identifying quick wins, and building relationships. Days 30 to 60 focus on quick wins: implementing changes that show immediate results (pricing adjustments, cost cuts, process improvements). Days 60 to 100 focus on foundation: launching strategic initiatives and building systems for long-term growth.
Common 100-day actions include installing financial reporting dashboards, implementing a CRM, launching AI automation for high-volume tasks, renegotiating vendor contracts, and restructuring the sales team.
The plan must balance urgency with stability. Moving too fast can alienate the existing team. Moving too slowly can miss the window when the organization is most open to change.
Why 100-Day Plan Matters
The first 100 days set the trajectory for the entire hold period. PE firms that execute disciplined 100-day plans see 2x higher returns than those that take a hands-off approach in the first year. Quick wins build confidence and fund larger initiatives.
Common Mistakes
- 1
Treating the 100-day plan as a cost-cutting exercise only, which demoralizes the team
- 2
Not spending enough time with frontline employees who understand real operational issues
- 3
Trying to change everything at once instead of sequencing initiatives for maximum impact
Related Terms
Value Creation Plan
A PE firm's strategic roadmap for increasing a portfolio company's enterprise value between acquisition and exit, typically over 3 to 7 years.
Private Equity (PE) Portfolio Operations
Strategic and operational support for companies within a PE firm's portfolio, focused on driving growth, improving margins, and preparing for exit.
Operational Due Diligence
The assessment of a target company's operations, technology, processes, and team before acquisition to validate assumptions and identify risks.
Portfolio Company Reporting
Standardized financial and operational reporting that PE portfolio companies provide to their investors, typically monthly or quarterly.
How Attainment Helps
Frequently Asked Questions
What should be in a PE 100-day plan?
Team assessment (who stays, who goes), financial deep-dive (validate EBITDA, find quick savings), technology audit (CRM, reporting, automation opportunities), customer concentration analysis, vendor contract review, and 3 to 5 quick-win initiatives with measurable impact.
Who is responsible for executing the 100-day plan?
The portfolio operations team leads, but the existing management team executes. The best plans pair a PE operating partner with each initiative owner at the portfolio company. External consultants may be brought in for specific workstreams (technology, process optimization).
Ready to Put This into Action?
Book a Discovery Call. We will show you how Attainment can help with 100-day plan and more.
Book a Discovery Call