Timeline is one of the first questions investors and acquirers ask when commissioning a technology due diligence. Deals move fast, and the last thing anyone wants is a TDD engagement that holds up signing.
The honest answer is: it depends — but with the right partner and the right preparation, it doesn’t have to slow you down.
Here is what drives the timeline, what you can realistically expect, and how to keep things moving.
The Short Answer: 2 to 4 Weeks in Most Cases
For a typical SaaS or technology company acquisition, a thorough technology due diligence can be completed in 2 to 4 weeks from kickoff to final report. This covers a full assessment of the codebase, architecture, security posture, infrastructure, and engineering team.
That said, timelines vary meaningfully depending on the complexity of the target, the depth of assessment required, and how cooperative the target’s team is during the process.
What Affects the Timeline?
1. The size and complexity of the target
A bootstrapped SaaS startup with a small codebase and a three-person engineering team is fundamentally different from a mid-market software company with ten years of development history, multiple products, and a complex microservices architecture. Larger, more complex targets simply require more time to assess properly.
A well-scoped TDD for a smaller target can comfortably be completed in 10 to 12 business days. For larger, more complex targets, three to four weeks is more realistic — and trying to compress that timeline risks missing material issues.
2. The scope of the assessment
Not all technology due diligence engagements are the same. A high-level red flag assessment — designed to quickly identify showstoppers before a decision to proceed — can be delivered in as little as three to five business days. A full, comprehensive TDD covering architecture, code quality, security, infrastructure, DevOps maturity, and engineering team assessment takes longer.
The right scope depends on where you are in the deal process. Early-stage assessments can be lighter; pre-signing assessments should be thorough.
3. Access and cooperation from the target
This is the single biggest variable in any TDD timeline. When the target’s team is responsive, documentation is available, and codebase access is granted promptly, engagements run smoothly. When access is delayed, questions go unanswered, or documentation is incomplete, timelines extend — sometimes significantly.
Experienced acquirers build access requirements into the term sheet or LOI to avoid delays at this stage.
4. The complexity of the tech stack
Legacy systems, custom-built infrastructure, unusual technology choices, or heavily integrated architectures all require additional time to assess. A modern, cloud-native SaaS platform built on well-documented, mainstream technologies is faster to evaluate than a bespoke platform built over fifteen years with limited documentation.
5. Parallel workstreams
Technology due diligence rarely happens in isolation. When TDD runs in parallel with legal, financial, and commercial due diligence — as it should — the overall deal timeline is determined by whichever workstream finishes last. Starting TDD early, rather than after other workstreams are underway, is one of the most effective ways to keep the overall deal on track.
Accelerated Assessments: When Speed Is Critical
In competitive processes or situations where deal timelines are compressed, accelerated technology due diligence is possible. A focused red flag assessment, scoped tightly around the highest-priority risk areas, can be delivered in five to seven business days without sacrificing the integrity of the findings.
The key is being clear upfront about what the assessment will and will not cover, so that any areas deprioritised for speed can be picked up in post-close technical reviews if needed.
What Happens After the TDD?
The TDD report is not the end of the process. Findings typically feed directly into deal structuring — informing price adjustments, escrow arrangements, indemnities, and post-close integration planning. Building time for this into the deal timeline from the outset avoids last-minute pressure.
How Long Does VeryDiligent Take?
At VeryDiligent, our standard engagements are delivered in 2 to 4 weeks, with accelerated assessments available in as little as one week for situations where deal timelines require it. We work within your deal schedule — not the other way around: our efficient processes allow us to deliver deep, actionable findings without holding up your transaction.
Contact us today to discuss your timeline and scope.
Related reading: How to Evaluate a SaaS Architecture Before Acquisition | Cybersecurity Due Diligence: The New Dealbreaker | Technology Due Diligence Report: What to Include & Why It Matters