Mutual close plan
A mutual close plan (also called a mutual action plan) is a shared, written document that maps every step both you and the buyer must complete to get from now to signed, each with an owner and a date. It typically covers security review, stakeholder sign-offs, legal, procurement and the target start date, working backwards from when the buyer wants to be live.
For a founder, a mutual close plan turns a vague "we're keen" into a real, trackable commitment. Building it with the buyer surfaces hidden steps early, the legal review you didn't know took three weeks, the second approver nobody mentioned, so they don't ambush you near the finish line. It also reveals how serious the buyer is: someone genuinely committed will engage with the plan, while a tyre-kicker goes vague. Used well, it shortens the sales cycle by exposing blockers up front and gives both sides a clear, shared view of what "done" looks like.