{"id":24709,"date":"2024-08-23T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-23T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/?p=24709"},"modified":"2024-09-10T11:48:45","modified_gmt":"2024-09-10T15:48:45","slug":"ma-plan-for-tsa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/ma-plan-for-tsa\/","title":{"rendered":"Going through M&amp;A? How to plan for the TSA"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--generic\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/category\/trends-insights\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Trends &amp; Insights<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tGoing through M&amp;A? How to plan for the TSA\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \">Published <time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2024-08-23T09:00:00-04:00\">August 23, 2024<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"Going through M&amp;A? How to plan for the TSA\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/ma-plan-for-tsa\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/author\/david-appel\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/David-Appel-headshot-2023-1.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"David headshot\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">David Appel<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mergers and acquisitions (M&amp;A) can help SaaS companies rapidly unlock tremendous growth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Transition Services Agreement (TSA) helps companies smoothly complete a merger or acquisition by giving the buyer temporary operational support for an agreed amount of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this post, we&#8217;ll walk you through TSA planning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We&#8217;ll start with a quick review of what a TSA is and why it&#8217;s central to M&amp;A success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then, we&#8217;ll outline what a TSA can help you with, break down the key ingredients of a TSA, cover best practices for a swift exit, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re going through SaaS M&amp;A, this post will help you nail your TSA planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-here-s-what-we-ll-cover\">Here&#8217;s what we&#8217;ll cover<\/h4>\n\n\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><ul><li><a href=\"#h-t-ransition-services-agreement-a-brief-refresher\" data-level=\"2\">T ransition Services Agreement: a brief refresher<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-1-understand-your-costs-and-exit-strategy\" data-level=\"2\">1. Understand your costs and exit strategy<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-2-define-and-clarify-the-charge-back-rules\" data-level=\"2\">2. Define and clarify the charge-back rules<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-get-everything-in-writing\" data-level=\"2\">Get everything in writing<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-be-explicit-about-your-tsa-s-termination-date\" data-level=\"2\">Be explicit about your TSA&#8217;s termination date<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-plan-for-contingencies\" data-level=\"2\">Plan for contingencies<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-be-mindful-of-geography\" data-level=\"2\">Be mindful of geography<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-don-t-request-unnecessary-changes\" data-level=\"2\">Don&#8217;t request unnecessary changes<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-stay-engaged-and-have-a-communication-plan\" data-level=\"2\">Stay engaged and have a communication plan<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-leverage-enterprise-tools-to-help\" data-level=\"2\">Leverage enterprise tools to help<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-learn-even-more-about-tsa-planning\" data-level=\"2\">Learn even more about TSA planning<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-t-ransition-services-agreement-a-brief-refresher\">T<strong>ransition Services Agreement: a brief refresher<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After a merger or acquisition, the buyer often lacks the operational infrastructure needed to run the business\u2014accounting, HR, and customer success teams are common examples. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A TSA is an agreement where the target company agrees to supply these services to the buyer for a certain amount of time while the latter builds out its operational capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SaaS companies&#8217; tech stacks have grown more complex in recent years, and the boundaries between departments can sometimes blur. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This makes having a well-planned TSA even more for setting up a clean and cost-efficient exit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With that in mind, let&#8217;s dive into the key purposes of a TSA. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Why are they such an important piece of the M&amp;A equation, and how do they help you stay organized and efficient during this key transitional period?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-understand-your-costs-and-exit-strategy\"><strong>1. Understand your costs and exit strategy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the target company in a merger or acquisition, the TSA will give you a clear understanding of your costs and exit strategy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Having your operational obligations clearly defined from the outset will help you keep the transitional part of your M&amp;A deal short and sweet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This helps minimize costs and maximize profits to keep investors happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Additionally, your TSA is about starting with the end in mind and creating an exit path. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The core purpose is to ask, \u201cHow are we going to <strong>get this done<\/strong> as quickly and effectively as possible?&#8221; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Certainly, provide the buyer with a high caliber of transitional services, but remember: a smooth exit is your priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-define-and-clarify-the-charge-back-rules\"><strong>2. Define and clarify the charge-back rules<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In your TSA, you&#8217;ll want to define the charge-back rules as explicitly as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Failing to spell out precisely what support your company will provide, at what cost, and for how long can result in disputes and M&amp;A litigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your TSA should help you plan for charge-back contingencies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For instance, if the buyer still needs transitional support after the agreed end date, will you provide it? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If so, how high will your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/what-is-markup-percentage\/\">calculated service markup<\/a> be? Keep in mind that it usually takes about three to six months to transition off a TSA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now that we&#8217;ve reviewed what a TSA is and why it&#8217;s vital to the M&amp;A process, let&#8217;s discuss some TSA planning best practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-get-everything-in-writing\"><strong>Get everything in writing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the most important TSA tips you can follow is to <strong>get everything written down<\/strong>. We can&#8217;t emphasize this enough. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With respect to TSA planning, your philosophy should be, \u201cIf it wasn&#8217;t written down, it never happened.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your goal should be to transition off your TSA as quickly and cost-efficiently as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can only achieve that by paying extreme attention to detail and committing everything to paper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Getting everything in writing will help you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Avoid costly M&amp;A legal disputes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Maximize overall profitability<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bring clarity to a complex and stressful process<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s also important to give both parties&#8217; legal departments time to review the agreement to ensure it&#8217;s satisfactory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-be-explicit-about-your-tsa-s-termination-date\"><strong>Be explicit about your TSA&#8217;s termination date<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When planning your TSA, you&#8217;ll want to be abundantly clear about its termination date. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Depending on the scale of the transitional services you provide, even an extra few days can interfere with a clean exit and harm the deal&#8217;s profitability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is one area where extreme attention to detail pays off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For instance, if your initial agreement says \u201c90 days,&#8221; but your TSA says \u201cthree months,&#8221; that&#8217;s a big problem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three months is 92 days, so you could end up needing to provide an extra two days of infrastructure support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Make sure that your TSA&#8217;s termination date is clear and consistent across all relevant documents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-plan-for-contingencies\"><strong>Plan for contingencies<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keeping on the theme of attention to detail, you&#8217;ll need to plan for contingencies when drafting your TSA. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Failing to do so can cause stress and friction for both parties once the \u201choneymoon&#8221; phase of the deal wears off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plan for questions like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If work laptops are needed, which party will supply them?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Whose servers will data be hosted on during the transitional period?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are there any stated consequences for failures in service performance?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In TSA planning, the devil is in the details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-be-mindful-of-geography\"><strong>Be mindful of geography<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In some cases, you might end up providing transitional support services in different geographical areas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This can impact everything from taxes to regulatory considerations and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Make sure you understand precisely <strong>where<\/strong> you&#8217;re offering support. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The last thing you want is to land in regulatory hot water over a TSA oversight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-don-t-request-unnecessary-changes\"><strong>Don&#8217;t request unnecessary changes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Remember that the goal of TSA planning is to <strong>get it done<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You want to minimize any complications that will prevent a smooth and timely exit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You should ask two questions about any changes you&#8217;re considering:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Is this absolutely essentialto our company&#8217;s exit strategy?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Could this change have unintended consequences or somehow slow our exit?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Be rigorous about passing any TSA changes through both of those filters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-stay-engaged-and-have-a-communication-plan\"><strong>Stay engaged and have a communication plan<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During a merger or acquisition, both parties involved in the deal will be <strong>incredibly <\/strong>busy. With so much going on, communication can sometimes fall by the wayside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don&#8217;t allow it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Staying engaged throughout the entire M&amp;A process is crucial to a successful exit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">See if your counterparty will agree to a set communication plan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Go the extra mile to stay in touch, and make sure you continually monitor your TSA progress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lapses in communication or attention to detail can cause serious problems at this stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-leverage-enterprise-tools-to-help\"><strong>Leverage enterprise tools to help<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, you&#8217;ll want to be sure you choose the best available SaaS tools to set yourself up for a successful exit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the one hand, you need to know that your data is secure and backed up. And on the execution side, you need a way to streamline the accounting piece of the puzzle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crashplan.com\/?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=20369417206&amp;utm_content=665612712638&amp;utm_term=crashplan&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwtNi0BhA1EiwAWZaANDSJxGYQtOx5YDStVXRfivXJ4X239Wv1gFifgc85qHGVui3_rqZRcxoCRCcQAvD_BwE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>CrashPlan<\/strong><\/a> is an encrypted cloud-based computer backup and recovery solution protecting over 900,000 customers worldwide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They provide automatic, unlimited endpoint data backup that enables organizations to safeguard their data during employee transitions, device migrations, legal holds, and data loss events like ransomware. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/cp\/demo-google\/?utm_source=GOOGLE&amp;utm_medium=paidsearch&amp;utm_campaign=US%7CGoogle%7CMedium%7CBrand_Intacct\/BrandRLSA(tCPA-B)NA_MEDINCT_&amp;utm_content=Brand_Intacct\/BrandRLSA(B)General\/Medium&amp;utm_term=sage+intacct&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwtNi0BhA1EiwAWZaANMEonCs1uyQl1S_6DmoozNItbts5xbomM3UcWDdsgLg-ItNsVceqWRoCk7QQAvD_BwE&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Sage Intacct<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong>can make sure the financial aspects of your TSA go to plan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Intacct automates your billing and invoicing for TSA support, helping you avoid manual errors and exit on schedule. On top of that, role-based dashboards make financial planning and board reporting a breeze<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a886234668b8&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a886234668b8\" class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"700\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/Blog-3-Image-1.jpg\" alt=\"A screenshot of the Sage Intacct Role-based dashboard.\" class=\"wp-image-24713\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/Blog-3-Image-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/Blog-3-Image-1-768x525.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With Sage Intacct and CrashPlan, you can inform your investors of your TSA&#8217;s progress in real time, and you&#8217;ll never have to worry about business continuity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-learn-even-more-about-tsa-planning\"><strong>Learn even more about TSA planning<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We spoke at length about TSA planning at the Modern SaaS Finance Forum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hosted by Sage Intacct, this full-day event was attended by 2,000+ SaaS industry leaders, investors, and experts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With presentations from finance leaders at top firms, the conference had three different learning tracks for<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/cfos-modern-saas-finance-forum\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <strong>CFOs<\/strong><\/a>, <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Controllers, and RevOps managers at SaaS, high-tech, and AI companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We received great feedback from attendees, so we&#8217;ve made the conference sessions digitally available to anyone who missed the event or wants a refresher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sagesaas.vfairs.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Click here<\/strong><\/a> to access the 20-minute forum sessions. You can download as few or as many as you&#8217;d like.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner on-scroll-highlight__target\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to our Sage Advice Newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Get our latest business advice delivered directly to your inbox.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-ab515c6e-7e90-4c2f-a67e-113872516e8b\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Working from home with tea in hand\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<section class=\"more-topics alignfull has-grey-light-background-color wp-block-sage-post-topics\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"more-topics__title h2\">Browse more topics from this article<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-8\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"post-tags__list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/hub\/cfo\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCFO\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/hub\/cfo-3-0\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCFO 3.0\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-sage-related-posts\">\n\t<section class=\"related-posts card-grid has-dark-background-color\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--featured h1\">Explore more wisdom<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-0 post-27920 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-accountants category-money-matters tag-accountants tag-accounting-101 tag-cash-flow tag-cfo business_type-accountants business_type-growing-business industry-nonprofit card-post--is-clickable\"\n>\n\t<div class=\"card-post__media-wrapper\">\n\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1215\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1451456915-1215x810.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1451456915-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1451456915-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1451456915-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"card-post__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__label\">Recommended<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-08-17T09:13:03-04:00\">August 17, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">9 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/what-is-a-trial-balance\/\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWhat is a trial balance?\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"card-post__description\">\n\t\t\t\tLearn what a trial balance is, what it shows, and how it helps confirm that total debits and credits in the general ledger match for a reporting period.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__non-featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--more h4\">More on this Topic<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-1 post-27796 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-accounting-101 tag-cash-flow tag-cfo tag-sage-accounting business_type-small-business business_type-growing-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/accrual-basis-accounting\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0581-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0581-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0581-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0581-1214x810.jpg 1214w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-08-17T08:57:24-04:00\">August 17, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">15 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tAccrual basis accounting: What it is, benefits, and examples\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-2 post-34206 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-business-intelligence tag-business-strategy tag-cash-flow tag-cfo business_type-growing-business industry-hospitality\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/cash-flow-mastery-multi-unit-hospitality\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1454662719-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1454662719-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1454662719-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1454662719-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-02-02T09:22:20-05:00\">February 2, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">9 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tHow multi-unit hospitality operators can improve cash flow and liquidity\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-3 post-33024 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-technology-innovation tag-boss-your-business tag-business-continuity tag-business-strategy tag-cfo tag-cloud-technology tag-construction tag-construction-business-development tag-project-management tag-construction-it tag-growing-a-business tag-productivity tag-small-business tag-staying-competitive tag-technology business_type-small-business business_type-growing-business industry-construction-and-real-estate\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/10-innovations-helping-contractors-evolve\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-812099500-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-812099500-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-812099500-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-812099500-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2025-10-23T09:00:00-04:00\">October 23, 2025<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">6 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\t10 innovations helping contractors evolve for the future\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-4 post-32593 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-people-leadership category-strategy-legal-operations category-trends-insights tag-business-intelligence tag-cfo tag-performance tag-technology business_type-growing-business industry-healthcare industry-nonprofit\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/three-challenges-impacting-finance-in-senior-living\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/Mar2025_Financial-Family-office_0920-684x384.jpeg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/Mar2025_Financial-Family-office_0920-684x384.jpeg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/Mar2025_Financial-Family-office_0920-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/Mar2025_Financial-Family-office_0920-1214x810.jpeg 1214w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2025-09-25T09:38:21-04:00\">September 25, 2025<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">6 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tThree challenges impacting finance in senior living\u2014and how to handle them\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Going through M&#038;A? Follow these TSA planning tips for a swift and profitable exit. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1433,"featured_media":20130,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_schema_page_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_schema_article_type":"","_sage_video":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"[{\"keyword\":\"Transition Services Agreement\",\"score\":40},{\"keyword\":\"M&A\",\"score\":67}]","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"[\"\",\"\",\"\"]","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"49","post_featured_image_hide":false,"sage_hide_published_date":false,"sage_hide_read_time":false,"sage_hide_share_buttons":false,"_pwl_sage_podcast_buzzsprout_src":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[427,396],"business_type":[41],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[100],"imagine_tag":[444,233,501],"coauthors":[599],"class_list":["post-24709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-trends-insights","tag-cfo","tag-cfo-3-0","business_type-growing-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-us","author_name":"David Appel","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-645973033.jpg","imagine_tags":{"444":"Intacct Medium Business","233":"Medium Businesses","501":"Subscription Saas David Appel"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice US","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24709","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/1433"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24709"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24709\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/20130"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24709"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24709"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24709"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=24709"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=24709"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=24709"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=24709"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=24709"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=24709"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=24709"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}