IPO and Going-Public Readiness
Written by Harry Prabandham
Curated by Rubric Financial
Last updated
1 / 5
Are You Actually Ready to Go Public
- Public-market investors expect predictable revenue, so most SaaS issuers wait until they can forecast quarterly results within a tight band.
- You typically need audited financials for the trailing two to three fiscal years prepared under GAAP by a PCAOB-registered auditor.
- Internal controls over financial reporting must be strong enough to survive Sarbanes-Oxley scrutiny, which takes 12-18 months to build.
- A durable growth story with efficient unit economics matters more than hitting any single revenue threshold before you file.
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About the author
Harry PrabandhamFounder & CEO
Founder and CEO of StartupCFO. MBA from Wharton, MS in Computer Science, and decades of experience building and advising venture-backed startups.
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