Launch approval checklist

Who this is for

Founder led lower-middle market companies with 5 to 50 million in annual revenue that want consistent launch results without heavy process.

The quick answer

Use a short gate review. Market proof with paid signals. Financial model with price, cost, and target margin. Delivery readiness with service levels and risk plan. Sales enablement with price cards, talk tracks, and a simple order flow. Legal and finance checks. Name one owner and a launch date with a clear post launch review.

The method in six gates

Market proof
Paid signals such as deposits, pre orders, or signed pilots. ICP and use case written.
Financial model
Price, cost to serve, expected volume, target gross margin by quarter, and cash impact.
Delivery readiness
Service levels defined, staffing and parts in place, training complete, and a simple incident plan with vendor contacts.
Sales enablement
One page price cards, a discovery script, objection answers, and a clear order flow in the CRM and billing tools.
Legal and finance
Contract terms, data protection if relevant, insurance updates, tax and billing rules, and revenue recognition checked.
Launch plan and review
Named owner, launch date, early customer list, and a thirty day and ninety day post launch review with metrics and lessons.

Example

Before launching a new plan, a services company ran the checklist. Legal updated the data addendum, finance confirmed revenue rules, operations staffed the on call rotation, and sales rehearsed talk tracks. Launch met margin and service targets in the first quarter.

Pitfalls and fixes

Skipping market proof. Require paid signals before scaling.
Fuzzy ownership. Name one owner with authority.
Missing the post launch review. Book it now and collect lessons.

Checklist

Paid market proof
Financial model and cash view
Delivery readiness confirmed
Sales enablement pack live
Legal and finance sign offs
Owner, date, and post launch reviews