Vendor renewals are rarely a single date — they’re a sequence of clauses, notice windows, and internal approvals. The biggest savings usually come from being early, not aggressive.
1) Track renewal dates and notice windows (separately)
Renewal dates tell you when a contract extends. Notice windows tell you when you can still act. Missing the notice window is how teams get locked into another term.
2) Assign an owner for every contract
A renewal with no owner becomes a last-minute escalation. Ownership should be explicit and visible to finance and procurement.
3) Build a renewal calendar that starts 90 days early
- 90 days: pull key terms + usage
- 60 days: price benchmark + alternatives
- 30 days: final decision + legal review
Conclusion
The goal isn’t to negotiate harder — it’s to decide earlier, with better information. That’s how you avoid unwanted renewals and keep spend predictable.