The length of an IPO process can vary depending on how well it is managed and coordinated. The first step is a company financial review, which can be the longest part of the process – especially if the company’s books are not kept properly.  The company must prepare a registration statement to submit prior to the IPO. In the next step, the exchange reviews the application. If there are no concerns about this, the check can be carried out relatively quickly. A well-managed IPO can take up to 12 months to complete, but it could also take longer.