In short
Salesforce contracts usually renew automatically if nobody gives notice in time. The notice period is in your Order Form or master agreement and usually ranges from 30 to 90 days before the end of the term. If you want to leave Salesforce, work your timeline backwards from that notice date, not from the end date.
Where to find the date that matters
Look in your Order Form for the subscription end date and the renewal clause. If the Order Form says nothing, the master agreement (MSA) and its addenda govern. Check three things:
- The end date of the current term.
- The notice period for non-renewal, and who the notice goes to.
- The length of the automatic renewal, which is often the same as the previous term.
If your contract is 36 months and you miss the notice, you may find yourself in another 36.
The timeline, worked backwards
| When | What needs to be done |
|---|---|
| 12 weeks before notice | The numbers: what you pay and what you would pay. |
| 8 weeks before notice | The project starts: discovery and build. |
| 2 weeks before notice | The new CRM in a parallel run. You decide with real data. |
| Notice deadline | Contract end minus the notice days. Notice sent and acknowledged. |
| Contract end | Data exported and validated. Salesforce read-only until this date. |
When do you have to notify Salesforce?
Enter your contract end date and the notice days in your Order Form. We give you the last day to give notice and when to get started.
If you run out of time
If the notice deadline arrives before the new CRM is ready, you have two reasonable options: negotiate a short renewal of a few months to cover the transition, or renew fewer licenses if your contract allows it. Ask before the notice deadline, not after.
Can you cancel Salesforce before the contract ends?
Generally, no. Salesforce's master agreement says payment obligations can't be cancelled and fees paid are non-refundable (section 5.1), unless your Order Form says otherwise. What you can do is not renew: give written notice within your Order Form's notice period so the subscription ends on its end date. Miss the deadline and it renews for another term.
Non-renewal notice template
Adapt it to your contract and send it through the channel the MSA specifies, usually in writing to the notices address in the contract. Keep the acknowledgment.
Subject: Notice of non-renewal. Order Form [number]
To the attention of [Salesforce entity named in the contract]:
[Company legal name], with tax ID (CIF) [CIF], hereby notifies you of its decision not to renew the subscription described in Order Form [number], whose current term ends on [date], as provided for in the contract.
Please confirm receipt of this notice and let us know the procedure and timeline for a full export of our data.
Sincerely,
[Name, title and signature]
This is not legal advice. Review your contract or check with your advisor.
What not to do
- Give notice without your data exported and an alternative underway.
- Assume the notice period is 30 days without reading the contract.
- Wait for your Salesforce account rep to remind you of the date.
- Communicate it only by phone or in a meeting.
FAQ
Does Salesforce renew automatically?
In most contracts, yes. If nobody gives notice within the notice period, the subscription renews for a new term, often of the same length.
How many days' notice do I need to give?
Your contract sets it. Typical notice periods range from 30 to 90 days before the end of the term.
Can I reduce licenses at renewal?
It depends on the contract. Many don't allow reductions mid-term, so renewal is the time to right-size. Negotiate it before the notice deadline.
What happens to my data afterwards?
Export and validate it before the contract ends. The master agreement only allows a limited period to request the export after termination.
What happens to my data when the contract ends?
Export everything before the end date, while you still have full access. After that you depend on the return and deletion timelines in the master agreement.
Sources: Master Subscription Agreement (Salesforce). It doesn't replace reading your own contract.