diff --git a/azureappconfiguration/azureappconfiguration.go b/azureappconfiguration/azureappconfiguration.go
index b8c9d65..6a41641 100644
--- a/azureappconfiguration/azureappconfiguration.go
+++ b/azureappconfiguration/azureappconfiguration.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"sync/atomic"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/Azure/AppConfiguration-GoProvider/azureappconfiguration/internal/jsonc"
 	"github.com/Azure/AppConfiguration-GoProvider/azureappconfiguration/internal/refresh"
@@ -140,7 +141,7 @@ func Load(ctx context.Context, authentication AuthenticationOptions, options *Op
 		}
 	}
 
-	if err := azappcfg.load(ctx); err != nil {
+	if err := azappcfg.startupWithRetry(ctx, options.StartupOptions.Timeout, azappcfg.load); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	// Set the initial load finished flag
@@ -681,6 +682,59 @@ func (azappcfg *AzureAppConfiguration) executeFailoverPolicy(ctx context.Context
 	return fmt.Errorf("failed to get settings from all clients: %v", errors)
 }
 
+// startupWithRetry implements retry logic for startup loading with timeout and exponential backoff
+func (azappcfg *AzureAppConfiguration) startupWithRetry(ctx context.Context, timeout time.Duration, operation func(context.Context) error) error {
+	// If no timeout is specified, use the default startup timeout
+	if timeout <= 0 {
+		timeout = defaultStartupTimeout
+	}
+
+	// Create a context with timeout for the entire startup process
+	startupCtx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, timeout)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	attempt := 0
+	startTime := time.Now()
+
+	for {
+		attempt++
+
+		// Try to load with the current context
+		err := operation(startupCtx)
+		if err == nil {
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		// Check if the error is retriable
+		if !(isFailoverable(err) ||
+			strings.Contains(err.Error(), "no client is available") ||
+			strings.Contains(err.Error(), "failed to get settings from all clients")) {
+			return fmt.Errorf("load from Azure App Configuration failed with non-retriable error: %w", err)
+		}
+
+		// Calculate backoff duration
+		timeElapsed := time.Since(startTime)
+		backoffDuration := getFixedBackoffDuration(timeElapsed)
+		if backoffDuration == 0 {
+			backoffDuration = calculateBackoffDuration(attempt)
+		}
+
+		// Check if we have enough time left to wait and retry
+		timeRemaining := timeout - timeElapsed
+		if timeRemaining <= backoffDuration {
+			return fmt.Errorf("load from Azure App Configuration failed after %d attempts within timeout %v: %w", attempt, timeout, err)
+		}
+
+		// Wait for the backoff duration before retrying
+		select {
+		case <-startupCtx.Done():
+			return fmt.Errorf("load from Azure App Configuration timed out: %w", startupCtx.Err())
+		case <-time.After(backoffDuration):
+			// Continue to next retry attempt
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func (azappcfg *AzureAppConfiguration) trimPrefix(key string) string {
 	result := key
 	for _, prefix := range azappcfg.trimPrefixes {
diff --git a/azureappconfiguration/client_manager.go b/azureappconfiguration/client_manager.go
index e80c574..1b125fc 100644
--- a/azureappconfiguration/client_manager.go
+++ b/azureappconfiguration/client_manager.go
@@ -335,17 +335,17 @@ func (client *configurationClientWrapper) updateBackoffStatus(success bool) {
 		client.backOffEndTime = time.Time{}
 	} else {
 		client.failedAttempts++
-		client.backOffEndTime = time.Now().Add(client.getBackoffDuration())
+		client.backOffEndTime = time.Now().Add(calculateBackoffDuration(client.failedAttempts))
 	}
 }
 
-func (client *configurationClientWrapper) getBackoffDuration() time.Duration {
-	if client.failedAttempts <= 1 {
+func calculateBackoffDuration(failedAttempts int) time.Duration {
+	if failedAttempts <= 1 {
 		return minBackoffDuration
 	}
 
 	// Cap the exponent to prevent overflow
-	exponent := math.Min(float64(client.failedAttempts-1), float64(safeShiftLimit))
+	exponent := math.Min(float64(failedAttempts-1), float64(safeShiftLimit))
 	calculatedMilliseconds := float64(minBackoffDuration.Milliseconds()) * math.Pow(2, exponent)
 	if calculatedMilliseconds > float64(maxBackoffDuration.Milliseconds()) || calculatedMilliseconds <= 0 {
 		calculatedMilliseconds = float64(maxBackoffDuration.Milliseconds())
@@ -355,6 +355,21 @@ func (client *configurationClientWrapper) getBackoffDuration() time.Duration {
 	return jitter(calculatedDuration)
 }
 
+func getFixedBackoffDuration(timeElapsed time.Duration) time.Duration {
+	if timeElapsed < time.Second*100 {
+		return time.Second * 5
+	}
+	if timeElapsed < time.Second*200 {
+		return time.Second * 10
+	}
+
+	if timeElapsed < time.Second*600 {
+		return minBackoffDuration
+	}
+
+	return 0
+}
+
 func jitter(duration time.Duration) time.Duration {
 	// Calculate the amount of jitter to add to the duration
 	jitter := float64(duration) * jitterRatio
diff --git a/azureappconfiguration/constants.go b/azureappconfiguration/constants.go
index 5cd3c76..95ff2a1 100644
--- a/azureappconfiguration/constants.go
+++ b/azureappconfiguration/constants.go
@@ -69,3 +69,8 @@ const (
 	jitterRatio                         float64       = 0.25
 	safeShiftLimit                      int           = 63
 )
+
+// Startup constants
+const (
+	defaultStartupTimeout time.Duration = 100 * time.Second
+)
diff --git a/azureappconfiguration/failover_test.go b/azureappconfiguration/failover_test.go
index 665407c..2b06e05 100644
--- a/azureappconfiguration/failover_test.go
+++ b/azureappconfiguration/failover_test.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"net"
 	"net/http"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
@@ -664,17 +665,223 @@ func TestClientWrapper_GetBackoffDuration(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// First failure should return minimum backoff duration
 	client.failedAttempts = 1
-	duration := client.getBackoffDuration()
+	duration := calculateBackoffDuration(client.failedAttempts)
 	assert.True(t, duration >= minBackoffDuration)
 	assert.True(t, duration <= minBackoffDuration*2) // Account for jitter
 
 	// Multiple failures should increase duration exponentially
 	client.failedAttempts = 3
-	duration3 := client.getBackoffDuration()
+	duration3 := calculateBackoffDuration(client.failedAttempts)
 	assert.True(t, duration3 > duration)
 
 	// Very high failure count should be capped at max duration
 	client.failedAttempts = 100
-	durationMax := client.getBackoffDuration()
+	durationMax := calculateBackoffDuration(client.failedAttempts)
 	assert.True(t, durationMax <= maxBackoffDuration*2) // Account for jitter
 }
+
+// Test startupWithRetry with successful operation on first attempt
+func TestStartupWithRetry_Success_FirstAttempt(t *testing.T) {
+	mockClientManager := new(mockClientManager)
+
+	azappcfg := &AzureAppConfiguration{
+		clientManager: mockClientManager,
+		keyValues:     make(map[string]any),
+		featureFlags:  make(map[string]any),
+		kvSelectors:   []Selector{{KeyFilter: "*", LabelFilter: "\x00"}},
+	}
+
+	// Create a successful operation that simply returns nil
+	operation := func(ctx context.Context) error {
+		return nil // Success on first attempt
+	}
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	err := azappcfg.startupWithRetry(ctx, 10*time.Second, operation)
+
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+}
+
+// Test startupWithRetry with retry after retriable error
+func TestStartupWithRetry_Success_AfterRetriableError(t *testing.T) {
+	mockClientManager := new(mockClientManager)
+
+	azappcfg := &AzureAppConfiguration{
+		clientManager: mockClientManager,
+		keyValues:     make(map[string]any),
+		featureFlags:  make(map[string]any),
+		kvSelectors:   []Selector{{KeyFilter: "*", LabelFilter: "\x00"}},
+	}
+
+	callCount := 0
+	retriableError := &azcore.ResponseError{StatusCode: http.StatusServiceUnavailable}
+
+	// Create an operation that fails first, then succeeds
+	operation := func(ctx context.Context) error {
+		callCount++
+		if callCount == 1 {
+			return retriableError // Fail on first attempt
+		}
+		return nil // Success on second attempt
+	}
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	err := azappcfg.startupWithRetry(ctx, 10*time.Second, operation)
+
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, 2, callCount, "Operation should be called twice")
+}
+
+// Test startupWithRetry with non-retriable error
+func TestStartupWithRetry_NonRetriableError(t *testing.T) {
+	mockClientManager := new(mockClientManager)
+
+	azappcfg := &AzureAppConfiguration{
+		clientManager: mockClientManager,
+		keyValues:     make(map[string]any),
+		featureFlags:  make(map[string]any),
+		kvSelectors:   []Selector{{KeyFilter: "*", LabelFilter: "\x00"}},
+	}
+
+	callCount := 0
+	nonRetriableError := &azcore.ResponseError{StatusCode: http.StatusBadRequest}
+
+	// Create an operation that fails with non-retriable error
+	operation := func(ctx context.Context) error {
+		callCount++
+		return nonRetriableError // Non-retriable error
+	}
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	err := azappcfg.startupWithRetry(ctx, 10*time.Second, operation)
+
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "load from Azure App Configuration failed with non-retriable error")
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, callCount, "Operation should be called only once for non-retriable error")
+}
+
+// Test startupWithRetry with timeout
+func TestStartupWithRetry_Timeout(t *testing.T) {
+	mockClientManager := new(mockClientManager)
+
+	azappcfg := &AzureAppConfiguration{
+		clientManager: mockClientManager,
+		keyValues:     make(map[string]any),
+		featureFlags:  make(map[string]any),
+		kvSelectors:   []Selector{{KeyFilter: "*", LabelFilter: "\x00"}},
+	}
+
+	callCount := 0
+	retriableError := &azcore.ResponseError{StatusCode: http.StatusServiceUnavailable}
+
+	// Create an operation that always fails with retriable error
+	operation := func(ctx context.Context) error {
+		callCount++
+		return retriableError // Always fail
+	}
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	// Use a very short timeout to trigger timeout quickly
+	err := azappcfg.startupWithRetry(ctx, 100*time.Millisecond, operation)
+
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+	assert.True(t,
+		err.Error() == "startup timeout reached after 100ms" ||
+			err.Error() == fmt.Sprintf("load from Azure App Configuration failed after %d attempts within timeout 100ms: %v", callCount, retriableError),
+		"Error should indicate timeout or max attempts reached: %v", err)
+	assert.True(t, callCount >= 1, "Operation should be called at least once")
+}
+
+// Test startupWithRetry with context cancellation during backoff
+func TestStartupWithRetry_ContextCancelledDuringBackoff(t *testing.T) {
+	mockClientManager := new(mockClientManager)
+
+	azappcfg := &AzureAppConfiguration{
+		clientManager: mockClientManager,
+		keyValues:     make(map[string]any),
+		featureFlags:  make(map[string]any),
+		kvSelectors:   []Selector{{KeyFilter: "*", LabelFilter: "\x00"}},
+	}
+
+	callCount := 0
+	retriableError := &azcore.ResponseError{StatusCode: http.StatusServiceUnavailable}
+
+	// Create an operation that fails with retriable error
+	operation := func(ctx context.Context) error {
+		callCount++
+		return retriableError
+	}
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+
+	// Cancel the context after a short delay to simulate cancellation during backoff
+	go func() {
+		time.Sleep(50 * time.Millisecond)
+		cancel()
+	}()
+
+	err := azappcfg.startupWithRetry(ctx, 10*time.Second, operation)
+
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, err.Error(), "load from Azure App Configuration timed out: context canceled")
+}
+
+// Test startupWithRetry with default timeout when zero timeout provided
+func TestStartupWithRetry_DefaultTimeout(t *testing.T) {
+	mockClientManager := new(mockClientManager)
+
+	azappcfg := &AzureAppConfiguration{
+		clientManager: mockClientManager,
+		keyValues:     make(map[string]any),
+		featureFlags:  make(map[string]any),
+		kvSelectors:   []Selector{{KeyFilter: "*", LabelFilter: "\x00"}},
+	}
+
+	callCount := 0
+	// Create an operation that succeeds
+	operation := func(ctx context.Context) error {
+		callCount++
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	// Pass zero timeout to test default timeout usage
+	err := azappcfg.startupWithRetry(ctx, 0, operation)
+
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, callCount, "Operation should be called once")
+}
+
+// Test startupWithRetry with insufficient time remaining for retry
+func TestStartupWithRetry_InsufficientTimeForRetry(t *testing.T) {
+	mockClientManager := new(mockClientManager)
+
+	azappcfg := &AzureAppConfiguration{
+		clientManager: mockClientManager,
+		keyValues:     make(map[string]any),
+		featureFlags:  make(map[string]any),
+		kvSelectors:   []Selector{{KeyFilter: "*", LabelFilter: "\x00"}},
+	}
+
+	callCount := 0
+	retriableError := &azcore.ResponseError{StatusCode: http.StatusServiceUnavailable}
+
+	// Create an operation that always fails
+	operation := func(ctx context.Context) error {
+		callCount++
+		// Add some delay to consume time
+		time.Sleep(50 * time.Millisecond)
+		return retriableError
+	}
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	// Use a short timeout that will be consumed by the first failure and not allow retry
+	err := azappcfg.startupWithRetry(ctx, 80*time.Millisecond, operation)
+
+	assert.Error(t, err)
+	assert.True(t,
+		err.Error() == "startup timeout reached after 80ms" ||
+			strings.Contains(err.Error(), "load from Azure App Configuration failed after") && strings.Contains(err.Error(), "attempts within timeout"),
+		"Error should indicate timeout or insufficient time: %v", err)
+	assert.True(t, callCount >= 1, "Operation should be called at least once")
+}
diff --git a/azureappconfiguration/options.go b/azureappconfiguration/options.go
index f96ec9e..d1f0533 100644
--- a/azureappconfiguration/options.go
+++ b/azureappconfiguration/options.go
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ type Options struct {
 	// LoadBalancingEnabled specifies whether to enable load balancing across multiple replicas of the Azure App Configuration service.
 	// It defaults to false.
 	LoadBalancingEnabled bool
+
+	// StartupOptions is used when initially loading data into the configuration provider.
+	StartupOptions StartupOptions
 }
 
 // AuthenticationOptions contains parameters for authenticating with the Azure App Configuration service.
@@ -159,3 +162,9 @@ type ConstructionOptions struct {
 	// If not provided, the default separator "." will be used.
 	Separator string
 }
+
+// StartupOptions is used when initially loading data into the configuration provider.
+type StartupOptions struct {
+	// Timeout specifies the amount of time allowed to load data from Azure App Configuration on startup.
+	Timeout time.Duration
+}