Not every business has records an AI data buyer wants, and not every business that has them is free to license them. Before anyone registers with a buyer, it is worth working through a short checklist. It will not tell you whether a buyer will say yes, because only the buyer decides that. It will show whether an approach is worth making and what needs sorting out first.
The criteria below come from AI data buyers’ own published programme pages, which we last checked on 25 October 2026. Buyers change their criteria, so always read the current version before applying.
1. Is the business big enough?
Size is the first filter. One buyer we reviewed looks for established companies with at least 30 full-time employees. Another asks for 50 or more full-time employees at the company’s peak. So 30 or more full-time staff is a common starting threshold, and some buyers set the bar higher.
Count full-time employees, not contractors or part-time hours, unless a buyer’s terms say otherwise. If the business is smaller now than it once was, the peak figure may matter more than today’s headcount, depending on the buyer.
2. Are there years of operating records?
Buyers describe looking for operational history: substantial historical records that show how the business has actually run. A company that has traded for several years and kept its documents, systems and correspondence in good order is in a stronger position than a new business, or one whose records are scattered or lost.
Useful questions to ask:
- How many years of records does the business hold, and where are they kept?
- Are they in systems that can export them, such as a document management system, a ticketing tool or a shared drive?
- Are there gaps, for example after a system change, an office move or a period of disruption?
3. What kinds of records are they?
Buyers describe wanting operational data. Think about the documents and data created by doing the work: procedures, project files, reports, case notes, support tickets and correspondence about real tasks.
Make a simple list of the main record types, roughly how much there is of each, and the years they cover. A buyer will usually ask for this kind of summary, often called a data manifest, before it looks at anything else. Producing it also helps the business see what it holds before deciding anything.
4. Are the records mostly in English?
The buyers we reviewed want records that are primarily in English. One that accepts UK companies asks for at least 90% of records to be in English. If a significant share of your records is in another language, note it now, because it may affect eligibility.
Both buyers we reviewed say they prioritise US companies. UK businesses are not excluded, but they may face extra conditions, such as the English-language threshold above.
5. Does the business have the right to license them?
This is the question that most often needs professional advice. Holding records is not the same as being free to license them. Check:
- Ownership. Does the company own the records, or were some created for clients who may own them or have rights over them?
- Contracts. Do customer, supplier or employment contracts contain confidentiality clauses or limits on using information for other purposes?
- Third-party material. Do the records include documents, reports or data licensed from someone else?
- Personal data. Almost every set of business records contains personal data about staff, customers or contacts, and data protection law governs how it is used and shared.
Our article on data protection and confidentiality explains these checks in more detail. It is general information, not legal advice; a solicitor can review the specific contracts.
6. Is the business trading, sold or closed?
Operating businesses are not the only candidates. One buyer’s published programme has a category for deals with defunct companies, and another says that operating, acquired and wound-down companies may qualify. What matters is who controls the records now, and who can sign a licence for them.
If the company has been sold or closed, read what can happen to its historical records before assuming the former owners can license them.
7. Has anyone already registered the company?
Check whether the company, a colleague or another adviser has already registered it with the buyer. Buyers keep records of earlier applications and introductions, and at least one says an existing registration cannot be reassigned to a different referrer. Registering twice creates confusion and can affect who, if anyone, is credited with the introduction.
Who must agree before anything happens
Even if every box is ticked, nothing should happen without the right people agreeing. An authorised representative of the company, usually a director or owner, decides whether to explore licensing. If an adviser is making the introduction, the client should give written consent first, after hearing about any referral interest the adviser has. ADP will not record an introduction without that consent and disclosure.
A quick self-check
| Question | A good sign |
|---|---|
| Full-time staff | 30 or more, or 50 or more at peak for some buyers |
| Records | Several years of organised operating records |
| Language | Mostly English, and 90% or more for some UK applications |
| Rights | The company owns the records and its contracts allow licensing |
| Status | Trading, sold or closed, with a clear person who can sign |
| Registration | Not already registered with the buyer by someone else |
If most answers look positive, check the business against the published criteria or read how an introduction works. If the business is one of your clients, our guide for advisers explains how to introduce clients responsibly.
Frequently asked questions
Is 30 full-time staff a strict minimum?
It is a common threshold, not a universal rule. One buyer we reviewed asks for at least 30 full-time employees and another for 50 or more at peak. Each buyer applies its own criteria and makes the final decision.
Can a UK company qualify?
It can, but the buyers we reviewed prioritise US companies. One accepts UK companies whose records are at least 90% in English. Check the current criteria before applying.
Do we need to send records to find out?
No. Buyers usually start with a description of the records, not the records themselves. Never send records to ADP: we have no facility to receive them.
What if we are not sure we own the records?
Take legal advice before registering. Ownership, contract restrictions and personal data all affect whether the company can license the records, and on what terms.