How selling your data works
From a one-minute estimate to payment, here's every step, what you do, what we do, and how long each takes. Most companies go from first call to a signed license in three to five weeks. Payment follows the buyer's acceptance and payment terms, usually two to three months after delivery.
Six steps
- 1 minute
Estimate
You enter team size, founding year, and revenue. You get a payout range instantly and can request a scoping call.
- 30 minutes, under NDA
Scoping call
Both sides sign a mutual NDA first. Bring your data inventory. On the call we review each system, years of history, volume, customer contracts, and anything you want excluded.
- About 1 week
Offer and license
We send a data license with a Data Schedule listing every approved source, date range, exclusion, and the payout terms. Your lawyer can review it.
- 1 to 3 days of your time
Export
After signing, we send exact export steps for each system. You upload files to a secure link or grant temporary read-only access.
- 1 to 2 weeks
Processing
We remove names, contacts, and identifiers, replace them with consistent pseudonyms, check samples by hand, and package the dataset. Raw exports are deleted.
- About 3 months
Acceptance and payment
We license the de-identified dataset to an AI buyer under a contract that bars re-identification. Buyers usually get a 30-day acceptance window to confirm the dataset matches what was described, then pay on net terms, often 60 days. We pay you within 7 days of their payment clearing.
Who does what
Your team's part is small: one call, signing, and an export.
| Step | Time | You | Paid4Data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate | 1 minute | Answer three questions. | Show a ballpark range. |
| Scoping call | 30 minutes, under NDA | Describe your systems and any restrictions. | Assess fit and estimate value more precisely. |
| Offer and license | About 1 week | Review and sign. Name any competitors you never want as buyers. | Draft the schedule and answer questions. |
| Export | 1 to 3 days of your time | Run exports or approve read-only access. | Provide instructions and confirm receipt. |
| Processing | 1 to 2 weeks | Nothing. | De-identify, quality-check, document, and delete raw data. |
| Acceptance and payment | 30-day acceptance, then buyer's net terms (often 60 days) | Receive payment. | Sell, collect, and pay you your share. |
The documents you'll sign
Mutual NDA
Before the scoping call. Covers anything either side shares. No data changes hands under it.
Data license
Grants a license to de-identify and license your data to AI buyers, including any exclusivity window, with your warranties, our obligations, and payment terms.
Data Schedule
Part of the license. Lists approved systems, date ranges, exclusions, restricted buyers, and your payout share.
Processing terms
Included where UK or EU personal data is involved, covering how we handle data before it's de-identified.
How payouts work
Most AI buyers ask for an exclusive window, typically two years. That's their protected period to earn back what they paid, so asking for a shorter one usually costs some of the headline price. Buyers usually get a 30-day acceptance window to confirm the dataset matches what was described, then pay on net terms, often 60 days. We pay you within 7 days of their payment clearing. Faster payment can be negotiated, usually in exchange for a lower price. You get a statement showing the buyer category, date, and amount.
No payment is owed until a buyer pays, and the website estimate is a ballpark, not an offer. Read more in deal terms, explained, exclusive vs. non-exclusive licensing and what your data is worth.