Data licensing guide
Data licensing guide

Direct buyers, brokers and marketplaces: which route?

By Ade Molajo · Updated · How we check figures

Quick answer

You can apply direct to a programme, go through a broker or introducer, or list on a marketplace. Going direct costs nothing: micro1, Mode and Mercor all pay companies and publish no charge to them. A legitimate broker or introducer is paid by the programme, not by you. Whichever route, ask who pays them, whether it comes out of your payout, and whether your data is shared before you sign.

3
routes to a deal
Direct
costs you nothing
Paid by the programme
a legitimate introducer
3 questions
to ask any broker

01The three routes

RouteWho you deal withWhat it costs you
DirectThe programme itselfNothing: programmes pay companies
Broker or introducerSomeone who connects you to programmesShould be nothing; the programme pays them
MarketplaceA platform listing datasets for buyersVaries: read the fees

02Who pays whom

Who pays whom: the programme pays your company a licence fee for the data, and pays TrackImpact a separate referral fee. Nothing comes out of your payout.Your companyProgrammeTrackImpactData, under licenceLicence feeReferral fee, paid separatelyNever from your payout
The referral fee is paid by the programme, separately. It never comes out of your payout.

In the programmes we track, money flows to you. Mode says it buys directly and charges "no broker fee"; Mercor says "no upfront costs, setup fees, or deductions". A legitimate introducer is paid by the programme, separately.

03Three questions for any broker

Checking a broker or introducer: if they charge you, walk away; if their fee comes out of your payout, ask how much; if they share your data before you’ve signed, stop; otherwise, ask who pays them and get it in writing.YesNoYesNoDo they charge you?Walk awayData shared beforeyou sign?Stop: nothing before acontractAsk who pays them; getit in writing
Three questions for any broker or introducer, including us.
  1. Who pays you, and how much?
  2. Does your fee come out of my payout?
  3. Will you share my data with a buyer before I've signed anything?

Our answers: the programme pays us if it accepts your company; the fee never comes out of your payout; we never see or handle your data. See is this offer legitimate?

04Check whether you're likely to match

Our free fit check asks about your size, location, records and tools, then shows which programmes you're likely to match. The programme decides.

05Questions people ask

Should I use a data broker?

Only if they add something, and only if the programme pays them rather than you. Ask the three questions on this page.

Is TrackImpact a broker?

We're a referral service: we help companies find programmes they match and the programme may pay us a referral fee. It never comes out of your payout, and we never handle your data.

Sources

Check which programmes you’re likely to matchA few short questions, about a minute. Free, no sign-up. The programme decides who qualifies.trackimpact.io/data →