Data licensing guide
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Licensing a consulting firm's data for AI

By Ade Molajo · Updated · How we check figures

Quick answer

Consulting firms fit well: frameworks, models and deliverables are exactly the expert work AI companies want. Mercor lists consulting and advisory firms at $150K–$300K from 10 staff; micro1 and Mode want 30+. The deciding question is who owns the work. Client deliverables often belong to the client under the engagement contract, so your own methods, frameworks and templates are where to start.

$150K–$300K
Mercor's published range for consulting firms
10+
Mercor's minimum staff; micro1 and Mode want 30+
Contracts
decide who owns client deliverables
Methods
you own are the easiest to license

01What the programmes publish for consulting firms

Published ranges that apply to consulting firms: micro1 tiers from $100K to $2M and up; Mode $100K to $5M; Mercor’s Consulting & Advisory Firm listing $150K to $300K.$0$1M$2M$3M$4M$5Mmicro1$100K–500K · $500K–2M · $2M+micro1.ai/data-partnerships · 30 Oct 2026Mode$100K–$5M per companydata.mode.inc · 30 Oct 2026Mercor: Consulting & Advisory Firm$150K–$300Kdata.mercor.com/refer · 30 Oct 2026
Each programme’s own published range, checked 30 October 2026. Ranges, not offers.
micro1ModeMercor
RangeTiers $100K–500K to $2M+$100K–$5M$150K–$300K (consulting listing)
Minimum size30+ full-time staff30+10–500
LocationUS first; strong UK demandUS strongest; others case by caseAnywhere; English-language work preferred
What it wantsSOPs, knowledge bases, project historiesEmail, documents, chat, CRM"Client deliverables, models and the drafts behind them"

Each programme's own pages, checked 30–31 October 2026. Ranges, not offers.

Where these records usually live

Documents and knowledge

  • SharePoint
  • Google Drive
  • Notion
  • Confluence

Projects

  • Asana
  • Jira
  • Monday.com

CRM and comms

  • Salesforce
  • HubSpot
  • Slack
  • Microsoft Teams

Examples of common tools, to help you find your records. Product names and logos belong to their owners; no affiliation or endorsement.

Mercor's consulting range is its narrowest, but its $150K starting point is the highest it lists for any business type.

02Who owns the work?

This is the question that decides your scope. Engagement contracts usually do one or more of these:

  • assign deliverables to the client once paid;
  • restrict use of client confidential information to the engagement;
  • keep your pre-existing materials (methods, tools, templates) with you, sometimes with a licence to the client.

So check the contracts before you scope anything. Work you've assigned, or that's built on a client's confidential information, isn't yours to license without the client's agreement.

03What a firm can realistically license

  • Your own frameworks and methods, documented.
  • Templates and models built in-house, with client data stripped.
  • Proposal and engagement process documents.
  • Training material and internal playbooks.

Client deliverables and drafts are possible where the contract allows it or the client agrees, with client names and data removed.

Consulting firms: usually licensable (Your frameworks and methods; In-house models and templates; Proposal and engagement processes; Internal playbooks and training) versus check first or leave out (Deliverables assigned to clients; Client confidential information; Work built on client data; Third-party research and data).Usually licensableYour frameworks and methodsIn-house models and templatesProposal and engagement processesInternal playbooks and trainingCheck first, or leave outDeliverables assigned to clientsClient confidential informationWork built on client dataThird-party research and data
A starting point for scoping, not a legal test.

04Before you apply

  1. Pull your standard terms and the big engagement contracts.
  2. Separate firm-owned IP from client deliverables.
  3. Ask each programme how it handles client-confidential material.
  4. Have a lawyer read the licence. This isn't legal advice.

05Check which programmes you're likely to match

Our free fit check asks about your size, location and records. The programme decides.

06Questions people ask

Can we license client deliverables?

Check each engagement contract. Many assign the deliverables to the client or restrict how you use their confidential information. Your own pre-existing methods and tools usually stay yours.

What's most valuable?

The expert reasoning: models, frameworks, analysis and the drafts that show how a conclusion was reached. Mercor's listing names drafts specifically.

Do we qualify with 15 people?

Mercor lists consulting firms from 10 staff. micro1 and Mode publish 30+ for consulting.

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 →