The seller’s
field guide.

Know what you’re bringing.

Create a simple inventory: company size, geography, industry, systems, available history and who owns or controls the records. Leave out credentials, personal information and confidential attachments. You are describing the opportunity, not delivering the data.

Decide who needs to be involved before a deal: an authorized business decision-maker, your legal adviser and someone who understands your systems. If the business is being sold or closed, confirm who can authorize a separate data transaction.

Twelve questions for the first call.

Use this checklist during a conversation. Your checks remain on this page only.

Compare more than the headline.

Before seeking another introduction, check any existing referral or agreement for restrictions. Ask the company you are speaking with for its terms in writing. A larger number may come with broader rights, stricter exclusivity, greater preparation work or more uncertain payment conditions.

A good reason to pause.

Pause if the contracting entity is unclear, the buyer requests broad access before explaining the scope, promises a payout without reviewing the records, or pressures you to skip your own review. Resolve unanswered questions before proceeding.

De-identification is a process to examine.

Ask what is removed, who sees the source records, whether you can inspect a sample and how re-identification risk is assessed. Removing names does not automatically resolve confidentiality, ownership or privacy obligations.