Independent guide · Updated Oct 31, 2026

Company Data Buyout: Get Paid for Your Business Records

By the DataBuyout editorial team · Sources cited and dated

AI companies now pay businesses for their Slack threads, email, CRM history and support tickets. We show you what yours could be worth, how to keep it safe, and how to compare the buyers.

Value your company data How selling data works

Running a businessLicense your company's records while you operateAI labs pay for years of Slack, email, CRM and ticket history. You keep the data.How selling data works Closing a businessExport and price your data before you cancel anythingThe complete shutdown sequence, with the asset most owners delete by mistake.Closing a business guide Startup winding downYour code and workspace are still worth somethingBoard approval, investors, and selling repositories and Slack archives on the way out.Startup shutdown guide

What the market is paying for a company data buyout

$10K to $100K (Forbes, Apr 16, 2026)Reported per-company deals for startups selling archives while shutting down

$100K to $2M+Typical direct licenses for operating companies with deep history

$10MGoogle's bid for Spirit Airlines' operating data in bankruptcy

$20M+Committed by micro1 to license operational data in August 2026

Sources: Forbes (Apr 16, 2026), Polyshares published terms, Reuters (August 2026), micro1 (Oct 9, 2026). Figures as of October 2026.

How it works

01Estimate it. The value calculator takes two minutes and nothing leaves your browser.
02Keep it safe. Don't delete workspaces or former employees' accounts. Our system guides show how to measure and export each one.
03Compare buyers. Direct buyers, marketplaces and brokers work differently. See them scored side by side.
04Get a written offer. A buyer reviews a sample, prices it, and pays after anonymized delivery.

Guides by system

SlackWhat your workspace history is worth GmailCompany email in Google Workspace OutlookMicrosoft 365 mailboxes SalesforceCRM and activity history

Browse all 96 systems

Compare data buyers

Polyshares vs SimpleClosureDirect buyer vs wind-down marketplace Polyshares vs micro1Who qualifies and who pays more SimpleClosure alternativesSeven ways to sell company data

Common questions

Can a business really sell its data to AI companies?

Yes. AI labs and the companies that supply them license real operating records, like chat, email, CRM and tickets, to train agents on how work gets done. Deals have ranged from tens of thousands to millions of dollars.

Do I lose my data if I license it?

Not with a license. You keep the business and the data. Read each agreement for what's covered and for how long.

Is it legal?

Generally, when you own the data, your contracts allow it, and personal information is removed first. Have your attorney review any license. We're not lawyers.

How does DataBuyout make money?

We may earn a referral fee when you request an offer through some links. It never changes our scores. Read our disclosure.