How data licenses are priced
A data license has no list price. Buyers set the number from what the dataset contains and what it can teach a model. For a firm owner, it helps to know which factors move that number before the first conversation.
Quality and uniqueness come before volume
Buyers price on quality, uniqueness and usefulness for training. Volume matters, but a large archive of repetitive or poorly organized files is worth less than a smaller set that shows real decisions in a consistent structure.
Published buyer tiers start at $100K+ per license for qualifying firms. Larger or unique datasets run higher. Those tiers are a starting point. The figure for any one firm depends on the review of its records.
Exclusivity is a priced term
Buyers often ask for exclusivity, for example a set period during which the firm does not license the same records to their competitors. The firm keeps ownership and copyright either way, and any exclusivity is negotiated, priced and in writing.
Price exclusivity separately from the base license. It restricts what the firm can do with its own records, so it should carry its own number, its own length and a clear definition of who counts as a competitor. Compare offers with and without it, and weigh the trade before accepting.
When payment happens
Payment usually follows delivery and a review or acceptance period. The buyer checks that the data matches what was described, that it opens correctly and that it meets the agreed exclusions. Payment follows acceptance.
Firms should expect this sequence and read the acceptance terms in the license. They set out what counts as accepted and what happens if a buyer raises a defect.
What raises value
Buyers respond to datasets with these traits:
- Years of history, so that a model can see projects from start to close.
- Structured exports from systems such as Procore, Deltek or Newforma, with fields that stay consistent.
- A consistent process across projects, so that similar steps appear in similar form.
- Breadth across project types, such as K-12, healthcare, commercial and infrastructure work.
What lowers value
Some features reduce what a buyer will pay, or remove records from the license entirely:
- Gaps in the record, such as missing months or projects with partial logs.
- Heavy redaction needs, where personal data or client identifiers run through the text.
- Open rights questions, where a contract limits use and counsel has not cleared it.
What the firm pays
The firm pays nothing upfront. Archeon earns a success fee, a percentage of each payment the firm receives, and states it in the engagement letter before any buyer sees the firm. If a buyer ever pays Archeon anything, it is disclosed and credited against the firm’s fee. Your counsel reviews the license.
If no offer works for your firm, you do not sign, and you have paid nothing.