Is my company too small to license its data?
Not necessarily. Buyers ask about headcount because it's a rough guide to how much real work your records hold, but the records are what they buy. Give your peak employee count, the most people who worked there at the same time during the years your records cover, not just today's number. And if a small team generated a large volume of records, such as millions of transactions, tell buyers that up front: volume can matter more than headcount.
Why do buyers ask how many employees you have?
A size minimum is a shortcut. More people working over more years usually means more email, chat, tickets, documents and decisions, which is what most buyers say they want. It is not the only measure, and some buyers already use others.
On its referral page, as of October 2026, Mercor sets different rules by industry: a medical practice qualifies with 10 or more clinicians or 2,500 or more patients, an imaging center of any size, and payments and fintech companies with years of transaction tables with no size stated. Mode publishes lower minimums for accounting and law firms than for other businesses. In other words, buyers already accept that a smaller team can produce valuable records.
Which employee count should I give?
Give your peak: the most people who worked at the company at the same time during the years your records cover. The records include everyone whose work is in them, so a company that had 60 people three years ago and has 12 today still holds records from a 60-person company.
When you apply, give both numbers and the dates, for example "peak of 60 in 2022, 12 today, records from 2017 to 2026". It is accurate, and it lets the buyer judge the records rather than today's headcount. If a buyer counts differently, it will tell you. Never round up a number you cannot back up.
What if we're small but have a lot of data?
Some small companies sit on very large record sets: a five-person payments business with millions of transactions, a small logistics broker with years of shipment records, or a lean software company with a long code history. In our experience, buyers look past headcount when the volume and history are real.
Lead with the volume. Say what the records are, how many there are, which years they cover and which systems hold them, for example "4.2 million transactions from 2015 to 2026 in our own database, plus email and support tickets". A short data inventory makes this easy (free worksheets).
What if our data is mostly databases, not email and chat?
Some buyers want structured databases and long transaction histories, such as payments, orders, shipments or claims, rather than communications. Not all of them run public programs. Tick "Databases or transaction records" in our eligibility check, or tell us through the contact form, and we'll review it ourselves.
Does the check on this site handle this?
Published minimums are a starting point. Where a buyer's own page sets a different rule for your industry, that rule wins.
- Use your peak headcount in the size question. The check uses it to apply each buyer's published minimum.
- If you're below a buyer's published minimum but have a large volume of records, mention the volume in the notes box. We review those, and you can still contact any buyer directly.
- Companies of 250 or more at peak can ask us for a call to scope what to license and approach several buyers.
What should I be careful about?
Volume does not change the rights questions. Customer records, transaction data and anything about individuals may be limited by your contracts, your privacy notices and privacy law, and data you hold for clients is usually not yours to license. Check those before you describe the data to a buyer, and talk to your lawyer if you are unsure (How do you prepare a data inventory before talking to buyers?).
Common questions
We had 40 people but now have 8. Do we qualify for a 20-person minimum?
Give your peak and today's number with dates. Your records were created by a 40-person company, which is what the buyer is evaluating. The buyer decides how it counts.
We're five people with millions of transactions. Is that worth anything?
It can be. Lead with the volume, years and systems when you apply, and put it in the notes box of our check. Several buyers already set rules by volume or industry rather than headcount alone.
Do contractors count?
Ask the buyer. If contractors did core work and their work is in your records, say so and give the number separately from employees.
Sources
- Refer a company · Mercor Data (size and volume rules by industry), accessed 2026-10-21
- Mode company data partnerships (minimums by industry), accessed 2026-10-19
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice.