Can our Buildertrend history be licensed to AI companies, and how do we get it out?

Updated October 25, 2026 · How we research

What lives in Buildertrend, and why might buyers value it?

Buildertrend is project management software for home builders, remodelers and specialty contractors. Accounts typically hold leads, estimates and proposals, selections, change orders, schedules, daily logs, budgets and job costs, time clock entries, client and subcontractor messages, photos and warranty requests.

Buyers building tools for residential construction may value how projects actually run: how estimates turn into budgets, what changes clients ask for, and what daily logs record when schedules slip. Those narratives are where the value is, and also where homeowner details tend to appear.

What do Buildertrend's help articles say about exporting?

As of October 2026, Buildertrend's public help articles and product updates describe features but not a bulk export:

• Buildertrend's public product-updates page announced an improved Excel export for the Job Costing Budget (the post is dated only 'Sept 2-6', with no year shown). That is one budget view, not a full account export.
• Reports Overview lists Work-in-Progress, Budgeted vs. Projected, Profitability, Invoicing, Labor Actuals vs. Budgeted and Cash Flow reports, but does not say whether they can be exported.
• The Lead Opportunities article explains importing leads from an Excel template, not exporting them.
• The Daily Logs article covers who can see each log (internal users, subcontractors, the client, or private) but says nothing about exporting logs.
• Buildertrend's help center points users to its support team by live chat, email or phone for questions it does not cover.

Who should you ask, and what?

Have the account owner or an administrator contact Buildertrend support. Ask which modules can be exported, in what format, whether daily logs, messages and photos are included, how many years come out, and whether any fee applies. Get the answer in writing, since it shapes what you can promise a buyer.

Is some of the data already elsewhere?

Buildertrend's Marketplace FAQ describes connections with QuickBooks, Gusto and The Home Depot. Gusto receives shift hours only, and Home Depot receipts flow into Buildertrend rather than out. If your accounting is connected to QuickBooks, some financial data may already sit there and may be easier to export from there; see our QuickBooks page.

If a buyer proposes connecting to Buildertrend instead of taking files, ask whether Buildertrend permits that kind of access, what the buyer can read, and how access is switched off afterwards. The articles reviewed do not describe such an option.

What should stay out?

• Homeowner names, addresses, phone numbers and emails.
• Client messages and selections tied to identifiable households.
• Photos of the inside of homes and of identifiable people.
• Daily logs marked private, unless you have reviewed them line by line.
• Employee time clock entries and pay rates.
• Subcontractor pricing and payment details processed through Buildertrend Payments.

What rights questions apply to a builder's records?

Homeowners shared details about their homes, budgets and families to get a project built, not to train software. Your client contracts and privacy notices may limit reuse, and subcontractors may have confidentiality terms of their own. Read your Buildertrend agreement for data-use terms too. Talk to your lawyer, and see our guide on what can be excluded.

Where should a builder start?

Make a list of what you actually use in Buildertrend, since many builders use only some modules. Then get Buildertrend's written answer on exports. Completed projects with consistent daily logs and change orders are usually the most useful starting point; our construction industry page has more.

General information, not legal, tax or financial advice.