Pillar guide
Licensing your firm's data to AI companies in Canada: the complete guide
Short answer: Canadian firms can sell or, more precisely, license copies of their operating records to AI companies through published buyer programs, with published ranges mostly from $100K per licence. Doing it properly means scoping out client-confidential and personal information under PIPEDA, provincial laws, Law 25 and professional codes, then matching with buyers that accept Canadian companies.
Everything a Canadian firm needs to decide whether, and how, to license its records to AI developers: who buys, what it's worth, what the rules allow and how the process runs.
Last updated · Sources linked inline · Buyer figures observed Oct 16, 2026
What is AI data licensing?
A company grants an AI developer rights to use a copy of its operating records to train or evaluate models, in exchange for payment.
Buyers say they want records of real work: communications, documents, tickets, wikis and workflow. See the AI data licensing glossary for terms such as de-identification, exclusivity and referral bounty.
Who buys company data in Canada?
Mostly US AI developers and data companies with public programs, including Mode, micro1, Handshake AI, Turing, Polyshares and SuperAnnotate.
| Buyer | What they publish | Who they say qualifies | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mode (data.mode.inc) | Indicative $100K–$5M; about 3 months from first call to payment; no broker fee charged to the company. As published · verify | Minimum 6 staff for legal, 10 for accounting and finance, 30 for other businesses. Teams based mainly in the US are its strongest fit. | Buyer page via Who Sells Data register, observed Oct 16, 2026 |
| micro1 | Published tiers of $100K+, $500K+ and $1M+ (its referral page cites $100K–$2M+ for approved packages). As published · verify | 30+ employees. US companies prioritized, then other Western markets; primarily English. | Buyer page via Who Sells Data register, observed Oct 16, 2026 |
| Handshake AI | Published range $100K to $4M+; typically paid 30–60 days after the de-identified dataset is accepted. As published · verify | 20+ full-time employees and 3+ years in operation. | Buyer page via Who Sells Data register, observed Oct 16, 2026 |
| Turing (Project Lazarus) | A single payment of up to $1M, confirmed after sampling (usually within a week). As published · verify | Operating, winding-down or closed companies. Wants communications, tickets, wikis and databases; code alone doesn't qualify. | Buyer page via Who Sells Data register, observed Oct 16, 2026 |
| Polyshares | $100K to $2M+ per licence; Net 30–60 after approval and delivery. As published · verify | Companies in any sector. | Buyer page via Who Sells Data register, observed Oct 16, 2026 |
| SuperAnnotate | Indicative valuation $100K to $1M+; paid on delivery and on each relicense. As published · verify | Companies of any size, industry or location. | Buyer page via Who Sells Data register, observed Oct 16, 2026 |
Amounts are each buyer's own published ranges, ceilings or tiers, not offers, and they change. Most buyers are US companies and don't always state a currency, so confirm it in writing. Buyer names describe their public programs only. How the process works.
Full comparison: AI data buyer programs compared.
How much is a firm's data worth?
Published ranges mostly start around $100K per licence and run past $1M. Headcount, years, record types, systems and exclusivity move the number.
Method and factors: how much company data is worth to AI buyers.
Is it legal to license company data to AI in Canada?
It can be, when the firm owns the records and confidential and personal information is scoped out under the rules that apply.
- PIPEDA covers personal information crossing borders.
- Quebec's Law 25 treats de-identified information as personal information.
- CPA and law society codes protect client confidences.
- Contracts and platform terms can add limits.
Details: PIPEDA, Law 25 and CASL for AI data licensing.
What can each type of firm license?
It varies: accounting firms license procedures and review trails, law firms precedents and workflow, MSPs ticket histories.
- Accounting & bookkeeping firms: what's licensable, rules and buyers
- Law firms: what's licensable, rules and buyers
- Engineering & architecture: what's licensable, rules and buyers
- Consulting firms: what's licensable, rules and buyers
- IT services & MSPs: what's licensable, rules and buyers
- Closed or insolvent companies: what's licensable, rules and buyers
How does the process work?
Six steps: range, call, scoping, matching, agreement, payment. The buyer pays your firm directly.
Step by step: how AI data licensing works for Canadian firms.
Can a closed or insolvent company license its data?
Yes, with some buyers, but a trustee, monitor or board may need to approve.
See selling data from a closed or insolvent company in Canada.
What do firms ask most often?
Is it selling or licensing?
How big does my firm need to be?
Will US buyers work with a Canadian firm?
How long does it take to get paid?
Is it legal?
What could your firm's records be worth?
Three answers give you a rough range based on what buyers publish. Add your details if you want us to follow up. There's no cost to start.