What an accounting firm’s old records could be worth to AI developers

An accounting practice builds up something AI developers find hard to get anywhere else: years of real financial work, done carefully, checked and signed off. Not textbook examples. The actual workings behind real accounts, returns and advice.

Why this kind of record matters

AI tools are increasingly asked to help with bookkeeping, reconciliations, tax questions and reporting. To do that well, developers need examples of how qualified people actually handle messy, real-world numbers: the queries raised, the adjustments made and the reasons behind them.

Records that tend to interest buyers

• Working papers and review notes, showing how figures were checked
• Query lists and the answers that resolved them
• Internal technical notes and how-to guides written by your team
• Templates, checklists and workflow records from practice software
• Email threads that explain why a treatment was chosen

What stays private

Client confidentiality comes first. Client names, personal details, bank details and anything that could identify a client or individual are taken out before anything moves. You can leave out whole clients, years or types of work altogether. HR and payroll records are usually left out entirely.

Rights and professional duties

Before any detailed review, we look at who holds the rights to each type of record and what your engagement letters and professional obligations allow. Some material will be fine to license once anonymised; some won’t. That gets settled first, in writing.

What it’s worth

There’s no price list. Value depends on how much there is, how complete and connected it is, the rights position and what buyers need at the time. The honest way to find out is a free first look based on a short description. No files are needed to start.

See also how personal details come out of business records and our page for accountants.

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