How to Vet an AI Data Broker vs. Public Data Marketplaces (6-Point Checklist)

1. Why Public Data Marketplaces Are a Bad Deal for Business Owners

A public data marketplace works like an online flea market. They ask you to upload a sample of your company files onto a public listing page and wait to see if anyone buys it.

That creates three big problems for a real business:

• Public Exposure: Anyone browsing the site—including your competitors—can see that your company is listing files and inspect your sample structure.
• Do-It-Yourself Privacy Risk: Most marketplaces force your own IT team to clean out personal names and emails before uploading, putting 100% of the legal blame on you.
• No Cash Advance or Guaranteed Buyer: Your files can sit online for months with zero guaranteed payout.

2. What I Do Instead

I am JC Burrows. I run ZoomReferral (zoomreferral.com) and help business owners get paid $100,000 to $2,000,000+ by major AI companies for copies of their old everyday software files at $0 upfront cost.

I also offer a $999 150-Point AI Readiness Checkup and $7,500/month part-time Chief AI Officer leadership to help companies govern AI safely.

3. My 6-Point Checklist to Vet Any AI Data Broker

Before you let anyone broker your company software records, ask them these 6 plain-English questions:

1. Do I Pay $0 Out of Pocket? Never pay an upfront "audit fee," "hosting fee," or "packaging fee." A real broker only gets paid a commission when your cash wire clears.
2. Are My Files Kept Off Public Websites? Your company name and samples should never be posted on a public web catalog. Every match should happen privately under a signed 2-way NDA.
3. Do Two AI Buyers Compete for My Files? If a broker only works with one buyer, you have zero price leverage. I bring two major AI buyers to bid on your files so you get the best cash offer.
4. Is Privacy Cleaning Automatic and Double-Checked? Make sure automated privacy tools remove all names, phone numbers, emails, and private details—and that two separate people verify the cleaned sample before transfer.
5. Do I Keep 100% Ownership of My Files? Never sign away ownership of your business records. You should only grant a private AI training license for a scrubbed copy.
6. Can You Show Real Closed Deal Payouts? Ask to see real closed deals in roofing, construction, solar, software, and agencies—with clear unit pricing ($0.18 per chat message, $1.80 per software record, $180 per GB, and $11 per audio hour).

4. How My Process Works & Why Work With Me

Here is how my 4-step process works:

• 60-Second Check: You tell me what software you use and how many years of records you have.
• Direct Match Under a 2-Way NDA: I match your software profile with two major AI buyers under a 2-way NDA.
• Automatic Privacy Cleaning: All names, phone numbers, emails, and private details are removed before transfer.
• Cash Wire Transfer: You receive $100,000 to $2,000,000+ by bank wire in 14 to 30 days.

How does this benefit you? You keep 100% ownership of your files, pay $0 out of pocket, and turn old software records into cash.

Why work with me? I sit on your side of the table, bring 20+ years of operations leadership and real AI engineering since 2018, and get two major AI buyers competing for your files.

5. Red Flags That Should Make You Walk Away Fast

I want you to stay safe even if you never work with me. If any broker does these three things, hang up the phone:

Red Flag 1: They ask you for $5,000 up front. Some fake brokers charge a setup fee and then vanish. I charge $0 up front. You never pay me out of pocket.

Red Flag 2: They ask for your admin password on call one. Never hand over live passwords to check your price. I only need your tool names, headcount, and years of history to give you an estimate.

Red Flag 3: They want you to sign away ownership. Your files belong to you. When you work with me, you keep 100% ownership of your files for life.