Short answer: Mostly not the client work. Forecasts, board decks, fundraising and deal material are client confidential information and often covered by NDAs. A firm could consider its own methods, templates and operations. Whether Mode's 15+ accounting rule applies depends on how Mode classifies your firm.
On this page
What advisory files hold
- Forecasts, budgets and cash models.
- Board and investor materials.
- Fundraising and M&A data, sometimes material nonpublic information.
- Client banking and payroll access.
Rules that can apply
CPA firms answer to their state board's confidentiality rule; Texas requires written client permission for voluntary disclosure (22 Tex. Admin. Code § 501.75). If your firm is also a registered investment adviser, Regulation S-P limits disclosing customers' nonpublic personal information to nonaffiliated third parties (Reg S-P).
What could be in scope
- Firm-authored model templates with no client numbers.
- Engagement playbooks and onboarding checklists.
- Internal training and knowledge-base content.
Size
Mode lists minimum team sizes of 10+ employees for legal, 15+ for accounting, medical and finance, and 50+ for all other businesses, for companies based in the US, Canada, the UK or Australia with several years of records they own (Mode).
| Industry (U.S. firms, 2022) | All firms | 15+ staff | 30+ staff | 50+ staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting, tax prep, bookkeeping & payroll (NAICS 5412) | 120,085 | 8,067 | 3,808 | 2,368 |
| Management consulting services (NAICS 54161) | 170,373 | 10,257 | 5,831 | 3,945 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Statistics of U.S. Businesses 2022, detailed employment sizes. Firms (enterprises) by paid employees; contractors are not counted. Each column sums the Census size classes at or above that size.
Before you call a buyer
This is general information, not legal advice. Talk to your own attorney or compliance advisor before you share or license any records.
What could your company's records be worth?
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Frequently asked questions
Is a non-CPA advisory firm 'accounting' for Mode?
Ask Mode. If it's treated as consulting, the 50+ rule applies.
Can we license anonymized forecasts?
Client numbers are client information even without names. Keep them out unless counsel approves.
Sources
- 22 Tex. Admin. Code § 501.75, Confidential Client Communications (Cornell LII)law.cornell.edu
- 17 CFR Part 248, Subpart A (Regulation S-P) (Cornell LII)law.cornell.edu
- Mode / BizBuyData referral pagebizbuydata.com
- U.S. Census Bureau, Statistics of U.S. Businesses 2022, detailed employment sizeswww2.census.gov
Referral-fee disclosure: we may be paid by a program if your company signs with it after using this site. General information only, not legal advice.
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