Short answer: Payroll data itself (Social Security numbers, bank accounts, wages, garnishments) should stay out. A payroll company could look at licensing its own operating records. Census counts 998 U.S. payroll-service firms with 30+ employees; ask Mode whether it treats payroll as accounting (15+) or as another industry (50+).
On this page
Why payroll data is out
Payroll records combine identity numbers, bank details and pay for every client employee. Mode says health records, payment card data and children's data are excluded, and that its AI customer is contractually barred from trying to identify anyone in the data (Mode affiliate FAQ). You likely also hold this data under client contracts that limit its use to providing payroll services.
What could be in scope
- Support-ticket workflows with employee data removed.
- Implementation playbooks and onboarding checklists.
- Product and process documentation.
- Sales and CRM records about client companies (check the contracts).
Size and fit
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). micro1 asks for 30+ employees, mostly English data, and says it is prioritizing US companies (micro1).
| Industry (U.S. firms, 2022) | All firms | 15+ staff | 30+ staff | 50+ staff | 100+ staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll services (NAICS 541214) | 4,484 | 1,435 | 998 | 731 | 491 |
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?
Answer 6 questions. See the published range for a company like yours and which program fits. Takes about a minute.
Frequently asked questions
Do clients' employees have a say?
Their data is personal information under privacy laws and your client contracts. Keep it out.
Is a payroll processor an 'accounting' firm?
Census puts payroll services in NAICS 5412 with accountants. Mode's category rules are its own, so ask.
Sources
- Mode / BizBuyData referral pagebizbuydata.com
- Mode affiliate FAQ (PDF, dated Oct 14, 2026)bizbuydata.com
- micro1 company referral pagemicro1.ai
- 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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