Look for a specific advantage
Distinctive expertise, hard-to-observe events, reliable outcomes and well-connected history can make a collection useful. Consider what the buyer could learn or evaluate that public material does not already provide. A rare category is not automatically valuable if its records cannot support a usable task.
Separate usable scope from raw size
Exclude duplicates, automated noise, inaccessible files and records you cannot share. Note missing periods and changes in systems. Report both the original collection and the smaller eligible subset so the buyer can understand the difference.
Treat a price as a negotiated outcome
Rights, exclusivity, delivery work, permitted uses and current buyer priorities all affect an offer. Do not multiply a headline transaction by your employee count. A preliminary estimate should expose assumptions and uncertainty rather than imply a guaranteed payout.
Practical guidance, not legal advice or a buyer specification. Examples are illustrative. Reviewed October 20, 2026.