Yes. AI companies buy records from trades businesses, and micro1, Mercor and Handshake AI accept companies in Australia. Published payouts for this kind of company run A$140K to A$710K ($100K to $500K), from micro1's qualified-partnership tier. The Privacy Act covers customer details in job records once a business trades in data, and some platforms' API terms bar AI training on exported data.
What trades business records AI buyers want
simPRO and ServiceM8 job histories are common sources; native exports are safer than API pulls.
The Information reported data companies paying HVAC companies $150,000 for data; micro1 runs a video program for hands-on work at companies with 25+ employees.
| Record | Why buyers want it |
|---|---|
| Work orders and dispatch history | Show how jobs are triaged and scheduled. |
| Technician notes | Diagnostic reasoning in the field. |
| Service agreements and pricing | Encode how work is sold. |
| Video of hands-on work | micro1 runs a separate program for this. |
Source: The Information: Data labeling startups paying HVAC companies $150,000 for data
Which AI data buyers accept Australian trades businesses
Buyers disagree on Australia: some estimators price it with Europe, others with the rest of the world.
| Buyer | Fit for Australia | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| micro1 | Partial fit | Closed companies with 50+ peak staff; operating companies considered case by case; video program for hands-on work at 25+ staff |
| Mercor | Good fit | No specific listing; most listings accept any country; pays by wire on delivery |
| Handshake AI | Possible | No named category; 20+ staff and 3+ years; accepts companies outside the US |
| Turing | Possible | Full operating records up to $1M; strongest demand in the US, UK, Canada and EU |
Published payouts in AUD
Micro1's qualified-partnership tier is the closest published figure for trades businesses, converted to AUD. Larger programs pay more for long, linked histories.
| Published figure | USD | AUD |
|---|---|---|
| micro1, qualified partnership | $100K to $500K | A$140K to A$710K |
| micro1, large-scale datasets | $500K to $2M | A$710K to A$2.8M |
| Handshake AI, advertised range | $100K to $4M+ | A$140K to A$5.7M+ |
Australian rules for trades businesses
The Privacy Act covers customer details in job records once a business trades in data, and some platforms' API terms bar AI training on exported data.
Any personal data left in the records falls under Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles; the Australian privacy steps apply to every industry. Before anything leaves, exclude:
- Homeowner names, addresses and payment details.
- Data exported through platform APIs whose terms bar AI training.
- Technician personal data.
What do AI companies pay for work orders and service records?
Detailed technician notes are the valuable part, because they record diagnosis and repair decisions. Bare job tickets with only dates and prices are worth much less.
Our guide covers this in depth: Can a company sell work orders and service records for AI training?.
US tax on the license fee
For Australia: 5% with a treaty form (W-8BEN-E).
Source: IRS: Tax treaty tables
Common questions
Do AI companies buy trades business data in Australia?
Yes. micro1, Mercor, Handshake AI and Turing accept companies in Australia. simPRO and ServiceM8 job histories are common sources; native exports are safer than API pulls.
How much do AI companies pay for trades business data?
Published payouts for this kind of company run A$140K to A$710K ($100K to $500K), from micro1's qualified-partnership tier, with larger tiers for big or unique datasets. Actual offers depend on your records and rights.
Is it legal for a trades business in Australia to sell company data?
The Privacy Act covers customer details in job records once a business trades in data, and some platforms' API terms bar AI training on exported data.
What do AI companies pay for work orders and service records?
Detailed technician notes are the valuable part, because they record diagnosis and repair decisions. Bare job tickets with only dates and prices are worth much less.
Sources and further reading
Origin Data Partners is independent and not affiliated with any buyer named on this page.