Do I need to inspect a research firm’s survey platform subscriptions before buying?
Yes. Subscriptions run the firm’s daily work, so list each one, who holds the account and whether it can transfer to you. Check renewal dates, user limits and what data would be lost if one lapsed. An account in an employee’s name can walk out the door.
A research firm leans on survey tools, analysis software and data services. Ask for a complete list, including what each costs, who pays, who is named on the account and when it renews. Compare the list with the expense records to catch any that are missing.
Then look at transfer. Some subscriptions belong to the company and carry on, others are tied to an individual, and some licence terms restrict changes of ownership. Read the agreements or ask your lawyer to. If the seller or an employee set up an account personally, arrange for it to be moved before closing.
Ask what lives inside each platform. Survey designs, response data and reports may be stored only there. If the account lapses, can you export it? Find out whether anything is on a promotional rate that will rise when the renewal arrives, and whether features the firm depends on are included at the current level. Also ask which tools staff actually use. Paid seats nobody touches may be savings for you, while an unlisted free account may be carrying real work. Count these as part of the working assets you review before signing. Put each renewal date on a shared calendar so nothing lapses in the first months.
Key takeaways
- List every subscription with owner, cost, renewal date and account holder.
- Confirm each can transfer to a new owner, and move personal accounts before closing.
- Check that survey data can be exported if an account ends.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
- 03Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentAfter buying a business, what is the next step?
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