Why are FP&A consultants well placed to spot companies that fit?
FP&A consultants build and maintain the planning cycle for a company: the annual budget, the rolling forecast, the monthly variance review and the board package. That work means seeing years of planning history, the systems that feed it and the people who own each number. A consultant who knows where a client's planning records live, and how far back they go, can tell quickly whether the company might qualify for a data licensing introduction.
This page is for independent and boutique FP&A consultants and small practices. It covers which clients to screen, when in the planning calendar to raise the idea, how to introduce a company without sharing any model or file, and how rewards work.
Which FP&A clients are worth screening?
Plan-and-forecast engagements reveal the signals that matter. Look at the structure of the client, not the sophistication of its models.
| Signal | What you see in an FP&A engagement | Why AI labs and data users may care |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 50+ full-time employees at peak (contractors excluded) | Enough activity to generate connected records |
| Planning history | Several annual cycles with versions and variance commentary | Shows forecasts, actuals and explanations over time |
| System breadth | ERP, CRM, billing, HRIS, planning tool, BI, ticketing and operational systems feeding the plan | Connected systems show full workflows |
| Decision trail | Reforecast notes, scenario approvals, board-package commentary | Reasoning and outcomes, not only numbers |
| Rights | The company created the records and its contracts allow licensing | Clean rights are a precondition for any deal |
B2B software, IT services, professional services, engineering, logistics and distribution companies often screen well, but how the work is recorded matters more than industry.
The 3-question planning screen
Use three questions in a normal scoping or review call. If any answer is a clear no, move on.
- ☐History: do you have several planning cycles saved, including prior versions and commentary, or does each year overwrite the last?
- ☐Exports: if the planning or finance platform were retired, could someone still export the archives?
- ☐Sponsor: who is the owner, CEO, CFO or authorized representative who would decide on a license?
Two yeses and a named sponsor justify a closer look with the company fit checker, a preliminary, non-binding screen that asks for no contact details.
When in the planning calendar should you raise it?
The idea lands best when leadership is already reviewing systems and new sources of cash.
| Planning moment | Why it works | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Budget kickoff | Owners are considering next year's revenue and costs | Is there any non-operating income worth modeling? |
| Mid-year reforecast | Priorities are being revisited | Which systems will we retire or replace this year? |
| Planning tool migration | Old versions are about to be archived or lost | Who owns exports of historical plans before the cutover? |
| Board or lender package | Leadership explains the asset base | Do we want to describe our records as an asset? |
| Post-close of an acquisition | Two sets of planning history now exist | Where do the acquired company's records go? |
| Year-end close | Finance reviews one-time items | How would a one-time payment be treated? |
The migration row is the most time-sensitive. Planning archives are often the first casualty of a platform change, so an early conversation preserves options. See the page on accounting technology consultants for the migration angle from the systems side.
How does the introduction work without sharing models?
You do not open a model, export a file or describe numbers. The process is:
- You register as a partner and share your referral link, or submit the company with the referral form.
- SourceX qualifies the company on size, history, data breadth and rights, speaking with the authorized sponsor.
- The company completes a data inventory: each system, its years of history and what can be exported.
- Price and terms are agreed with the company before anything goes to buyers. Nothing is binding until the company signs.
- SourceX completes its final review; once the company is deal-ready, SourceX typically responds within about two weeks.
- After an executed agreement and the company's authorization, data is delivered under agreed redaction rules and the company is paid. A reward becomes payable after SourceX has paid the referred company under its signed agreement and the payout conditions in the program terms are met, including finance approval and your tax and payment details.
Planning models often contain a client's confidential assumptions. Keep your own working files and templates out of the conversation entirely; they are yours or your client's, not part of the opportunity.
What to say to a CFO or owner
"While we built the forecast I noticed you have years of plans, actuals and reforecast notes across several systems. Some companies your size license operational records to SourceX for a one-time payment, keep ownership, approve the scope and terms, and sign before any data is delivered. Worth a short screen to see if it fits?"
If the answer is lukewarm, leave a one-line follow-up after the next close and move on.
How do rewards work for an FP&A consultant?
Partners earn 25% of the compensation SourceX actually pays the company you refer, capped at $100,000 per referred company. A reward becomes payable after SourceX has paid the referred company under its signed agreement and the payout conditions in the program terms are met, including finance approval and your tax and payment details. A lead, meeting or signed agreement alone does not trigger payment, and no reward is guaranteed. It is calculated on the actual supplier payout and is never deducted from what the company receives.
If you hold a professional license, or your engagement terms or independence commitments restrict referral compensation, check those rules before registering. The program terms and rewards page set out the current details.
What other consultants cover similar ground?
Neighboring roles see different slices. ERP consultants see implementation and archive decisions, and management consultants see strategy and operating reviews. Finance-specific background includes the questions on costs to fulfill a contract under ASC 340-40, whether company data is collateral under a blanket lien and whether a license is subject to sales tax. For when to bring it up in an owner meeting, use the year-end tax planning meeting guide. This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice; clients should confirm with their own advisers.
When not to bother
Skip the introduction when:
- The company is under the size baseline or has only a short operating history.
- Each year's plan overwrites the last and no archive exists.
- Planning data is mostly the client's customers' confidential information.
- The company has already licensed the same records for AI training.
- No one with authority will consider an exclusive license.
Next step
Run the three questions on your next engagement. If a client passes, register as a partner, or have the owner apply directly at sourcex.si/apply with your referral link. Check who qualifies first if you are unsure.