Let’s say I have got an experimental machine that can predict appointment of liquidators. I have all the info it needs and for practical purposes it produces a brown envelope with a list inside it of firms that will go bust in a certain time period say 3,6 months or a year.

I want to sell those predictions to insolvency lawyers so they can get in before the competition. I think that’s ethical because it is good for the struggling company to seek help early. I am tinkering with how many months to predict in advance. Three questions.

1. How far in advance is the sweet spot? Too early the person won’t think they need help. Too late and another firm has the business or they’ve done something illegal and made it worse. Other factors may be pertinent, happy to be educated.

2. How much could I charge insolvency lawyers for the info? What fee models might be attractive? Commission? Flat fee? Exclusivity?

3. I figure construction and manufacturing are good sectors because they have plant to sell is that right?