Data Broker
A B2B data broker is a company that collects, aggregates, packages, and sells business contact and firmographic data — including names, titles, emails, phones, company information, and intent signals — to marketers, sales organizations, and recruiters as the upstream supply of most B2B lead inventory.
Why This Matters
B2B data brokers are the upstream supply of most B2B lead inventory. Major brokers: Dun & Bradstreet (largest, oldest, most accurate, expensive), ZoomInfo (publicly traded, comprehensive contact + intent), Apollo (lower-cost integrated platform), Cognism (international focus, strong EU coverage), Lusha (LinkedIn-focused enrichment). Brokers face increasing regulatory scrutiny — GDPR, CCPA, Vermont's data broker registry, and proposed federal frameworks all impose disclosure and opt-out obligations. For B2B buyers, data quality and compliance representations from your vendor matter more than ever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the largest B2B data broker?
ZoomInfo (publicly traded NASDAQ:ZI, largest pure-play B2B data company), Dun & Bradstreet (oldest, most established, deepest enterprise records), and Experian (strong consumer + business data) lead the market. Specialty brokers cover specific niches (Cognism for EU, Apollo for SMB, Lusha for LinkedIn enrichment).
How do I evaluate B2B data broker quality?
Run sample test (100-500 records), measure: contact accuracy (correct person at correct company), data freshness (recency of last verification), field completeness (required fields populated), email deliverability (bounce rates), and per-record cost relative to alternatives. Walk away from any broker who can't disclose data sources or refresh cadence.