---
title: "FirstPass Memo vs BuildScore"
url: https://firstpassmemo.com/guides/firstpass-vs-buildscore
updated: 2026-10-16
publisher: FirstPass Memo (hello@firstpassmemo.com)
---

Comparison

# FirstPass Memo vs BuildScore: which fits your deal?

Short answer: BuildScore sells analyst-prepared due-diligence audits for micro-SaaS acquisitions: a $499 Financial Audit, a $1,499 Full Audit with codebase review, a $3,597 three-deal bundle and a $299-a-month membership, delivered 48 hours after data access is confirmed. FirstPass is a free 33-rule listing checker plus a $79 first-pass memo paid after delivery, built to screen listings before you contact the seller.

Updated 16 October 2026 · Prices and features taken from BuildScore's own public pages on 16 October 2026 · By Joan Murphy (https://firstpassmemo.com/about/joan-murphy/) (pen name) · How we check (https://firstpassmemo.com/methodology/) · Corrections (https://firstpassmemo.com/editorial-policy/)

## Check a listing now, free

FirstPass Memo offers a free red-flag checker for business-for-sale listings and a $79 first-pass memo on a specific listing you send, paid after delivery. Paste any listing below for payback, the asking multiple and its red flags. Nothing you paste leaves your browser. Open the full checker (https://firstpassmemo.com/checker/) to unlock every flag with its seller question.

## What does BuildScore offer, and at what price?

BuildScore sells analyst-prepared due-diligence audits for micro-SaaS acquisitions: a $499 Financial Audit, a $1,499 Full Audit with codebase review, a $3,597 three-deal bundle and a $299-a-month membership, delivered 48 hours after data access is confirmed. BuildScore's page says it is operated by Three Dials, Inc., and that refunds are available within 7 days if it cannot deliver a report.

## How do they compare?

FirstPass and BuildScore, as listed on 16 October 2026

| Option | Price | Works from | What you get |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| FirstPass red-flag checker | Free, no sign-up | Listing text you paste | 33 published rules in your browser: payback, multiple vs comparables, flags with seller questions |
| FirstPass Memo | $79, free to request, paid after delivery | The public listing plus your criteria | Every flag ranked, payback sensitivity, ranked seller questions; within 24 hours (Mon–Fri) |
| BuildScore: Financial Audit | $499 | Stripe and bank data access | Revenue verification, churn benchmarking, unit economics |
| BuildScore: Full Audit | $1,499 | Data, code and analytics access | 9-signal report incl. codebase review, customer interview scoring, risk register |
| BuildScore: Portfolio Membership | $299 a month | As above | Unlimited red-flag screenings, 2 Financial Audits a month, 20% off Full Audits |

## Which should you use?

BuildScore verifies against the seller's accounts, which FirstPass does not. Use FirstPass to decide which micro-SaaS listing deserves a $499–$1,499 audit; use BuildScore (or similar) on the one you intend to buy.

Whatever you use, nothing that reads only the listing verifies it. Before money moves, check revenue at the source (read-only Stripe, analytics, platform dashboards).

## FAQ

### Is FirstPass a free alternative to BuildScore?

For the first screen, yes: the checker is free with no account. It does not replace a report built from the seller's own data; it helps you decide which listing deserves one.

### Is FirstPass affiliated with BuildScore?

No. We are independent and earn nothing if you buy from BuildScore. Spotted an error on this page? Email hello@firstpassmemo.com and we will correct it.

FirstPass Memo is independent and not affiliated with BuildScore. We wrote this page about a competitor, so check the sources yourself; prices and features may change. General information, not advice.

## Sources

- BuildScore, home page and pricing, https://www.buildscore.co/ (https://www.buildscore.co/), read 16 October 2026.

More comparisons: all due-diligence tools compared (https://firstpassmemo.com/guides/due-diligence-tools-compared).

## Looking at a specific listing? Get a full memo — $79, pay after delivery.

Paste the link; your memo arrives within 24 hours (Mon–Fri). $79, pay after delivery: we send the memo first, then a payment link. Human quick reviews cost $199–$390.

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FirstPass Memo is informational screening, not investment, legal, tax, accounting or valuation advice, and not an audit. Seller figures are not independently verified. HTML version: https://firstpassmemo.com/guides/firstpass-vs-buildscore