{"id":"search-fin-vendor-claims-proof-questions","audience":"finance","category":"ai-search","track":"research","technique":"verification","title":"Write questions that test a vendor's financial claims","free":false,"task":"A deep-research tool summarized Ledgerlight, an accounts-payable software vendor you might sign a 3-year deal with. Write exactly 4 numbered questions to send the vendor, one per claim in order, each starting with What, Which or How and asking for a specific document (like audited financials, a SOC 2 report or a customer list). The question about claim 4 must point out its only source is a 2021 press release. Plain text, under 110 words.","materialLabel":"The deep-research summary (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"DEEP-RESEARCH SUMMARY: \"Ledgerlight - vendor check\"\n\n1. Ledgerlight is profitable and growing. (Source: Ledgerlight CEO interview, podcast, 2026)\n\n2. Ledgerlight has a SOC 2 Type II report. (Source: Ledgerlight security page, \"SOC 2 compliant\" badge)\n\n3. Over 2,000 finance teams use Ledgerlight. (Source: Ledgerlight homepage)\n\n4. The company raised $40 million and has a long cash runway. (Source: press release, 2021)\n\nConclusion: \"Ledgerlight is a financially stable, secure vendor.\"\n\nOur notes:\n- Contract is 3 years, prepaid annually, about $36,000/year\n- Procurement policy: vendors over $25k/year need proof of financial stability and security\n- Controller wants the questions by Nov 12","rules":[{"type":"numberedItems","count":4},{"type":"maxWords","max":110},{"type":"plainText"}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Asking \"are you stable?\"","why":"The vendor says yes and you've proved nothing.","fix":"Say: \"Each question asks for a specific document.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"One question for everything","why":"The AI asks one broad due-diligence question, so the weakest claims hide.","fix":"Add: \"One question per claim, in order.\"","checks":["r0","numberedItems"]},{"title":"Missing the old source","why":"The AI doesn't notice the money claim rests on a 2021 press release.","fix":"Add: \"Point out claim 4's source is from 2021.\"","checks":["r2"]},{"title":"Trusting the AI to count words","why":"AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it.","fix":"Cap each question: \"each under 25 words.\"","checks":["maxWords"]},{"title":"Getting markdown back","why":"AI defaults to bold labels and headings, which look messy when you paste them.","fix":"Ask for \"plain text, no bold.\"","checks":["plainText"]}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Asks for documents","patterns":["document","audited","soc ?2 report","financial statements"]},{"label":"One per claim","patterns":["one per claim","each claim","\\b(4|four)\\b.{0,20}question"]},{"label":"Flags the 2021 source","patterns":["2021","press release"]},{"label":"Bans yes/no questions","patterns":["yes.?or.?no","yes/no","open"]},{"label":"Asks for plain text","patterns":["plain","no bold","no markdown"]}],"hint":"A badge or a podcast quote isn't proof. Ask for questions that make the vendor hand over documents.","rubricLabels":["There are 4 questions, one per claim in order (profitable and growing, SOC 2 Type II, 2,000 teams, $40 million raised and runway), and each starts with What, Which or How","Each question asks for a specific document (for example audited or recent financial statements, the full SOC 2 Type II report with its date, a customer count or references), and none can be answered with just yes or no","The question about claim 4 points out its only source is a 2021 press release and asks for current proof of cash or runway"]}