R&D Study - California Startups
Your California Startup is Probably Leaving $500,000 in the Table Every Year.
If your startup pays engineers, contractors, or cloud computing costs to develop software or technology, you almost certainly qualify for the R&D tax credit - and a California R&D tax credit study is the only way to claim it accurately. Most California founders never claim it. We do the study. You get the credit. Up to $500,000 in refundable credits annually, at 0.75% of Qualified Research Expenses - lower than what most competitors charge.
Up to $500,000 in refundable R&D credits annually
Federal and California state R&D study included
AI-enabled software keeps costs lower than competitors
Audit-ready documentation - Audit ready reports
Qualifying expenses include payroll, contractors, and compute
Coordinated with your federal income tax filing
No commitment. Pay after filing - not before
R&D Study
0.75%
of Qualified Research Expenses
Everything Included
✓ Federal R&D tax credit study
✓ California state R&D credit study
✓ All qualifying expenses identified
✓ Audit-ready documentation package
✓ AI-enabled expense tracking software
✓ Coordination with income tax filing
✓ IRS support if credit is questioned
The Opportunity
Most California Tech Startups Qualify.
Most Never Claim It.
We conduct R&D studies for startups across California - remotely, with full documentation. Select your city for local ecosystem context and industry-specific R&D qualification guidance.
Federal R&D Credit - Up to $500,000/year
California R&D Credit - 15% of Qualifying Expenses
Qualifying Expenses: Payroll, Contractors, Compute, Supplies
Audit-Ready Documentation
AI-Enabled Software - Lower Cost Than Competitors
Where We Serve
R&D Study Services Across California
We conduct R&D studies for startups across California - remotely, with full documentation.
Select your city for local ecosystem context and industry-specific R&D qualification guidance.
Now Serving
Riverside
Inland Empire startup hub. Home to ExCITE Riverside, UC Riverside, and a growing cleantech and AI ecosystem.
Coming Soon
San Diego
Biotech, defense tech, and SaaS hub. Home to Techstars San Diego and UC San Diego spin-offs.
Coming Soon
Los Angeles
Media tech, fintech, and consumer startups. One of the largest startup ecosystems in the U.S.
Coming Soon
Sacramento
State capital and growing tech hub. Home to a strong govtech, cleantech, and agtech startup scene.
Coming Soon
San Francisco
AI, SaaS, and deep tech. Home to Y Combinator and the highest startup density in the U.S.
Critial Reminders
Three Things Every California Startup Must Know About R&D Credits
The R&D credit is powerful - but it has rules that trip up founders every year. These are the most common and most costly mistakes we see.
01
You Must File on Time to Claim the Federal Credit
The refundable R&D credit is only available to startups that file their federal income tax return on time. A late filing means you lose the credit for that year - no exceptions, no appeals.
02
Prior Year Credits Can Be Recovered - Up to 3 Years Back
If you missed R&D credits in prior years, you can amend your returns and claim them retroactively - typically up to 3 years back. Many founders switching from a legacy local CPA recover significant credits from prior years.
03
Pre-Revenue Startups Benefit Most From the Credit
The federal R&D credit offsets your payroll tax liability - meaning you get cash back even with zero taxable income. The earlier you start claiming, the more you recover over your startup's lifetime.
Common Questions
R&D FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Does my California startup qualify for the R&D tax credit?
If your startup pays engineers, contractors, or cloud computing costs to build software, hardware, or technology, you very likely qualify. The credit covers payroll for technical employees, contractor fees, cloud computing costs, and research-related supplies. The activity does not need to be groundbreaking - it just needs to involve technical uncertainty and experimentation. Pre-revenue startups qualify. Startups operating at a loss qualify. The federal credit is refundable against payroll taxes for qualifying startups, meaning you get cash back even with zero taxable income.
How much can my California startup claim in R&D credits?
Federal: up to $500,000 per year in refundable payroll tax credits under the PATH Act. California: 15% of Qualified Research Expenses, which carries forward indefinitely and offsets future California tax liability. The combined federal and state credit can be substantial - a startup with $1,000,000 in qualifying expenses could claim $75,000 federally and $150,000 in California credits. We identify every qualifying expense in the study so nothing is left on the table.
What does the R&D tax credit study actually include?
A complete federal and California state R&D study with audit-ready documentation - technical narratives, employee time allocations, contractor breakdowns, and supporting records built to IRS standards. We use AI-enabled expense tracking software to identify qualifying expenses accurately and keep our cost lower than competitors. The study is coordinated directly with your income tax filing so the credit is properly claimed on your return.
How much does the R&D tax credit study cost?
Our fee is 0.75% of your Qualified Research Expenses. Most firms charge 2-5% of QREs - our AI-enabled process keeps costs significantly lower without cutting corners. There is no upfront fee. You pay after the study is complete. No binding contract.
Can my startup claim R&D credits for prior years?
Yes - you can amend returns and claim credits retroactively for up to 3 years back. Many founders who never claimed the credit in prior years recover significant amounts through amended returns. If you have been paying engineers and contractors for the past few years and never filed an R&D study, that is money already earned that has not been collected yet.
Does the R&D credit work if my California startup has no taxable income?
Yes. This is one of the most misunderstood aspects of the credit. The federal R&D credit offsets your payroll tax liability - not your income tax - which means qualifying startups get cash back even with zero revenue or zero taxable income. The earlier you start claiming, the more you recover over your startup's lifetime. California's credit carries forward indefinitely, so even if you cannot use it immediately it does not disappear.
Find Out What You Have Been Missing
Most California Startups Qualify.
Find Out in One Free Call.
We review your startup's activities and tell you straight whether you qualify and what your credit could look like. No commitment, no study fee until we find something worth claiming.
0.75% of Qualified Research Expenses. Free first call.