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 federal and California R&D tax credits. Most California founders never claim them. We do the study. You get the credit.
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 — IRS-proof 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.
Most California startups incorporate in Delaware but operate in California — which means you have filing obligations in both states. Add foreign founders, multi-state payroll, or investor distributions and the complexity compounds fast.
We handle the full picture. One fixed price, no hourly billing, and unlimited support throughout the year. Every question you have between January and December is already covered.
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 Work
Generic Accountants Are Costing California Startups Money.
We built this practice for California founders. Our current focus is Riverside and the Inland Empire - one of California's fastest-growing startup regions, home to UC Riverside's innovation ecosystem, ExCITE Riverside, and a growing base of cleantech, healthtech, and AI companies.
Coming Soon to more California Cities
Critical 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.
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.