Home » Our Fees

Our Fees

Our Fees Explained | A Transparent and Conservative Approach

Reflecting on our conservative philosophy, Swanson Reed is committed to transparent fee structures that mitigate risk. We prioritize hourly or fixed-fee engagements because a contingency model creates an incentive to maximize claim values, a motivation that directly conflicts with our conservative approach to claim preparation and risk management.

While fixed fees is our standard practice, we can offer contingency fees in limited circumstances for experienced clients who fully understand the risks involved in the R&D claims process.  In these cases we will apply a separate risk policy, per the guidelines of our ISO:31000-Risk Management accreditation (see table below), and where relevant ‘chinese walls’ or virtual barriers that will apply to all staff involved in the revelant claim, to ensure each is focused on their own specific tasks and that the contingency arrangement is not causing any conflict.

Software Development Claim | Fee Example | R&D Tax Credit Review

• The Project: A tech startup is creating a new mobile app that uses a proprietary algorithm to analyze user data in real-time and provide personalized financial advice.
• The Uncertainty: The team isn’t sure how to process the massive volume of data in real-time on a mobile device without causing significant battery drain or performance issues. They try multiple different data compression techniques and processing architectures, with many failed experiments and iterations.
• The Claim: The company can claim the R&D tax credit for the time and costs associated with the experimentation, testing, and development of the new algorithm and its implementation to overcome the technical uncertainty.
•  Job Scope:  This client has prepared their own claim and wants a 3rd party review.  The client hired one of Swanson Reed’s consultant to review their claim for 2 hours.
• The Fees:  $195 x 2 hours = $390

Food & Beverage Claim | Fee Example | R&D Tax Credit Audit Request for Further Information (RFI)

• The Project: A food manufacturer wants to create a new line of protein bars with a longer shelf life without using any artificial preservatives.
• The Uncertainty: The team is uncertain which combination of natural ingredients will allow the product to remain stable and palatable for an extended period. They test various combinations of natural sweeteners, binders, and fruit extracts, experimenting with different ratios and processing methods.
• The Claim: The company can claim the R&D credit for the time spent on formulating, testing, and analyzing the various ingredient combinations and processing techniques to solve the scientific uncertainty of natural preservation.
• Job Scope:  This client has recieved an ATO audit and a AusIndustry review.  They asked a Swanson Reed director to prepare their 4th RFI submission.  In this case, it take 2 hours to prepare the submission.
• The Fees: $395 x 2 hours = $790

Manufacturing & Engineering Claim | Fee Example | R&D Tax Credit Technical Consulting Assistance

• The Project: An engineering firm is designing a new type of lightweight drone for commercial delivery.
• The Uncertainty: The team is unsure how to design a new wing and motor system that maximizes lift and stability while minimizing weight. They build and test multiple prototypes, conducting a series of aerodynamic experiments and using new composite materials that have never been applied in this way.
• The Claim: The company can claim the costs related to the salaries of the engineers and designers, the materials used for the prototypes, and the expenses for the testing and analysis that was required to resolve the technical uncertainties.
• Job Scope:  This client has asked for one of directors with a professional engineering qualification to conduct a 1hr training session with their engineering team on the AusIndustry and ATO requirements for a success for R&D Tax Incentive claim.
• The Fees: $395 x 1 hour = $395

Our ISO31000 Risk Management Compliance Framework to ensure Fee Transparency and a Conservative Approach

The table below consolidates the key elements of Swanson Reed’s trust and compliance framework, detailing their implications for clients in success fee or.