In one paragraph
Cost Segregation Guys and Cost Seg Smart both produce IRS ATG-aligned engineered cost segregation studies using industry-standard construction cost data and MACRS classification per Rev. Proc. 87-56. Cost Segregation Guys runs an engineering-based study with a flat fee agreed before work begins and a workflow designed to coordinate with the owner's accountant, with full audit support; on larger or complex properties the engineering fee scales, and an on-site visit or missing-records recreation can add cost. Cost Seg Smart's studies are automated and done for you, with internal technical review and QC, delivered in under one hour starting at $495. Cost Segregation Guys may be the better fit for larger or complex commercial work or owners who want a flat-fee human engineering engagement coordinated with their accountant. Cost Seg Smart may be the better fit for residential and small-commercial where speed and study cost decide the ROI.
Disclosure: Cost Seg Smart operates this comparison and is one of the firms compared here. See the methodology page for our standalone documentation.
Cost Segregation Guys: overview
Cost Segregation Guys (costsegregationguys.com) is an engineering-based cost segregation firm that quotes a flat fee agreed before the work begins, with full audit support and a workflow built to coordinate with the owner's accountant. Pricing depends on property type, value, and the depth of engineering required; large buildings such as hotels, industrial, and healthcare properties can run into five figures, and an on-site visit or recreation of missing blueprints and records can add fees. The underlying methodology and Rev. Proc. 87-56 MACRS framework are the same ones Cost Seg Smart uses; the differences are the labor model, turnaround, and study cost.
At a glance
| Dimension | Cost Seg Smart | Cost Segregation Guys |
|---|---|---|
| Study fee | From $495 | Flat fee quoted per property (confirm with vendor) |
| Turnaround | Under 1 hour (simple residential) | Multi-week (engineering engagement) |
| Site visit | No (remote observation) | Sometimes (may add travel fee) |
| Accountant coordination | CPA-ready report + CPA portal | Workflow built around accountant coordination |
| Methodology | industry-standard construction cost data + MACRS per Rev. Proc. 87-56 | engineering-based, construction cost data + MACRS |
| Form 3115 lookback | Included | Supported |
| Best fit | Residential / STR / small MF / small commercial | Larger or complex commercial; accountant-coordinated |
Methodology overlap (both firms)
Both firms produce reports addressing the same IRS quality framework:
- Industry-standard construction cost data with regional cost multipliers.
- MACRS classification per Rev. Proc. 87-56 (see IRS Pub. 946 Appendix B).
- IRS Cost Segregation Audit Techniques Guide (Pub 5653) 13-element framework.
- Form 3115 §481(a) lookback schedules for properties owned 2+ years.
- A reviewed deliverable with audit support at both firms.
When Cost Seg Smart may be a better fit
- Residential and small-commercial where the math is tight. A flat engineering fee can consume the Year-1 benefit on a $300K to $700K property; an under-one-hour study from $495 preserves it.
- Speed-sensitive filings. 60-minute turnaround vs. a multi-week engagement.
- No site visit, no scheduling. Upload docs and photos online; no travel fees.
When Cost Segregation Guys may be a better fit
- Larger or complex commercial. Hotels, industrial, and healthcare properties benefit from deeper engineering calculations and, where useful, an on-site visit.
- You want a flat fee fixed before work begins. If a single upfront flat fee with full audit support is the structure you prefer, that is their model.
- Tight accountant coordination. Their workflow is built to coordinate with your accountant through the engagement.
How to decide
- Is the property large or complex (hotel, industrial, healthcare, unusual construction)? Then a human engineering engagement like Cost Segregation Guys fits well.
- Do you want a single flat fee fixed upfront with hands-on accountant coordination? Then Cost Segregation Guys.
- Otherwise (residential, STR, small MF, small commercial, speed-sensitive)? Then Cost Seg Smart.
See the math on a specific property with our free calculator. Methodology at /methodology/; pricing at /cheap-cost-segregation/; the full firm landscape at best cost segregation companies.
Last reviewed: June 2026. Maintained by the Cost Seg Smart Editorial Team. Cost Segregation Guys is a trademark of its respective holder. No affiliation. This comparison is informational; both firms produce IRS ATG-aligned engineered cost segregation studies. Confirm pricing and scope directly with each vendor.