In one paragraph
Maven Cost Segregation 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. Maven is a tax-advisory firm whose in-house certified engineers and CPAs run two formats: a condensed study (no site visit) and a full detailed study with an on-site engineer inspection, with a typical turnaround around 15 to 20 business days and a rush option. Cost Seg Smart's studies are automated and done for you from satellite imagery, county assessor records, and structured property data, with internal technical review and QC, delivered in under one hour starting at $495. Maven may be the better fit when you want a named in-house engineer-and-CPA pairing or an on-site detailed study on a larger or unusual property. Cost Seg Smart may be the better fit for residential, STR, small multifamily, 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.
Maven Cost Segregation: overview
Maven Cost Segregation (mavencostseg.com) positions itself as a tax-advisory firm with an in-house team of certified engineers and CPAs. It offers a condensed study that eliminates the on-site visit to lower cost and turnaround, and a full detailed engineering study that includes an on-site inspection. Reported turnaround is roughly 15 to 20 business days for the full study, with a rush option in some seasons, and audit support is included. The methodology and Rev. Proc. 87-56 MACRS framework are the same ones Cost Seg Smart uses. The differences are turnaround, the labor model, and study cost, not the underlying engineering.
At a glance
| Dimension | Cost Seg Smart | Maven Cost Segregation |
|---|---|---|
| Study fee | From $495 | Quoted per property (confirm with vendor) |
| Turnaround | Under 1 hour (simple residential) | ~15 to 20 business days (rush option) |
| Site visit | No (remote observation) | Optional (condensed: no; full: yes) |
| Who does the work | Automated pipeline + internal technical review & QC | In-house engineers + CPAs |
| Methodology | industry-standard construction cost data + MACRS per Rev. Proc. 87-56 | construction cost data + MACRS per Rev. Proc. 87-56 |
| Form 3115 lookback | Included | Supported |
| Best fit | Residential / STR / small MF / small commercial | Larger or unusual properties wanting named engineer + CPA |
Maven pricing is quoted per property and is not published as a fixed table; confirm current pricing and scope directly with Maven.
Methodology overlap (both firms)
The technical machinery is the same at both firms. Both use:
- Industry-standard construction cost data, component-level cost basis with regional multipliers, calibrated to the property's market.
- MACRS classification per Rev. Proc. 87-56, the asset class lives that determine 5-, 7-, 15-, 27.5-, or 39-year recovery periods (incorporated into IRS Pub. 946 Appendix B).
- IRS Cost Segregation Audit Techniques Guide (Pub 5653), the 13-element quality framework that defines a defensible study.
- Form 3115 §481(a) lookback support, for properties owned 2+ years without a prior study.
- A reviewed deliverable: Maven pairs in-house engineers with CPAs; Cost Seg Smart adds internal technical review and QC confirming the methodology was applied correctly.
When Cost Seg Smart may be a better fit
- Residential and small-commercial properties where speed and study cost decide the ROI. On a $400K STR, an under-one-hour study from $495 preserves the Year-1 benefit that a multi-week engagement and higher fee can erode.
- Speed-sensitive filings. If your CPA needs the schedule for a return already in extension, a 60-minute turnaround beats a 15 to 20 business-day cycle.
- Self-serve, no scheduling. No engineer visit to coordinate; upload closing docs and photos online.
When Maven Cost Segregation may be a better fit
- You want a named engineer-and-CPA pairing. If having an in-house engineer and CPA assigned to your file matters to you, Maven's model is built for that relationship.
- Larger or unusual properties. A full detailed on-site study can add accuracy where construction is unusual or not fully reflected in public data.
- You want a human-reviewed condensed study with a rush option. Maven's condensed format plus rush turnaround is a middle ground between full engineering and automation.
How to decide
Three questions, in order:
- Is the property large or unusual enough that on-site engineering judgment changes the schedule? Then Maven's full detailed study is worth it.
- Do you specifically want a named in-house engineer and CPA assigned to your file? Then Maven.
- Otherwise (residential, STR, small MF, small commercial, speed-sensitive)? Then Cost Seg Smart: same methodology, lower study fee, faster turnaround.
To see the math on a specific property, our free calculator gives a Year-1 estimate in 30 seconds. Methodology details are at /methodology/; pricing tiers 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. Maven Cost Segregation 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.