R&D Tax Credit Service

Turn innovation into cash flow.

Most U.S. SMBs that build, test, or improve products and processes qualify for federal and state R&D tax credits — and most leave the money on the table. Opscale Exchange matches you with a vetted R&D specialist, builds a defensible study, and (when you qualify) advances cash against the credit so you don’t have to wait on the IRS.
Start My Intake
See If You Qualify

2-minute intake → matched with a vetted R&D specialist → no upfront cost.

R&D Credit Snapshot

FEDERAL

up to 20% of QREs

FEDERAL

up to 20% of QREs

FEDERAL

up to 20% of QREs

$80B+

Annual federal R&D credits claimed

$50K–$500K

Typical SMB recovery

Up to 4 years

Of credits you can still claim

Who Qualifies

If your team solves technical problems, you probably qualify.

The R&D credit isn’t just for labs and biotech. The IRS defines qualified research broadly: any work to develop or improve a product, process, software, technique, or formulation that involves technical uncertainty and experimentation. That covers a lot more SMBs than most CPAs realize.

Software & SaaS

New features, algorithms, integrations, performance work

Manufacturing

Process improvements, automation, new product development.

Engineering & Architecture

Design optimization, prototyping, materials testing.

Food & Beverage

Formulation, shelf-life, packaging, production scale-up.

Construction

Custom builds, sustainable methods, structural innovation.

Agriculture & Biotech

Crop optimization, breeding programs, lab work.

Activities that count

  • Designing or developing a new product, software feature, or formulation
  • Improving the performance, reliability, or quality of an existing product or process
  • Automating or streamlining an internal process or workflow
  • Engineering work to meet new specifications, regulations, or customer requirements
  • Custom software development for internal or customer-facing use
Start My Free Assessment

2-minute intake → matched with a vetted R&D specialist → no upfront cost.

Why Opscale Exchange

More than a tax filing. A funding strategy.

Generalist CPAs and Big-4 firms can file R&D credits — but few do it well, and none of them solve the cash-flow problem. Opscale Exchange was built to do both.

01

Specialist network, not generalist CPAs

We match you with R&D-focused preparers who do studies every day — not generalists who file one or two a year. The result: bigger, more defensible claims, with documentation that holds up under IRS scrutiny.

02

Defensible studies, audit-ready

Every engagement produces a contemporaneous, IRS-grade study: nexus narratives, QRE schedules, time tracking, technical documentation. If you’re ever examined, the file is already built.

03

Cash on the credit, not just the credit

Only on Opscale Exchange: once your study is complete and qualifying, we can advance cash against your credit so you don’t wait 6–18 months on the IRS. Turn the refund into working capital today.

See If You Qualify
How It Works

Four steps from intake to cash.

1

Quick intake

Tell us about your company, what your team builds, and your last few years of payroll and contractor spend. No financials uploaded yet.

  • ~2 min
2

Specialist match

We pair you with a vetted R&D specialist preparer who has deep experience in your industry. You meet, scope the engagement, and decide whether to proceed.

  • 24–48 hrs
3

Study & filing

Your preparer builds a defensible study and files the credit with your federal and (where applicable) state returns.

  • 4–8 weeks
4

Optional cash advance

If you qualify, Opscale Exchange can advance cash against the credit so you don’t wait on the IRS refund cycle.

  • Optional
R&D Is Often Just The Start

One marketplace. Every working-capital play your SMB needs.

Most founders find us through R&D credits and stay for the rest of the marketplace. Once you’re in, you have access to a vetted network of specialists across every funding lever an SMB has.

ERTC recovery

Recover Employee Retention Credits you may have missed.

Cost segregation

Accelerate depreciation on real estate you own or lease.

SBA & alternative lending

Match with lenders who actually fund your sector and stage.

Equipment financing

Lease-vs-buy structuring with rate comparisons across lenders.

State & local incentives

Jurisdiction-specific grants, abatements, and credits.

State & local incentives

Cash-flow products underwritten on receivables or future credits.

Annual federal R&D credits claimed
$ 0 B+

$50K–$500K

Typical SMB recovery range

Lookback window for prior-year credits
0 Years

4–8 weeks

Average study completion

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions? We have answers.

Does my company actually qualify?

If your team designs, builds, tests, or improves products, software, processes, or formulations and there’s any technical uncertainty involved, you almost certainly qualify for some level of R&D credit. The intake form takes 2 minutes and tells you within 48 hours.

It depends on your qualified research expenses (QREs) — mostly wages, contractor spend, and supplies tied to R&D work. SMBs in our network typically recover between $50K and $500K, with some claiming significantly more after a 3-year lookback.
Yes. You can amend returns for the prior three open tax years and claim credits you didn’t take. For many companies, the first engagement captures four years of credits in one filing.
Yes. You can amend returns for the prior three open tax years and claim credits you didn’t take. For many companies, the first engagement captures four years of credits in one filing.
Nothing upfront. Our preparer partners are paid as a percentage of the credit they successfully claim — meaning they only get paid when you do.

Every study we produce is contemporaneous and audit-ready: nexus narratives, QRE schedules, technical documentation, and time tracking. If you’re examined, the file is already built.

Once your study is complete and we confirm the credit qualifies, Opscale Exchange can advance a portion of the expected refund as working capital — so you don’t wait 6–18 months on the IRS. This is optional; you can also just take the credit and wait.

Become an Opscale Exchange Independent Advisor

Find out what your R&D work is worth.

Most founders find us through R&D credits and stay for the rest of the marketplace. Once you’re in, you have access to a vetted network of specialists across every funding lever an SMB has.

Start My R&D Assessment

2-minute intake → matched with a vetted R&D specialist → no upfront cost.

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Get in Touch

We’d love to hear from you. Whether you have a question, partnership idea, or just want to learn more — our team is here to help.