SR&ED Consultant Fees: What Canadian Founders Actually Pay
Traditional SR&ED consultants charge 15–30% of your refund. On a $200K credit, that's $30K–$60K. Learn what you actually pay, how to negotiate, and when a flat fee makes more sense.
Turn this into a claim-ready next step. Check eligibility, estimate the possible credit, or preview what your CPA would review.
The real cost of consultant fees
Most SR&ED consultants charge on contingency: 15–30% of the credit you receive. This sounds reasonable until you do the math. On a $200,000 refund, that's $30,000–$60,000. On a $500,000 refund, it's $75,000–$150,000.
The fee is taken from money the program was designed to return to your company. Your team did the work. The government is refunding your R&D investment. The consultant is taking a percentage of that refund for preparing the documentation.
How fees compound over time
If you use the same consultant every year, you pay 15–30% of every annual refund — indefinitely. The underlying work was done by your team; the fee compounds as a permanent cost of your R&D program.
A company claiming $150,000 annually at a 25% consultant fee pays $37,500 per year. Over five years: $187,500 in consultant fees. At a flat $299 per year: $1,495 total. The difference — $186,005 — stays in your company.
Ready to turn this into a claim?
Check whether your work qualifies, estimate the possible credit, or preview the package your CPA would review.
More guides
SR&ED Software vs. Consultant — Honest Comparison for Canadian Founders
Compare SR&ED software preparation vs. traditional consultants across pricing, workflow, documentation quality, founder time, accountant handoff, and CRA review readiness.
DocumentationBest SR&ED Software for Canadian Companies in 2026
Compare the best SR&ED software for Canadian businesses. What to look for in claim preparation software, how it differs from consultants, and why fixed-fee beats percentage-of-refund.
Costs & FinancialsCanada SR&ED Tax Credit: Complete Guide for Canadian Businesses
The Canada SR&ED tax credit is the largest federal R&D incentive. Learn how it works, who qualifies, how much you can claim, and how to maximize your refund.
Ready to check if your work qualifies? Take the free eligibility assessment.
Check eligibility — free →