DIY R&D Agent Kit
A starting template for an in-house R&D tax credit agent. You set it up and run it, with our guidance, which makes it the lowest-cost route if you have someone technical to do the work.
What the kit is
The DIY kit is a ready-made starting point for the R&D Tax Credit AI agent. Instead of building from nothing, you receive a template that already has the structure of the agent: the modules for capturing evidence, screening activities, costing and drafting forms. You configure it for your systems and projects, and you run it yourself. We provide guidance along the way. It is the route for businesses that want control, and that have a person who is comfortable with technical set-up.
Because it starts from a working base, it costs less and begins sooner than a custom build. The trade-off is that you do the work, so the kit suits you only if you have the time and the skills to do it.
What is included
Exact contents are confirmed before you buy. Contact us for pricing.
- An agent template with the capture, screening, costing and drafting modules.
- Set-up guidance for your accounting and work tools.
- A path to move to done-with-you help if you need it.
- Documentation written for someone who is technical but new to the credit.
How it works
- 1
Choose and confirm
We confirm what the kit contains, which of your systems it can connect to and what you will need to provide.
- 2
Set up
You configure the template: connecting systems, listing projects, naming reviewers. We provide guidance at each step.
- 3
Run through the year
The agent captures evidence and costs. Your team adds short notes and your reviewer checks the output.
- 4
Review and file
A licensed CPA or enrolled agent reviews the drafts, and an authorized provider files them.
Best for
- Businesses with someone technical who can configure and run it.
- Firms that want to start small and add modules over time.
- Teams who want control of their own data and how it is used.
- Organizations that already know the credit applies to them and want to document it better.
What you do and what we do
The exact split is confirmed in your quote.
| Task | You | Us |
|---|---|---|
| Configure connections | Do it | Guide you |
| List and name projects | Do it | Advise |
| Review output | Your reviewer | Not involved |
| Fix problems | Do it, with questions answered | Guidance within the agreed scope |
| Move to more help | Ask when you want it | Quote the next level |
A worked example (illustrative)
This scenario is invented. A twelve-person software company has a developer who likes tidy systems and a finance lead who knows about the credit but has never had time to document it. They buy the kit. The developer connects the project tracker and accounting, and lists four projects. In the first month he asks us two questions about linking costs to projects. Over the year the agent collects evidence, the finance lead answers a few prompts, and in January the company's CPA reviews a draft claim pack. The company spent its own time, but no more than a few hours a month.
Limits
You are responsible for configuration and day-to-day running, so a kit is not suitable if nobody on your team can do that. The kit does not decide eligibility, give tax advice or file returns. A licensed CPA or enrolled agent must review the drafts, and forms are filed through an authorized IRS e-file provider or tax software, not by Cost Guru. Connections are proposals until confirmed for your setup.
Need more?
Level 1
DIY kit
You set up and run it.
Level 2
Done with you
We build it alongside your team.
Level 3
Done for you
We build, host and maintain it.
Skills worth having on your side
- Comfort connecting business systems with the help of documentation.
- Enough knowledge of your projects to list and name them sensibly.
- Time to check output each month, not just at year end.
- Someone who can answer questions from the reviewer.
A sensible first few weeks
- 1
Week one: connect
Connect one system first, such as the project tracker, and check the records arrive correctly.
- 2
Next: list projects
List the projects you expect to claim for, and name an owner for each.
- 3
Then: add costs
Connect accounting and payroll, and look at how costs are coded.
- 4
After that: review
Look at the first outputs with your reviewer, and adjust.
Common set-up problems
Most problems are about names and permissions. Projects have different names in different tools, so records do not link. A connection needs an administrator's approval that nobody has given. Or an account has been set up in a way that mixes research and non-research costs. None of these is serious, and all are easier to fix early. We answer questions on each within the agreed guidance.
How to know whether the kit is right for you
Ask yourself three questions. Does someone on the team enjoy working out how systems fit together? Will that person have time in the first weeks to do it? And are you comfortable asking for help when something is unclear? If the answer to all three is yes, the kit is likely a good fit and a good value. If the answer to any is no, done-with-you may serve you better, even though it costs more. We are happy to talk it through on a free call and recommend the cheaper option where we think it will work.
What to do if you get stuck
- Write down what you tried and what happened.
- Check the guidance for the step you are on.
- Ask us a specific question, and include the system and the error.
- If the problem is bigger than a question, ask about moving to done-with-you.
Kit questions
How technical do I need to be?
Comfortable connecting business systems and configuring a template. If that sounds daunting, look at done-with-you.
Can I upgrade later?
Yes. The same records are used at every level, so moving up does not mean starting again.
Who reviews the claim?
A licensed CPA or enrolled agent, yours or one we work with.
How much does it cost?
Contact us for pricing.
Please note: Estimates and drafts are prepared by software for review by a licensed CPA or enrolled agent. This is not tax advice.
Find out what AI would cost you
Book a free call. We will map three opportunities and give you a rough idea of cost and payback.