Property-first provider comparisons
McGuire Sponsel vs Stratum Cost Segregation: Pricing & Scope
Compare McGuire Sponsel and Stratum on published services, property-specific study scope, fee questions, report deliverables and CPA coordination.
Published by Stratum Cost Segregation, a provider discussed here. This is a commercial comparison, not an independent ranking or customer review. Provider names belong to their respective owners; no competitor affiliation is implied.
$1 per square foot$2,000 minimum per property
Compare two written study proposals
McGuire Sponsel or Stratum?
Your company needs a specialist project while owner-level planning remains with another adviser.
Your decision
Ask how the specialty team communicates assumptions and deliverables to the broader planning team.
McGuire Sponsel official service information — researched 2026-10-08.
Stratum’s published study fee
$1 per square foot. $2,000 minimum per property.
Each property in a portfolio uses the same rate and minimum. Confirm measurements, evidence collection and report deliverables in the engagement.
Book a Cost Seg Discovery CallWhere McGuire Sponsel may fit
Its public materials describe cost segregation, fixed-asset, research, and other specialty tax advisory services.
Businesses seeking project-specific technical tax support. Ask how the specialty team communicates assumptions and deliverables to the broader planning team.
McGuire Sponsel describes technical specialties delivered in collaboration with CPA and real estate professionals. If your existing CPA is managing the relationship, ask whether you or that CPA contracts for the specialty project and receives the final work. Compare AE's direct advisory engagement as a different contracting arrangement. The important handoff includes assumptions, calculations, unresolved evidence, and the reporting deadline. Multiple advisers can work effectively together when the engagement identifies the coordinator rather than assuming the specialist replaces the whole tax team.
Where Stratum may fit
Stratum’s property paths cover commercial buildings, multifamily, small rentals and STRs. Confirm capacity and the assigned technical team for your actual building. Stratum cost segregation studies cost $1 per square foot, with a $2,000 minimum per property. Confirm the written scope for your building. Confirm property eligibility, exclusions and current terms on the pricing page. AE’s broader planning or return services require their own agreed scope.
| Decision | McGuire Sponsel | Stratum + AE |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Businesses seeking project-specific technical tax support | Rental-property study with a discovery discussion hosted by AE Tax Advisors. |
| Written deliverable | What handoff documentation will my existing advisers receive? | Confirm component schedule, methodology, basis reconciliation and CPA handoff. |
| Price comparison | Request the current property-specific fee and all review or filing costs. | Published study pricing; confirm separately scoped advisory and filing work. |
| Owner-level tax review | Ask whether it is included or handled by your existing adviser. | Discuss broader strategy with AE; your return preparer confirms filing positions. |
A situation to compare
Your company needs a specialist project while owner-level planning remains with another adviser.
McGuire Sponsel describes technical specialties delivered in collaboration with CPA and real estate professionals. If your existing CPA is managing the relationship, ask whether you or that CPA contracts for the specialty project and receives the final work. Compare AE's direct advisory engagement as a different contracting arrangement. The important handoff includes assumptions, calculations, unresolved evidence, and the reporting deadline. Multiple advisers can work effectively together when the engagement identifies the coordinator rather than assuming the specialist replaces the whole tax team.
For a specialist engagement, compare property analysis and CPA coordination separately from any other specialty tax projects. A wider service menu can help when several incentives are involved; a focused rental study may suit a narrower project.
Compare the two written proposals
Send both providers the same property description and records. Ask each to identify unsupported assumptions, the review professional and the steps needed before delivery. Choose based on the written work your property requires.
Compare the complete proposal
- What property records, site verification and technical review are included?
- Will the report reconcile basis and explain component classifications?
- Who resolves missing invoices, later improvements and prior depreciation?
- Are Form 3115 preparation, return filing, state adjustments or examination support separately priced?
- Who confirms whether deductions can be used given participation, passive-loss and other limitations?
A projected deduction is not a cash saving. Compare the study fee, filing costs, timing benefit and expected holding period with your preparer before ordering.
McGuire Sponsel pricing: what is verified
A numeric fee was not verified in the source materials used for this guide. Request the current property-specific proposal; this does not mean the provider never publishes prices.
Check the official pricing or service source — research 2026-10-08. Published starting fees are not property-specific quotes and can change.
Ask how the specialty team communicates assumptions and deliverables to the broader planning team. Compare the study, inspection, corrections, technical support and any separately engaged tax filing before comparing totals. See the provider pricing research table.
McGuire Sponsel reviews: evaluate the evidence
This page is Stratum’s commercial analysis of service scope, not a customer rating or a review of a report we commissioned. We have not independently audited McGuire Sponsel client outcomes.
For this research question — What handoff documentation will my existing advisers receive? — look for feedback that describes the actual deliverable, the property involved and the reviewer or support process.
Identify who published a review, whether the reviewer bought the same product you are considering and when the experience occurred. Provider-selected testimonials and open review-platform feedback can answer different questions. Neither a high rating nor a single complaint establishes the technical quality of your eventual study.
Start with the official provider source and independently verify any linked review profile. Read our cost segregation review evaluation guide before relying on a ranking.
Explore McGuire Sponsel alternatives across multiple providers
Other providers to consider
McGuire Sponsel proposal comparison worksheet
Use the same facts for every proposal. This worksheet starts with the specific decision on this page: Your company needs a specialist project while owner-level planning remains with another adviser.
Download the McGuire Sponsel proposal checklist (CSV)
Record each provider’s written answer beside the relevant proposal clause. The worksheet includes Stratum’s fee formula and separate rows for study work, implementation and support.
Questions before choosing McGuire Sponsel or Stratum
What should I ask McGuire Sponsel before comparing proposals?
What handoff documentation will my existing advisers receive? Ask how the specialty team communicates assumptions and deliverables to the broader planning team.
Does a Stratum study require changing my CPA?
You can keep your existing preparer when commissioning a Stratum study. Identify who reviews the report, updates depreciation schedules and handles any separately engaged filing work. Ask McGuire Sponsel to specify those responsibilities in its own proposal.
What would Stratum charge for my property?
The fee is the greater of $2,000 or property square footage × $1. A 1,500-square-foot property costs $2,000; a 3,500-square-foot property costs $3,500. Calculate the fee and review scope. A study fee is separate from any separately engaged planning or return preparation.
Stratum + AE Tax Advisors
One coordinated path from property study to tax strategy
Stratum prepares the property-level cost segregation study. AE Tax Advisors hosts discovery and discusses how the study fits your broader tax position. Your return preparer confirms filing treatment and implementation responsibilities.
- Discuss the property, timing and goals with AE Tax Advisors.
- Confirm Stratum’s study scope, records, fee and delivery assumptions.
- Coordinate the completed study with AE or your existing CPA under the agreed engagement.
Understand the Stratum and AE connection · Explore AE’s cost segregation tax planning
Compare a written Stratum proposal for your property
Bring your purchase records, existing depreciation schedule and questions. AE Tax Advisors will help you discuss the study and wider tax strategy; confirm all services in writing.
Book a Cost Seg Discovery CallSources and scope
- McGuire Sponsel official information — source research 2026-10-08; verify current scope directly.
- Stratum services and published pricing
- IRS Cost Segregation Audit Technique Guide
Updated October 19, 2026. Provider research dates are shown beside the sources. Numeric fees are attributed where verified; no savings guarantees or quality rankings are inferred. Availability, deliverables and fees depend on the actual proposal.