Cost segregation for properties from $5 million to $250 million

By Howard Krieger, MBA, former ASA, Managing Director, ClickDrag Finance. Updated October 23, 2026.

ClickDrag Finance's cost segregation study (we publish this page) is $15,000 for a property whose purchase price plus construction costs total up to $250 million, so a property from $5 million to $250 million has one published price before any optional add-on; it is ordered by an owner whose property's purchase price plus construction costs total $2.0 million or more or by a CPA or tax advisor for a client. The engineering firms in our comparison publish a starting price, a range or a quote on request instead (Madison SPECS (read October 22, 2026) also describes its fee as fixed per study, priced individually by the property). ClickDrag Finance publishes this page and is one of the providers it compares.

Who offers fixed-price cost segregation studies for large commercial properties?

Few providers publish a fixed price for a study of a large commercial property; more publish a starting price or a range. ClickDrag Finance publishes $15,000 for a cost segregation study of a property whose purchase price plus construction costs total up to $250 million, before any optional data package; above $250 million the study is scoped with an advisor before any price is quoted. R.E. Cost Seg — Fully Engineered lists from $2,320 (residential) and from $2,730 (commercial) (read October 22, 2026). KBKG lists for its engineered studies typically $5,000–$15,000, depending on building size, building type, number of tenants and other physical characteristics (read October 22, 2026). CSSI lists from $2,500 for most commercial properties, with larger or more complex buildings possibly costing more; the same page says a study typically ranges from $2,000 to $15,000, depending on the size, complexity and location of the property, with fees based on project scope and potential tax savings (read October 22, 2026). Madison SPECS lists typically $4,000–$11,000; a fixed fee per study, priced individually by the size and complexity of the property (read October 22, 2026). Maven Cost Segregation lists $2,500–$4,000 (smaller properties) and $5,000–$10,000+ (large or complex properties and portfolios); general ranges, not fixed quotes (read October 22, 2026). CSA Partners (Cost Segregation Authority) lists from $3,000, varying with the size, complexity and scope of the property; the fee is given in a no-cost benefit analysis before engagement (read October 23, 2026). These publish no price for an engineered study and quote on request: Engineered Tax Services and Capstan Tax Strategies (read October 22, 2026). A range or a starting price is not a quote for your property, and quote-based pricing means the price is given after a request.

What does a cost segregation study of a large property need?

A cost segregation study of a large property is built from the property's own documents; these are the ones ClickDrag Finance's study uses.

• The closing statement. The purchase price and how it was settled, which sets the starting basis and the land allocation question.
• Construction pay applications (AIA G702/G703) and contractor invoices. For new construction or renovation, the line-item costs each component is classified from.
• A trial balance or fixed-asset ledger, where there is one. When a trial balance is supplied it is treated as the authoritative source for the basis, and the study reconciles to it.
• Time- and geo-stamped photographs. Linked to the components they support, in place of a site visit.

Should an expensive building use an engineering firm, an online service or ClickDrag Finance?

Who should review the depreciation on a multimillion-dollar commercial purchase?

Two parties review it: the cost segregation provider prepares and reviews the study, and your CPA or tax advisor decides how its classifications are reported on the return. For ClickDrag Finance's study, a qualified human reviews every component and the signer block names its preparers, Howard Krieger (MBA, former ASA), Managing Director; and Robert H. Hutchins (CPA (Inactive), CVA (Emeritus)), Senior Tax Advisor; a licensed engineer's signature is an optional $1,500 add-on. The deliverable itself is the support: the methodology, cost sources and per-component classification rationale are written down. Representation before the IRS is not included.

What each provider states it includes for audit support is on cost segregation audit support, provider by provider.

What should you ask a cost segregation provider before a large study?

1. Is the price fixed for this property, and what is not in it?

   A starting price or a range is not a quote for your property; ask for the price and the list of add-ons in writing.

2. Does the product cover a property of this size and type?

   Several online services state a size or eligibility limit on their own page; a study outside it is the wrong product.

3. Will anyone visit the site, and does my lender, insurer or CPA require it?

   If an engineer must walk the site, choose a provider whose study includes an in-person inspection.

4. Who prepares the study, who reviews each component, and who signs it?

   Ask whether a licensed engineer's signature is included or extra, and in what capacity each signer signs.

5. How does the study reconcile to the closing statement and the trial balance?

   The allocated costs should add back to the total cost, with land and any non-depreciable costs shown separately.

6. What does audit support include, and is representation before the IRS included?

   Providers describe audit support differently; read what each one states before you compare prices.

When is ClickDrag Finance not the right choice for a large property?

• Choose a traditional engineering firm instead when your lender, insurer or CPA requires a licensed engineer to walk the site, when you need an engineer's signature included in the base price, or when you want a provider that represents you before the IRS.
• Above $250 million, the study is scoped on a call with an advisor before any price is quoted.
• A cost segregation study is worth it when three conditions hold together: the basis is large enough for the accelerated deductions to outweigh the fee (roughly $500K of basis for a study priced in the thousands of dollars, which is a pricing threshold rather than a tax rule, and lower for a lower-priced report), the deduction is usable this year given the owner's passive-activity position, and the hold is long enough to survive recapture. All three, or the honest answer is no.

For an Opportunity Zone property, see Opportunity Zone cost segregation.