Everything Your Award Requires. Everything Your Business Needs.
Why coordinate multiple providers when your accounting records drive everything? From outsourced accounting and federal reporting to indirect rates, tax compliance, R&D credits, budgeting, and strategic planning, we provide the integrated financial support research companies need to manage awards, satisfy federal requirements, and build for the future.
Why a Package Instead of a Menu?
Research companies rarely stand still.
The support you need during a Phase I award is often different from what you need during Phase II, a fundraising round, or commercialization. Some companies begin with government compliance support. Others need outsourced accounting, tax services, R&D credits, financial planning, or a combination of services.
That’s why we built our practice differently.
Rather than forcing clients to coordinate multiple providers as their needs evolve, we offer a team that can support accounting, compliance, reporting, tax, and strategic planning under one roof.
Start Where You Are
Choose the services that make sense for your company today.
As your needs evolve, you can add support without changing providers, rebuilding systems, or re-explaining how your business operates. The result is a financial partner that can grow alongside your company, from your first award through commercialization and beyond.
What is Included
Onboarding and Implementation
- Review of current books and award documents
- Chart of accounts set up or restructure for adequacy, segregated by direct cost by job and by type, indirect cost by pool, and unallowable costs, where applicable
- Indirect rate structure appropriate to your awarding agency
- Timekeeping and labor distribution setup
- One-on-one training for your team
Monthly
- Timesheet collection, review, labor distribution analysis, and payroll accounting
- Vendor bill processing and accounts payable support
- Bank account and credit card transaction entry and reconciliation
- Job cost reporting for government, research, and commercial activities
- Maintenance of project budget-to-actual reporting, including project control sheets showing indirect rate activity, funding limitations, and remaining balances
- Federal, state or other grant/project billing, federal invoices, vouchers, and drawdown support
- Support for agency, grant, contract, and research reporting using accounting records that tie back to the general ledger
Quarterly (any of which can be upgraded to Monthly)
- Financial statement preparation and management reporting
- Balance sheet account reconciliation and monthly close support
- Review of accounting records with recommended adjustments
- Indirect rate calculations and monitoring
Annual or As Required
- Federal Financial Reports (FFRs), SF-425 preparation, and agency-specific interim and final financial reporting
- Provisional Billing Rate (PBR) proposals
- Annual Incurred Cost Submissions (ICS), when required
- Support for financial and indirect rate audit inquiries, including related negotiations
- Accounting system review support
- Assistance with CAAP reviews and agency financial capability reviews
- Contract and grant closeout reporting and final vouchers and related closeout documentation
- Corporate tax planning and coordination
- Documentation support for R&D credit studies and tax filings
- State Nexus studies
Tiers
| Government Billing Services (GBS) | Full Outsourced Accounting (FAO) | Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) and fCFO | Corporate Tax Returns and R&D Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Companies with an existing accounting team that need specialized support for government compliance, indirect rates, agency reporting, and award management. | Phase I, Phase II, and venture-backed research companies that want a complete accounting and compliance solution without building an in-house finance team. | Phase II, Phase IIB, and commercialization-stage companies that need financial strategy, growth planning, and investor-ready reporting in addition to accounting and compliance. | For innovative companies that want to maximize available tax incentives, stay compliant with federal and state filing requirements, and ensure their research activities are properly documented and supported. |
| Includes | Government Billing Accounting system review Indirect rate calculation Labor distribution Grant closeout Proposal review | Everything in GBS plus: Account analysis Assistance with proposals Indirect rate planning Documented accounting policies and procedures | Budget development and tracking Three-year forecasting Cash burn/runway Scenario planning Board representation | Corporate tax return preparation IRS notice and audit support R&D credit study Corporate tax planning (add-on) |
| Investment | Starts at $595 for Phase I Starts at $795 for Phase II and Equivalent | Starts at $695 for Phase I Starts at $995 for Phase II and Equivalent | Custom Pricing | Custom Pricing, one annual fee. |
Onboarding and Implementation, Week by Week
- Week 1: Onboarding checklist uploaded to the client portal and supporting documentation collected.
- Weeks 2-3: Review of accounting records and award documents, chart of accounts setup or restructuring, timekeeping deployment, reconciliations, and reporting configuration.
- Week 4: Meet your service team, complete client training, and close the first month under the new structure.
- Ongoing: Monthly close, project control sheet updates, government and project billing support, quarterly financial and indirect rate reviews, and preparation of recurring agency, investor, and year-end reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we start with only one service?
Absolutely. Some clients engage us for government billing support, others for outsourced accounting, tax services, or financial planning. The package is designed to provide flexibility, allowing you to start with the support you need today and expand services as your company grows.
Do we need to be an SBIR or STTR awardee to work with ADC GovCo?
No. While many of our clients receive SBIR or STTR funding, we also work with government contractors, venture-backed startups, and research-driven companies that need accounting, reporting, tax, or financial planning support.
What happens if our needs change after we get started?
Research companies evolve quickly. The support needed during a Phase I award is often different from what is needed during Phase II, fundraising, or commercialization. Because our team provides accounting, compliance, reporting, tax, and planning services, additional support can be added without changing providers or rebuilding your financial systems.
Can you help if we're already mid-award or have existing accounting records?
Yes. Most clients do not engage us on day one. During onboarding, we review your existing accounting records, award documentation, reporting requirements, and financial processes before recommending any necessary changes. Whether you’re managing your first award or several years into growth, we can help strengthen the systems already in place.
Is there a contract term?
Most clients engage us under a one-year agreement. This allows sufficient time to implement systems, establish reporting processes, and provide ongoing support. At renewal, the scope can be adjusted to reflect your company’s changing needs.
Let's Build the Right Support Team
Every research company is different. We’ll help you evaluate your accounting, compliance, reporting, tax, and planning needs and recommend a scope that supports both today’s requirements and tomorrow’s opportunities.