What Apex Advisors does

Apex Advisors is a privately held, US-based tax specialty services firm founded in 2001 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The firm helps businesses identify, document, and claim federal and state tax credits and incentives, with its primary offering being R&D Tax Credit advisory supported by its proprietary Project Accounting Data (PAD) methodology — a documentation framework complimented by the IRS as the "best methodology" for capturing qualifying research expenses down to specific project phases and activities. Beyond R&D, the firm delivers six additional service lines: Work Opportunity Tax Credit, Cost Segregation Studies, Section 179D (energy-efficient commercial buildings), New Markets Tax Credit, IC-DISC (export incentive), and Domestic Production Activities Deduction.

The firm serves mid-market and enterprise clients across 60+ industries, including manufacturing (aerospace, chemicals, medical equipment, food, plastics, tool & die), architecture/engineering/construction, and software/technology. It has executed over 10,000 R&D tax credit studies for clients ranging from startups to billion-dollar companies. The team of more than 50 professionals includes former Big 4 CPAs (Ernst & Young, Deloitte, Arthur Andersen), tax attorneys, engineers, former IRS Examination Division agents, and former IRS Office of Chief Counsel attorneys, positioning audit defense as a core competency.

Apex Advisors generates revenue through project-based professional services fees, typically structured as a percentage of identified tax credit value, with engagement durations of 2-3 months. Go-to-market combines a direct sales motion (complimentary preliminary assessments via the company website) with CPA firm referral partnerships, and the firm markets through content/educational blog channels covering industry-specific tax credit guidance. There is no parent company, no disclosed institutional funding, no acquisitions, and no public revenue figures; ownership appears to be founder/management-held through principals Douglas Kim and David Ahn.

Name

Apex Advisors

Legal name

Apex Advisors

Website

https://apexadvisorsus.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Apex Advisors is a Los Angeles-based tax specialty services firm founded in 2001 that helps mid-market and enterprise businesses across 60+ industries identify and claim federal and state tax credits, primarily R&D tax credits, using its proprietary PAD methodology and a 50+ person team of former Big 4 professionals, IRS agents, and engineers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tax Credit Advisory Services: Professional fee-based services for identifying and claiming tax credits including R&D Tax Credits, Work Opportunity Tax Credits, Cost Segregation studies, Section 179D deductions, New Markets Tax Credits, and IC-DISC benefits. Services include preliminary assessments, comprehensive studies, and audit defense support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Apex Advisors is a tax specialty services firm that helps U.S. businesses identify, document, and claim federal and state tax credits and incentives, including R&D Tax Credits, Work Opportunity Tax Credits, Cost Segregation Studies, Section 179D energy-efficient building deductions, New Markets Tax Credits, IC-DISC exporter benefits, and the Domestic Production Activities Deduction (DPAD). Engagements typically begin with a complimentary preliminary assessment and conclude with study preparation and audit defense support.

Product overview

Apex Advisors is a tax specialty services firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of federal and state tax credit and incentive programs. The company provides consulting services across six core offerings: R&D Tax Credit (for research and development activities), Work Opportunity Tax Credit (for hiring from targeted groups), Cost Segregation Studies (for accelerated depreciation), Section 179D (energy efficient buildings deduction), New Markets Tax Credit (for distressed community investments), IC-DISC (for exporters), and Domestic Production Activities Deduction. These services are designed to help businesses innovate, grow, and compete by maximizing their tax benefits through thorough research, documentation, and audit defense.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• R&D Tax Credit Services Research and Development tax credit consulting services that help businesses identify and claim federal and state R&D Tax Credits for qualifying research activities, using the proprietary PAD (Project Accounting Data) methodology.
• Work Opportunity Tax Credit Services Tax credit services for employers who hire individuals from employment-challenged targeted groups, including U.S. veterans, TANF recipients, and individuals with prior felony convictions, with credit values ranging from $1,200 to $9,600 per eligible employee.
• Cost Segregation Studies Federal income tax study that helps owners of business real estate assets increase cash flow by identifying and reallocating property assets into appropriate tax depreciation categories, reducing taxable income and maximizing return on investment.
• Section 179D (Energy Efficient Buildings) Tax deduction services for owners of energy-efficient commercial buildings, providing up to $1.80 per square foot for buildings that demonstrate a reduction in energy usage based on the 2001 ASHRAE standard, with on-site energy audits performed by certified engineers.
• New Markets Tax Credit Services Tax credit services that incentivize community development and economic growth by attracting investment to distressed communities through Community Development Entities.
• IC-DISC (Interest Charge Domestic International Sales Corporation) Tax incentive for manufacturers, producers, resellers, and exporters of goods produced in the United States, allowing creation of a separate corporation to act as a sales commission agent and reduce taxable income.
• Domestic Production Activities Deduction (DPAD) Section 199 tax deduction for manufacturers and qualifying businesses that produce goods in the United States, providing up to 9% deduction on domestic production activity income.

Quantifiable outcome

• The average size of the federal R&D tax credit is approximately 1% of a company's annual revenues; 36 states provide additional R&D credits
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• California Engineering & DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization listed on the About page under 'Our Partners'. Nature of partnership appears to be industry association or referral relationship supporting the engineering and design sector.
• American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization listed on the About page under 'Our Partners'. ACEC is a national trade association representing engineering companies; partnership supports A/E/C industry specialization.
• National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization listed on the About page under 'Our Partners'. NAM partnership supports manufacturing industry specialization and advocacy.
• IC (Image Consulting)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization listed on the About page under 'Our Partners'. Partnership purpose not explicitly defined in available source material.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/apexadvisorsus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Apex Advisors