Business Development Strategies

What Business Development Strategies does

Business Development Strategies, Inc. (BDS) is a privately held, boutique government tax incentives consulting firm founded in 2003 by Lynn Tokarczyk and headquartered in Medway, Massachusetts. The firm exclusively serves companies planning real estate expansion projects in Massachusetts, helping them identify, negotiate, and secure state and local tax incentives including Tax Increment Financing (TIF), state tax credits, state abandoned building tax deductions, municipal personal property tax relief, and Special Tax Assessments (STA). BDS manages the entire local approval process, coordinating with municipal officials, town meetings, city councils, and state authorities. The firm's core offering is not a technology product but rather specialized regulatory expertise built over 23 years of practice, underpinned by deep relationships with Massachusetts state and local government officials.

BDS targets enterprise clients in manufacturing, life sciences/biotechnology, technology/innovation, and distribution/transportation sectors with multi-million dollar real estate expansion projects. Notable clients include Moderna, Analog Devices, Keurig, MilliporeSigma, TripAdvisor, Samsonite, IPG Photonics, Waters Corporation, MACOM, Vicor Corporation, Watson-Marlow, Yale Appliance, SMC Ltd., and others. The firm is reportedly the only Massachusetts firm exclusively dedicated to government tax incentives consulting, with a track record of over 200 businesses helped, $200M+ in client tax savings, 10,000 new jobs created, 20,000 jobs retained, over $1 billion in client capital investment, and 100+ TIF deals negotiated.

The firm operates a sales-led, relationship-based GTM with no online distribution, no resellers, and no technology platform. Pricing is on a per-engagement basis with multi-year contracts, and the firm is engaged directly by executive leadership at client companies. BDS does not utilize AI, owns no patents or proprietary technology, and grows organically without external funding. Marketing is built primarily on founder Lynn Tokarczyk's public profile, thought leadership, and active participation in Massachusetts economic development forums (MassEcon, AIM, multiple chambers of commerce, ISPE, MAAO). The firm has a small team of 11-50 employees featuring three named principals: founder Tokarczyk, consultant Laurie Curtis, and tax law attorney Matthew J. Thomas.

Name

Business Development Strategies

Legal name

Business Development Strategies, Inc.

Website

https://businessdevelopment-strategies.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Business Development Strategies is a Medway, Massachusetts-based boutique consulting firm that helps companies identify, negotiate, and secure state and local tax incentives (TIF, tax credits, STA) for real estate expansion projects across Massachusetts, serving enterprise clients in manufacturing, life sciences, technology, and distribution sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Medway

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Tax Incentives Consulting Services: BDS generates revenue by providing professional consulting services to companies seeking state and local tax incentives in Massachusetts. Services include identifying applicable incentive programs, negotiating with government officials, and securing approvals. The firm is compensated for guiding clients through the complex government incentives process for real estate expansion projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BDS provides consulting services that help Massachusetts businesses identify, negotiate, and secure state and local tax incentives for real estate expansion projects. Engagements cover Tax Increment Financing (TIF), state tax credits, state abandoned building tax deductions, municipal personal property tax relief, and Special Tax Assessments (STA), along with management of the local municipal approval process. Clients are primarily enterprise manufacturing, life sciences, technology, and distribution companies planning significant capital investments in Massachusetts.

Product overview

Business Development Strategies is a government tax incentives consulting firm that provides a comprehensive suite of services to help Massachusetts businesses identify, negotiate, and secure state and local tax incentives. The core offering consists of consulting services for tax incentive programs including State Tax Credits, State Abandoned Building Tax Deductions, Municipal Tax Increment Financing (TIF), Municipal Personal Property Tax Relief, and Special Tax Assessments (STA). The firm manages the entire local approval process, from working with municipal officials to securing town meeting or city council approvals and coordinating with state authorities. BDS primarily serves manufacturing, life sciences, technology, innovation, research and development, and distribution companies across Massachusetts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Government Tax Incentives Consulting Services End-to-end consulting services that help Massachusetts businesses identify, negotiate, and secure state and local tax incentives for real estate expansion projects. Engagements cover Tax Increment Financing (TIF), state tax credits, state abandoned building tax deductions, municipal personal property tax relief, Special Tax Assessments (STA), and management of the local municipal approval process including town meeting and city council approvals. Designed for enterprise manufacturing, life sciences, technology, and distribution companies planning significant capital investments in Massachusetts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $200 million in state and local taxes saved for more than 200 Massachusetts businesses
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Women in Local Leadership (WiLL) — South Shore Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 January 2026Lynn Tokarczyk served as featured speaker for the Women in Local Leadership (WiLL) conference hosted by the South Shore Chamber of Commerce, sharing her 'Rags to Riches' story with women business leaders.
• Sullivan & WorcestercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 20 November 2025Sullivan & Worcester (law firm) and BDS co-host government tax incentives sessions for business leaders. Lynn Tokarczyk and Daniel Ryan, Partner at Sullivan & Worcester, have teamed up at multiple sessions to discuss tax incentives in the context of rising tariffs, construction costs, and interest rates.
• South Shore Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 November 2025BDS is a proud member of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce. Lynn Tokarczyk was invited as a guest speaker to share insights on accessing Government Tax Incentives for Real Estate Expansion Projects at a Chamber event held at Citrin Cooperman.
• Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers (MAAO)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLynn Tokarczyk has been a guest speaker at MAAO events, discussing TIFs, STAs, and the importance of Assessors' involvement during tax incentives projects.
• Bowditch & DeweyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBowditch & Dewey co-sponsored programs with BDS on tax incentives topics including Opportunity Zones, federal and state incentives, and the Inflation Reduction Act.
• MetroWest Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBDS participates in MetroWest Chamber of Commerce economic development forums. Lynn Tokarczyk served on panels discussing tax incentives as a key factor in business location decisions.
• Banker & TradesmanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLynn Tokarczyk has been featured multiple times in Banker & Tradesman, a regional business publication covering Massachusetts real estate and business news.
• Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerLynn Tokarczyk serves on the AIM Board of Directors and Executive Committee. BDS is recognized as a trusted partner in AIM's economic development ecosystem, with multiple joint events and recognition programs.
• MassEconcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBDS is a member and sponsor of MassEcon, the state's private sector partner for business growth promotion. BDS clients are regularly recognized at MassEcon's Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Awards events.
• Worcester Regional Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLynn Tokarczyk was a panelist at the Manufacturing Roundtable hosted by the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.
• MassMEPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLynn Tokarczyk was a featured speaker at MassMEP (Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership) webinars on tax incentives for manufacturers.
• Middlesex 3 CoalitionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLynn Tokarczyk served as a panelist at 'The Future of Advanced Manufacturing' virtual session co-hosted by MassEcon and Middlesex 3 Coalition.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• BDO USA: Top-10 accounting firm with a State and Local Tax practice advising on incentives and credits. Comparable service line to BDS, typically serving mid-market enterprise clients with multi-state needs.
• Deloitte Tax LLP: Big 4 tax practice offering state and local incentives advisory including TIF negotiation and credits. Comparable in service line to BDS but delivered through a national network rather than a state-specialized boutique.
• Baker Tilly US: Advisory and accounting firm with a state and local tax incentives practice assisting companies with TIF and credit negotiations. Comparable to BDS in incentives advisory, though Baker Tilly serves clients across multiple states.
• Ernst & Young (EY): Global Big 4 firm with a State and Local Tax practice that advises on incentives, credits, and TIFs. BDS founder previously worked in EY's New England SALT incentives practice, and EY represents the most direct competitive precedent for BDS's service line at much larger scale.
• PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC): Big 4 firm with a dedicated State and Local Tax and incentives group serving multi-state enterprise clients. Overlaps with BDS on TIF and credit advisory but operates at substantially greater scale and geographic breadth.
• KPMG LLP: Big 4 firm with a State and Local Tax / Incentives practice that advises enterprises on credits, TIFs, and location incentives. Comparable to BDS at the national scale, with broader corporate tax capabilities as part of the offering.

Direct peers

• Ryan, LLC: Large national tax services and incentives firm with a dedicated State and Local Tax / Incentives practice serving enterprises on TIF, tax credit, and abatements. Directly comparable to BDS in service offering, though Ryan serves a national footprint rather than a single state.

Emerging players

• McCallum Sweeney Consulting: Boutique site selection and incentives consulting firm that advises companies on location decisions and incentive negotiations. Highly comparable to BDS in focus on incentives for real estate expansion, with a smaller, specialized footprint.
• Site Selection Group: Corporate site selection and incentive negotiation consultancy serving companies expanding or relocating facilities. Directly comparable to BDS in advising enterprises on incentive packages tied to real estate investment decisions.

Regional players

• Plante Moran: Large Midwest-based accounting and advisory firm with a state and local tax incentives practice. Comparable to BDS in offering incentives advisory to expanding companies, but with primary geographic concentration outside of Massachusetts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Business Development Strategies