Smart ERC

What Smart ERC does

Smart ERC is a US-based ERC consulting firm that helps small and mid-sized businesses claim the federal Employee Retention Credit (ERC) introduced under the CARES Act. Operating as a DBA of Pinnacle Minds, Inc., a California corporation founded in 2005–2006, the company is headquartered in Camarillo, California and employs 51–100 staff. Its service targets the 2020 and 2021 tax years and covers the full ERC lifecycle: eligibility assessment against complex government-mandate, supply-chain-disruption, and revenue-decline qualifiers; calculation of maximum credit amounts (up to $26,000 per eligible employee); preparation and submission of amended Form 941-X returns; free in-house preemptive compliance review against current IRS notices; and optional audit defense through a "Pinnacle Assurance" add-on. The company does not operate a proprietary technology platform; its core capability is specialized tax knowledge, IRS-claim methodology, and a network of former IRS revenue agents, auditors, CPAs, and tax attorneys.

Name

Smart ERC

Legal name

Pinnacle Minds, Inc.

Website

https://smarterc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tax Credit Consulting

NAICS

Offices of Certified Public Accountants (541211)

SIC

Finance Services (6199)

akta.pro primary industry

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Advisory (BPAHAFAA)

Keywords

• Employee retention credit
• ERC tax credit services
• Small business tax consulting
• IRS audit defense
• CARES Act credit claims

Headquarters

HQ city

Camarillo

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. ERC Consulting Fee — Contingency-Based: Smart ERC operates on a contingency fee model. The company charges no upfront fees to clients. Payment is due only after the client's ERC check from the US Treasury has cleared. The specific fee amount/percentage is governed by each client's individual Consulting Fee Agreement. The company also retains exclusive rights to earn its fee during the Exclusivity Period (30 months after submission date) and holds a lien on the Tax Credit Benefit until the fee is paid. Clients who fail to report receipt of an ERC benefit within 5 business days face a 15% fee increase.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Smart ERC is an Employee Retention Credit (ERC) consulting service operated by Pinnacle Minds, Inc. The firm helps U.S. small businesses determine ERC eligibility, calculate maximum credit amounts, prepare and file amended IRS Form 941-X returns for tax years 2020 and 2021, conduct in-house compliance reviews, and provide optional audit defense support — delivered by a team that includes former IRS revenue agents, auditors, CPAs, Enrolled Agents, and tax attorneys.

Product overview

Smart ERC is a single-service ERC consulting platform offered by Pinnacle Minds, Inc. The core product is Smart ERC, a service that helps businesses prepare and file Employee Retention Credit claims using a network of former IRS revenue agents. The Pinnacle Assurance add-on provides optional audit defense protection included with the service. The company does not offer a modular platform structure; instead, it provides an integrated service combining eligibility assessment, claim calculation, IRS form preparation, submission assistance, and optional audit defense under one offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Smart ERC — ERC Claim Preparation and Filing Service End-to-end ERC consulting service for U.S. small businesses: eligibility qualification assessment against COVID-19 government-mandate and revenue-decline criteria, calculation of maximum credit amounts, preparation and filing of amended IRS Form 941-X for tax years 2020 and 2021, and free in-house preemptive compliance review. Delivered by a team including former IRS revenue agents, auditors, CPAs, Enrolled Agents, and tax attorneys; priced on a contingency basis with no upfront fees.
• Pinnacle Assurance — ERC Audit Defense Optional ERC audit defense add-on providing representation and support if the client's ERC claim is audited by the IRS. Positioned as included with the Smart ERC service offering to give clients peace of mind during and after filing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Maximum ERC credit of up to $26,000 per employee (50% of $10,000 in 2020 plus 70% of $10,000 per quarter for Q1–Q3 2021), which can total up to $260,000 per 10 eligible employees.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Retro Tax: ERC-focused tax credit firm serving SMBs with contingency fees and content-driven acquisition across multiple verticals — overlaps Smart ERC in service line, target market, and pricing model.
• Innovation Refunds: One of the largest pure-play ERC mills serving SMBs nationwide with contingency pricing and phone/inside sales — directly comparable scale, target customer, and acquisition motion to Smart ERC.
• Pure Play Capital: Pure-play ERC advisory serving SMBs with contingency pricing and inside-sales-led acquisition — directly comparable in business model, target segment, and product offering to Smart ERC.
• Paramount Tax & Accounting: National tax preparation and advisory firm with an active ERC practice serving SMBs across verticals — comparable customer profile and ERC advisory offering, though with a broader tax services portfolio.
• ERC Today: Direct ERC filing competitor targeting SMBs with a contingency-based fee model, multi-vertical content marketing, and heavy use of digital lead generation — directly comparable in go-to-market and service offering to Smart ERC.
• Filomeno & Company: Tax advisory firm with a dedicated ERC practice serving SMB clients, combining CPA expertise with specialized ERC qualification — closely comparable in customer base and service mix.

Broad incumbents

• ADP ERC Services: Major payroll/HR services provider that has offered ERC assistance to its SMB client base — comparable end customer and overlapping service, but delivered through a payroll platform rather than as a standalone advisory.
• Paychex ERC Services: Payroll and HR solutions provider with ERC-related offerings for its SMB client base — comparable target customer and service area, though bundled inside a broader payroll platform rather than sold as a specialty advisory.
• Ernst & Young (ERC practice): Big 4 advisory firm with an ERC practice serving middle-market and enterprise clients — overlapping capability set but operating at a different scale and price point than Smart ERC.
• KPMG US (ERC practice): Big 4 advisory firm with an established ERC advisory practice; competes for the higher end of the ERC market with broader tax and risk capabilities — comparable service line but targeting larger clients than Smart ERC's SMB focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@smarterc
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smarterc
• Xx.com/SmartERC_

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 Smart ERC