Top Cost Segregation Companies For Short-Term Rentals In 2027

Short-term rentals sit in a sweet spot for cost segregation.

A furnished Airbnb or VRBO is packed with assets that depreciate over five, seven or fifteen years rather than 27.5: furniture, appliances, decor, flooring, hot tubs, decks, fencing and landscaping. When an owner qualifies for the short-term rental treatment (generally an average guest stay of seven days or less, plus material participation), the accelerated depreciation from a study can offset active income, not just rental income. With 100% bonus depreciation restored for qualifying property acquired after January 19, 2025, the first-year deduction from a single study can be substantial.

The catch is that STR owners are usually buying one to five properties, not office towers. Many traditional engineering firms price and schedule for commercial assets, so a $1 million cabin can end up with a $6,000 quote and a six-week wait. The firms below were chosen because they serve residential and short-term rental owners directly, publish clear information about how their studies are built, and include support for the CPA and for audit questions.

If you want a broader view of the market, including commercial specialists, see our roundup of the best cost segregation companies and firms and our comparison of in-person, virtual and software cost segregation providers.

Short-Term Rental Cost Segregation Companies At A Glance

Company	Best For	Study Method	Starting Price	Typical Turnaround
Cost Seg Smart	Fast, low-cost STR studies	Remote, engineering-based	$495	1 to 2 business days
R.E. Cost Seg	Choice of rapid or fully engineered reports	Questionnaire or virtual inspection	$950	About 5 to 20 business days
SMF Cost Segregation Advisors	STR, SFR and 1 to 10 unit owners	Engineering-based	Free estimate	Estimate within 24 hours
RentalWriteOff	Flat-fee remote studies	Remote, expert-reviewed	$899	1 to 2 business days
Basis Property Group	Vacation rental and cabin owners	Licensed engineering team	$1,295	Days after approval
Maven Cost Segregation	Owners who want an on-site inspection	On-site engineering inspection	Free estimate	Within 30 days of site visit
CostSegregation.com by KBKG	DIY owners working with a CPA	Self-guided software	$495	Self-paced
CSSI	Owners scaling into larger portfolios	Engineering-based	Free analysis	Quoted per project
Leyton	Higher-value STRs and mixed portfolios	Remote or on-site engineering	Quoted, invoiced after delivery	4 to 8 weeks
Cost Seg EZ	Owners who want to choose their level of review	DIY, engineer-reviewed or fully engineered	$595	Instant to 4 weeks

Best Cost Segregation Companies For Short-Term Rentals In 2027

1. Cost Seg Smart — Same-Week Studies Priced For Single STRs

Cost Seg Smart is built around the owner of one or a handful of short-term rentals. Studies for STRs start at $495, and most residential studies are delivered in one to two business days, with a 24-hour rush option. The team works remotely from your documents and public records for most residential properties, and adds a video call or walkthrough when it would improve the result.

Each study models more than 200 components, prices them against regional construction cost data and classifies them under MACRS. The deliverable is a CPA-ready PDF report with depreciation schedules and an Excel fixed asset file, plus a Section 481(a) schedule when a look-back applies. Renovations under $100,000 are included in the base fee. Cost Seg Smart reports that its STR studies have reclassified roughly 19% to 39% of depreciable basis.

Support is a strong point. CPA coordination, unlimited revisions to the original study and lifetime written audit support are included, and a CPA-Ready Guarantee refunds the fee if your accountant still cannot use the report after revisions (requested within 60 days of delivery). IRS representation is not included. The company is based in Los Angeles.

Best for: STR owners who want a fast, affordable, CPA-ready study on one property at a time.

2. R.E. Cost Seg — Two Study Tiers, From Rapid Report To Fully Engineered

R.E. Cost Seg lists short-term rentals first among the asset classes it serves and gives owners two clear paths. The Rapid Report starts at $950 for properties of up to four units with a depreciable basis under $1.2 million, uses a questionnaire and documents instead of an inspection, and arrives in about five business days. The Fully Engineered study starts at $2,320 for residential property, includes a 30 to 60 minute virtual inspection by video call, and takes about 15 to 20 business days, with a rush option.

The firm reports more than 20,000 studies completed across all 50 states. Audit support is included at no extra charge in the form of written responses on methodology and classifications, though IRS representation and return preparation are excluded.

Best for: Owners who want to choose between a quick, lower-cost report and a fully engineered study as their portfolio grows.

3. SMF Cost Segregation Advisors — Built For STR, SFR And Small Multifamily Investors

SMF Cost Segregation Advisors focuses on the investor segment many larger firms overlook: short-term rentals, single-family rentals, duplexes through fourplexes and small buildings of up to ten units. It also speaks directly to BRRRR investors and real estate professionals, which makes it a natural fit for STR owners who are building a small portfolio.

Owners submit a property address or closing statement, purchase price, placed-in-service date and any renovation details, and receive a preliminary savings estimate and proposal within 24 hours. SMF estimates that 20% to 40% of a building’s depreciable basis can often be reclassified to shorter lives.

Best for: STR investors with a mix of small residential properties who want a specialist in that size range.

4. RentalWriteOff — One Flat Fee, Fully Remote, Two-Day Delivery

RentalWriteOff keeps the offer simple: an $899 flat fee per property, a fully remote process with no site visit, and delivery in one to two business days after intake is complete. The study is engineering-based and expert-reviewed, built from appraisal or listing photos, public records and satellite imagery through a guided online platform.

The company has a dedicated Airbnb and short-term rental offering, includes Form 3115 for eligible look-back studies, and includes audit support with every study. Its own example shows a $256,880 single-family rental generating $42,044 of year-one depreciation with a study, compared with $7,609 without one.

Best for: Owners who want a predictable flat price and a fully online process.

5. Basis Property Group — A Dedicated Path For Airbnb, VRBO And Cabin Owners

Philadelphia-based Basis Property Group treats short-term rentals as a core market, with a separate path for Airbnb, VRBO and cabin owners and guides covering more than 40 vacation rental markets. Studies start at $1,295 for residential rental property, and the fee is fixed before work begins, with pricing published by purchase price.

A free preliminary estimate comes first. After approval, a licensed engineering team produces the study, which the company says is usually delivered within days. Audit support is included, and every study carries a minimum ROI guarantee.

Best for: Vacation rental owners who want published, fixed pricing and an engineering team behind the report.

6. Maven Cost Segregation — On-Site Engineering Inspections With Full Audit Documentation

Maven Cost Segregation takes the traditional route that some STR owners prefer for higher-value homes: engineering professionals inspect the property in person rather than relying on a software estimate. Reports are delivered within 30 days of the site visit, and the firm includes full audit defense documentation designed around the IRS Audit Techniques Guide.

Founded by Sean Graham, CPA, Maven reports more than 5,000 studies delivered and an average short-term rental reclassification rate of 30% to 40%. It operates offices in Michigan, Utah, Colorado, Pennsylvania and San Diego, and offers a free estimate, usually within 24 hours.

Best for: Owners of larger or luxury STRs who want an in-person inspection behind their study.

7. CostSegregation.com by KBKG — Self-Guided Software Backed By A National Cost Seg Firm

CostSegregation.com is the self-guided software platform from KBKG, one of the longest-running cost segregation firms in the country. Owners enter the property address, the platform pulls public property data, and the owner fills in the rest before inviting their CPA and downloading the report. The estimator asks directly whether the property is a short-term or vacation rental.

Residential reports are priced at $495 for a $750,000 tax basis, and properties with a basis above $1.5 million move to a custom quote with KBKG’s professional services team. Every report includes audit support, report corrections and a Section 481(a) calculation schedule.

Best for: Hands-on owners who are comfortable entering their own property details and working closely with their CPA.

8. CSSI — Two Decades Of Engineering Studies For Growing Portfolios

Cost Segregation Services, Inc. (CSSI) has been producing engineering-based studies since 2003 and reports more than 65,000 studies completed. Its intake covers single-family and vacation rentals alongside multifamily, hotels, self-storage and dozens of commercial property types, which suits STR owners who expect to add other assets over time.

CSSI offers a free no-cost analysis and works alongside the client’s CPA. It also provides Section 179D and R&D tax credit services, which can matter if your portfolio expands into commercial property.

Best for: STR investors moving into larger or mixed portfolios who want one established firm for everything.

9. Leyton — Engineer-Led Studies With Nothing Due Upfront

Leyton is an international tax consultancy operating in 20 countries, and its US cost segregation team lists short-term rentals among the property types it serves. Studies are led by engineers, construction analysts and tax professionals, with the site evaluation carried out remotely or on-site as needed.

There is no upfront retainer: the study is invoiced after delivery, and CPA support is included at no additional cost. Most studies take four to eight weeks, so Leyton fits owners of higher-value properties who are planning ahead rather than racing a filing deadline.

Best for: Owners of high-value STRs or mixed portfolios who prefer to pay after the study is delivered.

10. Cost Seg EZ — Three Levels Of Review, From DIY To Fully Engineered

Cost Seg EZ lets owners pick how much engineering review they want. The DIY tier costs $595 and delivers results instantly. The Engineer Reviewed tier costs $895 and takes three to five business days. The Fully Engineered study starts at $2,500 and takes three to four weeks, with audit protection included.

Audit protection can be added to the DIY and Engineer Reviewed tiers for $195. The firm, based in Princeton, New Jersey, says it has completed studies in all 50 states over the last 20 years.

Best for: Budget-conscious owners who want to start with software and have the option to upgrade to an engineer’s review.

How To Choose A Cost Segregation Company For A Short-Term Rental

Do You Actually Qualify For Short-Term Rental Treatment?

The biggest benefit for STR owners comes when the rental is not treated as a passive rental activity, which generally requires an average guest stay of seven days or less and material participation by the owner. If you do not qualify, the extra depreciation is usually limited to offsetting passive income. Confirm your position with your CPA before ordering a study, and choose a firm that is comfortable coordinating with them.

Is A Remote Study Enough For Your Property?

Remote and software-assisted studies have made cost segregation affordable for single properties, and for a typical furnished home they are often the right fit. For a high-value, heavily renovated or unusual property, an engineer’s virtual or on-site inspection adds documentation that can be worth the higher fee. Ask each provider how they capture components and what they do when records are thin.

What Exactly Is In The Report?

Your CPA needs more than a summary number. Look for a detailed asset schedule by recovery period, a clear methodology, a fixed asset file they can import, and a Section 481(a) schedule if you are catching up depreciation on a property placed in service in an earlier year.

What Happens If The IRS Asks Questions?

Almost every provider says audit support is included, but the scope varies. Some offer written responses on methodology, some offer lifetime support, and very few include formal IRS representation. Read the terms so you know what you are getting.

How Does Furniture And Renovation Work Get Handled?

STRs are often bought furnished or renovated right after purchase. Ask how the provider treats furnishings, whether renovations are included in the base fee, and whether improvements need a separate study.

If you are still setting up your rental, our guides to digital marketing strategies for vacation rental businesses and the top AI and SaaS tools for landlords and property managers cover the operating side.

Conclusion

For most short-term rental owners, the right cost segregation partner is the one that matches the property’s value and the owner’s timeline. Cost Seg Smart, RentalWriteOff and CostSegregation.com make single-property studies fast and affordable. R.E. Cost Seg, SMF Cost Segregation Advisors and Basis Property Group sit in the middle, with STR experience and engineering behind the numbers. Maven, CSSI, Leyton and Cost Seg EZ’s fully engineered tier suit owners of higher-value homes or growing portfolios who want more inspection and documentation. Whichever you choose, involve your CPA early, confirm your eligibility for short-term rental treatment, and make sure the report gives your accountant everything they need to file.