Key differences
- They price differently, so compare the effective annual cost for your numbers in the calculator.
- SBIR/STTR Phase I is usually faster to fund (about 5 months vs about 6 months).
Side by side
| SBIR/STTR Phase I | R&D tax credit | |
|---|---|---|
| Product | US federal R&D grant | Payroll tax offset |
| Funding type | Grants & tax credits | Grants & tax credits |
| Estimated rate as of today | No cost — non-repayable | No cost — non-repayable |
| Pricing source | Estimated as of today | Estimated as of today |
| Time to cash | About 5 months | About 6 months |
| Typical size | Up to $314K | Up to $500K |
| Term | — | — |
| Requirements | No hard minimums listed | Needs qualifying R&D spend |
| Regions | US | US |
| What they underwrite | Your R&D proposal | Your R&D proposal |
| Collateral | None | None |
| How you repay | Never (grant) | Never (grant) |
| Dilution | None | None |
SBIR/STTR Phase I
2026 cap $314,363 over 6–12 months; agency-specific topics.
R&D tax credit
Startups under $5M receipts can offset up to $500K/yr of payroll tax.
SBIR/STTR Phase I vs R&D tax credit FAQ
What is the difference between SBIR/STTR Phase I and R&D tax credit?
They price differently, so compare the effective annual cost for your numbers in the calculator. SBIR/STTR Phase I is usually faster to fund (about 5 months vs about 6 months).
Which is faster, SBIR/STTR Phase I or R&D tax credit?
SBIR/STTR Phase I usually funds in about 5 months; R&D tax credit takes about 6 months.
Which is cheaper for you?
The answer depends on your amount, term and revenue. The calculator prices both on the same basis — fees, warrants and dilution included.
Related comparisons
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