G. Brint Ryan
Summary
Brint Ryan—founder, chair, and CEO of Ryan, LLC—built a global tax services firm by identifying opportunities in tax recovery and offering performance-based fees that aligned with client outcomes. His innovative, client-focused approach helped Ryan, LLC expand to over 60 countries. Known for fostering a strong workplace culture, Ryan’s leadership and strategic growth, including acquisitions, have made his company successful in tax consulting, exemplifying entrepreneurial achievements through innovation and a commitment to client value. Through his philanthropy, mentorship, and professional accomplishments, Ryan continues to shape the future of business education and inspire countless students to achieve their highest potential.
Entrepreneurial Impact
Ryan is a notable entrepreneur, best known for founding Ryan, LLC, a global tax services and software provider. His entrepreneurial success is rooted in his ability to identify a niche in tax consulting, where he saw the opportunity to assist corporations in managing their tax liabilities more efficiently.
Ryan, who holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in accounting from the University of North Texas (UNT), began his career as a tax professional in the early 1990s. He soon recognized that businesses struggled with the complexities of tax compliance and overpaid taxes in certain areas, particularly around indirect taxes. In 1991, he founded Ryan, LLC with a singular focus on providing tax recovery services.
His business model was unique in that it offered performance-based fee structures, meaning clients paid based on the tax savings Ryan achieved for them. This client-focused model not only minimized upfront costs but also built trust by aligning the firm’s success with client outcomes.
Under Ryan’s leadership, Ryan, LLC has grown into the largest firm in its field. It has served over 30,000 clients in more than 80 countries and employed more than 4,800 professionals worldwide. Today, Ryan, LLC provides services in more than 60 countries and offers expertise in tax recovery, consulting, and software solutions.
As of 2022, the company was the largest indirect tax and property practice in North America, and the seventh-largest corporate tax company in the United States. Its business represents 97 percent of the companies that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and its team has recovered more than 4 billion USD in annual corporate tax savings.
Recognized as an innovator in his industry, Ryan has consistently pushed the boundaries of what tax service firms can achieve by leveraging technology and fostering an employee-centric workplace. His company’s “myRyan” work environment model has become a benchmark for organizational flexibility, promoting work-life balance and increased productivity and earning the company various recognitions for being a great place to work.
Additionally, The Ryan Foundation, the nonprofit arm of Ryan, LLC, has contributed millions of dollars to more than 200 charities since its inception.
Beyond his remarkable business success, Ryan’s influence on UNT has been transformative. In 2017, he made a historic 30 million USD donation to the College of Business, the largest gift in the college’s history. In recognition of his generosity and leadership, the college was renamed the G. Brint Ryan College of Business.
His contributions have enhanced academic programs, created six endowed chairs, funded scholarships, and supported innovative research that continues to propel the college to new heights. Beyond financial contributions, Ryan has also been an active and engaged alumnus. He served on the UNT System Board of Regents from 2009 to 2021 and has championed numerous initiatives to strengthen the university’s global reputation.
Ryan’s success can be attributed to his entrepreneurial vision, customer-first approach, and ability to evolve his business in response to market demands. Through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions, Ryan has turned his company into a global leader in tax services, making it one of the largest firms of its kind.
Additional Information
- “Ryan,” Ryan, LLC website
- “Practice Areas: Ryan Software,” Ryan, LLC website
- LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/brintryan/