ADA Accessibility Compliance Audits vs Stormwater BMP Inspections

Which unglamorous business is actually worth starting?

Short answer: ADA Accessibility Compliance Audits costs $3k$18k to start at ~55% margins; Stormwater BMP Inspections costs $3k$15k at ~50%. ADA Accessibility Compliance Audits is cheaper to start; ADA Accessibility Compliance Audits has the higher typical margin.
ADA Accessibility Compliance AuditsStormwater BMP Inspections
Startup cost$3k–$18k$3k–$15k
Typical net margin55%50%
Revenue potential$100k-$500k/yr solo-to-consulting-shop$120k-$450k/yr solo-to-small-crew
Profit score8/108/10
Ugliness score4/108/10
Category📋 Inspection & Compliance📋 Inspection & Compliance

⚖️ The verdict

ADA Accessibility Compliance Audits are the more polished ugly business: $2,500-$18,000 to start, 55% margins, and $100k-$500k/yr solo-to-consulting-shop. The ugliness is mostly paperwork, measurements, and explaining that “we’ve always done it this way” is not a compliance strategy.

Stormwater BMP Inspections start in a similar band at $2,500-$15,000, but margins are lower at 50% and revenue runs $120k-$450k/yr solo-to-small-crew. It is also uglier, literally: drains, runoff, mud, and sites that look like they lost an argument with gravity. Start ADA if… you want cleaner professional services and better margin. Start stormwater if… you prefer fieldwork, construction-adjacent clients, and dirt with recurring revenue attached.

FAQ

Is ADA Accessibility Compliance Audits or Stormwater BMP Inspections cheaper to start?

ADA Accessibility Compliance Audits is typically cheaper to start, from around $2,500 versus $2,500 for Stormwater BMP Inspections.

Which has higher margins, ADA Accessibility Compliance Audits or Stormwater BMP Inspections?

ADA Accessibility Compliance Audits reports the higher typical net margin at about 55%, compared with 50% for Stormwater BMP Inspections.

Should I start ADA Accessibility Compliance Audits or Stormwater BMP Inspections?

It depends on your capital and stomach: ADA Accessibility Compliance Audits runs $2,500–$18,000 at ~55% margin, while Stormwater BMP Inspections runs $2,500–$15,000 at ~50%. The full verdict is on the page.