OSHA Safety Compliance Audits vs Stormwater BMP Inspections

Which unglamorous business is actually worth starting?

Short answer: OSHA Safety Compliance Audits costs $4k$25k to start at ~50% margins; Stormwater BMP Inspections costs $3k$15k at ~50%. Stormwater BMP Inspections is cheaper to start; OSHA Safety Compliance Audits has the higher typical margin.
OSHA Safety Compliance AuditsStormwater BMP Inspections
Startup cost$4k–$25k$3k–$15k
Typical net margin50%50%
Revenue potential$120k–$600k/yr consultant-to-small-firm$120k-$450k/yr solo-to-small-crew
Profit score8/108/10
Ugliness score6/108/10
Category📋 Inspection & Compliance📋 Inspection & Compliance

⚖️ The verdict

OSHA Safety Compliance Audits are the broader professional play: $4,000-$25,000 to start, 50% margins, and $120k-$600k/yr as a consultant-to-small-firm. It suits someone who can walk a floor, read a policy, interview managers, and calmly explain why “probably fine” is not a safety program.

Stormwater BMP Inspections are cheaper to enter at $2,500-$15,000, also 50% margin, and run $120k-$450k/yr solo-to-small-crew. It is narrower, more physical, and uglier in the honest way: runoff, drains, sediment, and boots that have seen things. Start OSHA if… you want the larger consulting upside and broader client problems. Start stormwater if… you want lower startup cost and field inspections with less boardroom theater.

FAQ

Is OSHA Safety Compliance Audits or Stormwater BMP Inspections cheaper to start?

Stormwater BMP Inspections is typically cheaper to start, from around $2,500 versus $4,000 for OSHA Safety Compliance Audits.

Which has higher margins, OSHA Safety Compliance Audits or Stormwater BMP Inspections?

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

Should I start OSHA Safety Compliance Audits or Stormwater BMP Inspections?

It depends on your capital and stomach: OSHA Safety Compliance Audits runs $4,000–$25,000 at ~50% margin, while Stormwater BMP Inspections runs $2,500–$15,000 at ~50%. The full verdict is on the page.