Deciding if RMA Is the Right Fit for Your Environmental Audit

When people reach out about environmental audits, the question behind the question is usually this: “Are we the kind of company RMA works with... or should we look elsewhere?”

It’s a good question. Environmental audits aren’t one-size-fits-all. Sometimes, bringing us in is the smartest move you can make. Other times, we’ll be the first to tell you that you don’t really need us, or that a different provider would serve you better.

We’d rather be upfront now than waste your time or money later. So here’s the candid breakdown of when it makes sense to work with RMA, and when it probably doesn’t.

If, after reading this, you think you’re a fit, contact us here and we’ll walk you through next steps.

Table of Contents

• The RMA Environmental Audit Fit Matrix
• Examples of Where You Might Fall: Good Fits for an RMA Environmental Audit
• Other Factors that Matter for Environmental Audit Fit with RMA
• When RMA Might NOT Be the Right Fit for Your Audit
• Honesty Time: How Fit Affects the Price of Your Audit (and Vice Versa)
• Not Sure You’re a Fit, But Still Want to Work With Us?
• The Bottom Line: Let's Find Out if We're a Fit for Each Other!
• Additional Environmental Audit Information

The Environmental Audit Fit Matrix

So how do you know? We’ve found that the answer usually comes down to a mix of four things: your size, your type of operation, how many sites you have, and where those sites are located.

Think of it like a matrix. None of those factors alone is make-or-break. But when you put them together, the picture becomes clear: either we’re the right fit, or we’re not. Let’s walk through some real-world examples to help you figure out where you fall. This won’t apply perfectly to every business, but it should give you a solid idea of whether an RMA audit makes sense for you.

To put it plainly:

✅ We work best with mid-sized industrial or larger commercial companies - often East Coast-based or with multiple U.S. sites - that have real environmental responsibilities and want a centralized, proactive compliance program.

🚫 We usually don’t fit with very small, low-risk businesses that just need a one-off document, or massive national/international operations with lots of scattered sites and highly complex regulatory structures over a very wide footprint.

Examples of Where You Might Fall: Good Fits for an RMA Environmental Audit

Let’s look at a few examples of different types of businesses that might want an audit from us. Again, this isn’t a perfect science, but it should give you a clearer picture of where your company might land in the fit matrix.

Example 1: One Facility, Close to Home

If you’ve got a single facility on the East Coast, within striking distance of our team, that’s usually a good fit. It doesn't even really matter where your industry falls between light commercial and heavy industrial - as long as there’s real environmental exposure (oil storage, water discharges, chemical inventories, waste management) we can typically handle the audit quickly and cost-effectively. If you’ve got several clustered nearby, that’s even better. We can often visit multiple sites in a single trip, which saves you money and gives you consistent results.

Example 2: A Handful of Sites Across a Few States

Now imagine you’re a little more spread out: four facilities in Pennsylvania, two in Texas, and a couple more in California. They're moderately sized and moderately complex in terms of operations and environmental needs. That’s still a solid fit. Sure, travel comes into play. But if your operations share similar compliance needs and you’re not asking us to cover 50-plus sites, this is the kind of project we’re well-suited for. We can plan site visits efficiently, capture consistent data across your footprint, and give you one clear picture of where you stand.

Example 3: One Large Site, Far Away

Here’s another case we see: a single, larger-scale facility located outside our home base. Let’s say it’s a large manufacturing plant in California. Even though it’s just one site - and not geographically close - we’re still interested. If the operation is complex enough, with real regulatory exposure, it’s worth the travel. Geography and number of sites aren't always a dealbreaker. If the value is there, we’ll get on a plane to audit just one.

Other Factors That Matter for Environmental Audit Fit with RMA

Beyond the matrix, a few other things also help determine whether an RMA audit is the right move:

• Regulatory complexity: If you’re juggling multiple permits or operate across different states, we bring clarity where rules overlap or contradict.
• Regulatory pressure: If you’ve had inspections, violations, or just know regulators are circling your industry, our audits help you get ahead of issues before they turn into fines.
• Leadership changes or acquisitions: A fresh, independent perspective helps ensure nothing slips through the cracks during transitions.
• Proactive mindset: If you’d rather prevent problems than pay for them later, an audit is a relatively small investment compared to the cost of noncompliance.

When RMA Might NOT Be the Right Fit for Your Audit

Of course, we’re not the perfect fit for every company, and that’s by design. Sometimes a different type of provider (or no provider at all) makes more sense.

• You’re too big or too small. A massive national firm is better for Fortune 500s with dozens of facilities or very heavy/complex industries (like municipal utilities, oil refineries, etc.), while small low-risk businesses probably don’t need us at all.
• You just want something fast and cheap. If you’re only looking to check a compliance box, some firms specialize in quick, low-cost (and in our opinion, low-value) audits. That’s not us.
• You only want validation. If leadership just wants a rubber stamp, we’re not the right choice. Our audits are about surfacing actual risks and gaps, not just confirming assumptions for the sake of making management feel good.
• You’re in a rush with an impossible timeline. We work deliberately and thoroughly. If your timeline is “we need someone here tomorrow and a report by Friday,” we’re not going to promise what we can’t deliver.

Honesty Time: How Fit Affects the Price of Your Audit (and Vice Versa)

Here is the kind of honesty you rarely hear from a consulting firm: we are a business, and businesses have to make money. That means every project has to make sense for both sides. We look at what we can realistically charge, how much work the job will take, and whether those two things line up.

Think of it like hiring a contractor for building:

• Too small, not worth it. If all you need is a doorknob tightened, you would not call a contractor. You wouldn't want to pay much, and it wouldn't be worth their time. You'd want to pay 10 bucks, they'd need to charge $300 to cover for the work they could be doing instead. Better off finding a neighborhood handyman.
• Too big, out of scope. You wouldn't ask that same contractor to build a 40-story tower. It's just not their scale to do multi-million dollar construction projects. You need a glass-office real estate developer.
• The middle is where it clicks. A kitchen remodel or an addition is where a standard contractor does their best work, and where you get real value. That’s the sweet spot. It’s big enough that the contractor has meaningful work to do, but not so overwhelming that the whole job collapses under its own weight. The price you pay is fair, it keeps their crew paid and their business running, and in return, you get a high-quality end result that’s worth every penny.

Here is how that translates to price and value at RMA:

• Complexity drives cost. The more difficult, nuanced, or time-consuming the audit, the more we need to charge. Not because we’re trying to pad the invoice, but because complex work requires more hours, more expertise, and more costs on our end. That has to be priced accordingly.
• Tiny, simple jobs don’t pencil out. If you’re a small retail shop with almost no environmental exposure, we can’t (and won’t) charge you an arm and a leg. The fair price for that kind of work is so low that, frankly, it’s not worth our time to do it. We’d have to quote you something so low we don’t even feel good about working for (or so high that we can't justify it), and that’s not fair to either of us.
• Massive, high-stakes jobs aren’t our scale. On the other end, if you’ve got dozens of refineries or power plants scattered nationwide, the price tag for us to even attempt that work would be in the millions. That’s not the business we’re in. You’d be better off with a giant national firm that has hundreds of auditors ready to roll out.
• The middle is where it works. Mid-sized companies with a handful of facilities - that’s the sweet spot. There’s enough going on that we can roll up our sleeves, do real work, and deliver serious value. But it’s not so overwhelming that the job becomes impossible for a firm our size. For us, those projects are fulfilling and priced in a way that makes sense. For you, they’re thorough, affordable compared to the cost of noncompliance, and worth every penny.

So yes, we think about money. What you are willing to pay, what we would have to charge, and whether that equation makes sense. When it does, everyone wins. When it does not, we will tell you straight and point you to a better option.

Not Sure You’re a Fit, But Still Want to Work With Us?

If you’ve gone through this page and you’re thinking, “I don’t know if we’re the kind of company RMA usually works with…” - that’s okay.

If you’re still comparing options, not quite sure what you need, or just doing your research, feel free to keep us on the back burner. No pressure. No hard feelings. We’ll be here when (and if) you’re ready.

But if you’ve been through our website, learned a little about us, watched some of our videos, checked out our Learning Center, and thought to yourself, “I really want to work with RMA, I’m just not sure they’d be interested in my kind of project…” - please reach out.

We definitely want to talk to people who are excited about working with us, even if you’re unsure whether your project checks all the usual boxes. If you believe in what we do and think we might be the right team for you, let’s have that conversation. Reach out here and let’s figure it out together.

The Bottom Line: Let's Find Out if We're a Fit for Each Other!

We do our best work with mid-sized organizations that have one to several dozen facilities, mostly on the East Coast but often further afield if the project makes sense. If you want an audit that goes beyond paperwork - one that actually helps you stay compliant, avoid fines, and sleep better at night - then we’re probably the right partner for you.

If you’re not ready, or if your situation doesn’t match our strengths, that’s okay too. We’d rather point you in the right direction than oversell you. Want to find out where you stand? Reach out to us today and let’s talk about whether an RMA audit is the right next step for your business.

Online Environmental Assessment

Complete the following questions to get a compliance guide for your business. Instantly receive a report detailing high level environmental requirements and a custom price quote. Explore your options and see how we can support your compliance needs.

1. Do you store materials or conduct any processes outdoors at your location? Choose your response Yes, materials only Yes, processes only Yes, both No Not sure Please select an option.

Storing materials or conducting processes outdoors means that items such as raw materials, chemicals, equipment, or products are kept outside, exposed to the elements, or that certain activities like mixing, cutting, or painting are performed outdoors. These outdoor activities can affect how stormwater runoff is managed and may require specific environmental controls.

2. Does your operation discharge stormwater and/or process water? Choose your response Yes, we discharge stormwater or process water off-site Yes, we discharge stormwater or process water by evaporation or ground infiltration No, we don’t discharge stormwater or process water Not sure Please select an option.

Discharging stormwater and/or process water refers to the release of water from your operation into the environment, usually through drains, ditches, or directly into water bodies. Stormwater is runoff from rain or snow that can pick up pollutants as it flows over your site, while process water is used in industrial or manufacturing processes and may contain contaminants. If your operation channels water offsite, it may be considered a discharge.

3. Do you have hazardous materials stored onsite? Choose your response Yes No Not sure Please select an option.

A "hazardous material" is identified as anything that has a corresponding Safety Data Sheet (SDS) at your facility. These materials can include chemicals, fuels, solvents, or any other substances that are classified as hazardous due to their potential risk to health, safety, or the environment. If you store materials that require an SDS, they are considered hazardous.

3a. How would you describe your location’s size? Choose your response Less Than 10 employees More than 10 employees Please select an option.

Surprisingly, the size of your operation—including the number of staff members—can influence certain regulatory requirements. When calculating your total staff, remember to count any shared or part-time employees as half an employee.

4. Do you generate hazardous waste at your location? Choose your response Yes No Not sure Please select an option.

Hazardous waste refers to materials that are dangerous or potentially harmful once they are no longer usable or have been discarded. Common types include used solvents, leftover paint, spent pesticides, used oil, contaminated rags, batteries, and waste from industrial processes. If your operation produces or disposes of any of these materials, you may be generating hazardous waste.

5. Does your operation have materials, equipment, or engage in processes that emit air pollutants? Choose your response Yes No Not sure Please select an option.

Materials, equipment, or processes that emit air pollutants include anything that can release substances into the air that could be harmful to the environment or human health. This can include chemical reactions, combustion processes, or the use of certain industrial equipment.

6. Do you store or handle oil or petroleum products? Choose your response Yes No Not sure Please select an option.

Oil and petroleum products typically include a wide range of substances such as:

• Fuels like diesel, gasoline, and fuel oil
• Lubricating, motor, or hydraulic oils used in garages or maintenance
• Synthetic oils
• Cooking oils, animal fats, and greases
• Seed, nut, and vegetable oils
• Transformer oils
• Used or waste oils

When estimating the amount of oil stored at your location, only count containers that are 55 gallons or larger, including drums, totes, and above or below ground storage tanks.

6a. Enter how many gallons of oil you believe is stored on site.

7. How often do you conduct environmental training for your staff? Choose your response Annually Bi-annually Quarterly Monthly Not regularly Not sure Please select an option.

Environmental training is essential for ensuring that your staff are aware of and understand the environmental regulations and procedures that apply to your operation. The frequency of training can influence compliance with these regulations.

8. Which of the following best describes your operation’s primary activity? Choose your response Residential Commercial Industrial Agricultural Construction Projects Rural or Vacant Land Other Please select an option.

Your operation’s primary activity can affect the types of environmental regulations that apply. Different sectors have unique environmental challenges and requirements.

9. What is the primary goal of your environmental program? Choose your response Ensure Basic Compliance Enhance Environmental Performance Achieve Environmental Excellence Please select an option. 10. Your Email Address: Please enter a valid email address. Get Your Report!

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