The Kind of Businesses We Click With
Are you tired of shopping around for consultants? Is it a hassle trying to figure out who's a good fit, or whether they can even help you out in the first place?
If that sounds familiar, then let's talk. To put it plainly- some relationships just click, and others just feel like work. After working with hundreds of companies over the years, we’ve learned to spot the difference in who we work with once and move on, compared to clients who have relied on us for decades, so let's talk about that.
We’re open about when and why we say “no thanks” to some projects. Because if we’re not the right fit, no one wins. Not us, not you. We’d rather be honest upfront and say we don't know about that regulation, or aren't the right fit to go work on that project in the middle of Maine in the winter (but we're always open to projects in Hawaii)!
Here's the thing, when it all lines up, and we fit the project and our client right, that’s when we do our best, most impactful work.
If you’re wondering whether your company might be a good fit for RMA, let’s walk through what that looks like. And if anything we say here resonates with you, reach out and start a conversation with us.
Our Top "Right Fit" Considerations
The Top Reasons Businesses Are the Right Fit for RMA
Over time, we’ve started to notice the same themes popping up in the clients who really thrive with us. Call this our wish list, or ideal traits. However you want to spin it, these things might not apply to everyone, on every project, across every industry, or in every state. Here’s what we’ve seen time and time again in the companies we love working with:
Companies Who Want the Work Done Right and Aren’t Just Shopping on Price
Since this is the number one thing we get asked about (rightfully so), we want to address this right out of the gate.
We’ve always been transparent about our pricing, and that means being honest about the fact that we're not the most expensive firm out there, and also not the cheapest.
Our team is made up of experienced professionals who take their work seriously. We invest the time to do things correctly, not just quickly. That means fewer surprises, fewer mistakes, and a lot more confidence that your compliance needs are actually covered. That also means we're not going to rip you off, but our price tag might be a little higher than another firm down the street.
I can say with confidence that we've accidentally seen some of our competitors' invoices, proposals, or projects scoped out. Accidents happen! I can also say with confidence, our pricing is almost always in line with similar environmental consulting companies. Sure, you can find a hack to do a Phase I for $2,000 in this day in age. Or someone will write you a SWPPP for $500 - good luck with that! I'm talking about another firm that's out there, helping customers, focusing in on core service areas with a team of seasoned experts, and a nice website that also explains who they're a good fit for!
The truth is, good consulting isn't cheap, but doing things right the first time costs less in the long run. We staff your work with experienced professionals who know what they’re doing, and we have a team to support. We’ve been called in too many times to clean up after a bargain-bin job went sideways. We've also been called after people spent a fortune on a national firm that wasn't worth it. Our best clients understand that investing in themselves means fewer headaches, fewer violations, and more peace of mind.
Companies Who Are Prepared to Be Involved
No, we don’t expect you to become an environmental expert, that's our job. But we do need access to someone who can answer questions, send documents, and be responsive.
The best projects happen when our clients meet us halfway. If you ghost us for three weeks at a time, the work will stall and your project will come screeching to a halt. Not good for us, not good for you. You wouldn't expect your accountant to handle your filings if you never provided them your paystubs, would you?
Great clients understand that our partnership is a two-way street. You hired us to get things done, but we'll have some questions about you along the way. Now that doesn’t mean dropping everything at a moment’s notice, but it does mean being responsive, organized, and committed to keeping things moving. If you can send us the info we need, pick up the phone when things are urgent, and stay in the loop, we’ll make your life a whole lot easier. But if your approach is “set it and forget it,” that could make our job harder (or impossible) to do.
Companies Who See Environmental Compliance as the Bare Minimum (Because It Is)
Let’s be honest: no one wakes up excited about SPCC Plans or Tier II reporting. But here’s the thing: compliance isn’t optional, it’s the legal baseline. It's like driving the speed limit or paying your taxes.
We’ve worked with folks who’ve just seen it as annoying and unnecessary. Clients who've rolled their eyes and asked "I really need to do all this nonsense?". I've heard the most descriptive ways of saying "this is BS" over the years because people find out something they don't want to hear.
I get it. We call it environmental whiplash, and it's when you find out that yeah, actually, there are some rules that impact you. And some of them might cost a couple of bucks, or come with strings attached, be annoying, or seem idiotic. I think the speed limit I drive on the road to my office is way too low all things considered, but I don't need a ticket and points on my license so I follow the rules.
We like working with people who accept the reality, own the responsibility, and want help getting it right. You don’t need to build a shiny zero-waste solar-powered whatever to be a good fit for us. But you do need to understand that environmental regulations exist, most of them exist for a pretty decent reason, and meeting them is just part of doing business responsibly in your community. If you’re the kind of person who's going to get into compliance kicking and screaming, it’s probably not going to be a great match.
Companies Who Are Ready & Willing to Change
Maybe that last example used to be you, but now, you’re ready to fix things. You’ve realized that whatever system (or lack of system) was in place just isn’t cutting it anymore. We’ve worked with plenty of businesses that started off in a rough spot. Some were ignoring compliance without fully realizing the risk. Others were doing their best but never really had the right tools, people, or support in place.
Sometimes it’s a change in leadership that sparks the shift. A new owner steps in and wants to raise the bar. A plant manager gets promoted and finally has the authority to clean up longstanding issues. Or maybe you’ve gotten a notice of violation, and it was the wake-up call you didn’t know you needed. These turning points happen more often than people think, and they don’t have to be a source of shame.
That’s okay. In fact, we love working with companies who are turning over a new leaf. We find these clients to be some of the most motivated we work with. So if you’re ready to take environmental compliance seriously, even if you haven’t in the past, we’re here for it.
Companies Who Actually Need What We Do
This one is kind of obvious, but it’s worth pointing out. We do a lot here at RMA, but we're not a firm that tries to do everything for everyone just to get another deal on the books.
If you're looking for an environmental partner who can handle permitting, plans, approvals, reporting, training, and other similar environmental programs? We’re all in. That’s our bread and butter. If you're facing SPCC plan requirements, stormwater permitting, EPCRA reporting, waste management, need a training program for your staff, or want to build an organized environmental management system, you're squarely in our wheelhouse. We do a lot more than that as well!
If you need someone to do lab work, field sampling at a remote location, ecological surveys, or dig a bunch of holes for remediation? That’s not us. We’re happy to refer you elsewhere, but we won’t pretend to do it all. Our best-fit clients need the services we’re actually built to deliver, and trust us to deliver them exceptionally well.
Companies Who Are Tech-Savvy (or at Least Tech-Willing)
We’re not asking you to be Silicon Valley. But we do need to be able to email you. And if you’re still asking us to fax something or your company-provided flip phone doesn't have a camera on it (yes, we have worked with companies like this... recently), we’re probably going to have a hard time (we did).
At RMA we live in the 21st century and embrace technology to create more efficient systems that make compliance faster, simpler, and more reliable for our clients. We’re always trying to find new cool ways to build tools, systems, and ways to communicate. You don’t need to be a tech genius, but it does help if you're comfortable with email, your smartphone, a computer, and basic internet usage (and we assume you are given that you’re here!).
Companies Who Want to Build Real, Functional Environmental Programs
We’re happy to help with a one-and-done project. A lot of our long-time customers use us for one-and-done projects, and we're happy to be there as a tool to rely on! If you need a single permit or an environmental audit? We’ve got you. But where we really shine is in helping companies build full environmental programs - the kind where your environmental responsibilities work together in a clean modern system like a well-oiled machine.
For a lot of our clients, that means starting with an audit, working through compliance, and eventually turning you loose on your own. We're talking clear internal processes, training that actually sticks and works, documentation that is organized and makes sense, and a schedule that helps you stay ahead of deadlines, not scramble to meet them. If you're hiring a private chef, they should probably make the whole meal, not just bring a side dish.
Our best relationships are with clients who want to get their entire environmental house in order, not just throw a bucket under a leak. If you’re trying to build a compliance strategy that actually lasts and keeps you out of trouble year after year (not just looking for a quick fix), we’re your people.
Companies That Aren’t Too Big… or Too Small!
We’re a relatively small firm with a lot of capabilities. That means we can move fast, stay flexible, and give our clients a level of personal attention that’s hard to find at larger firms. But we also know our limits, and we’re honest about them.
At our current capacity, we’re not set up to manage the environmental portfolio for 100 oil refineries across 15 countries. At the same time, if you’re running a one-man machine shop out of a small garage with minimal needs, you might not really need us for anything at all.
We work best with companies that have outgrown the “figure it out as we go” phase, but haven’t quite made it to the “we need to hire internally or spend millions on a legal team to handle this” phase. Clients like manufacturing facilities, companies managing a handful of locations across multiple states, and even some smaller commercial operations seem to be the sweet spot for us. We've worked in vacant fields, in cutting-edge data centers, theme parks, government facilities, sprawling manufacturing sites, and micro-businesses doing really unique things!
So… Are We A Match for Your Business?
If you see your business in what we just described, you’re probably a great fit for RMA. We love working with smart, practical companies that care about doing things the right way -not just checking a box, but really building something that works.
Whether you’re juggling multiple facilities, trying to get a handle on all your reporting deadlines, or finally ready to stop flying by the seat of your pants, we’re here to help. Our team brings real-world experience, proven systems, and no-nonsense guidance to the table. We know the regulations, we know how to make sense of them, and we know how to keep you moving forward, without the stress.
We’re not going to overwhelm you with jargon or expect you to do the heavy lifting - that's why you're hiring us. What we will do is show up, dig in, and help make environmental compliance feel manageable, strategic, and maybe even a little satisfying.
If that sounds like the kind of support you’ve been looking for, let’s talk.
Environmental Compliance: Simplified
Green Strategies: Elevating Beyond Compliance
Environmental Training: Empower and Educate
Phase I Environmental Site Assessments
Data Centers
Cannabis
Marine
Concrete
Investors / M&A
Warehouses
