Records Inventory & Assessment Service

Conduct physical inventory and assessment of organizational records

Startup Cost
$3,000-$10,000
Difficulty
Intermediate
Time to Profit
4-8 months
Profit Potential
$7,000-$33,000/month

Overview

Records inventory services charge $2,000-$15,000 per project or $30-$60 per hour.

Completing 15-40 inventory projects annually generates $80,000-$400,000 annually with 70-85% margins.

In 2025, organizations often don't know what records they have or where they're stored.

Services include physical records inventory and counting, box-level or file-level cataloging, records classification and identification, storage space assessment, recommendations for organization, and compliance gap analysis.

Successful inventory services work efficiently in file rooms and storage areas, accurately catalog records, identify compliance issues, provide detailed reports and recommendations, and complete projects quickly (1-5 days typical).

Can serve businesses, law firms, government agencies, and healthcare providers.

Many organizations inventory before moving offices, implementing document management systems, or during M&A due diligence.

Marketing through move management companies, document scanning firms, and records management consultants.

Required Skills

  • Records Classification
  • Inventory Methods
  • Efficiency & Speed
  • Reporting & Analysis
  • Physical Work
  • Project Management

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Low startup costs (minimal equipment)
  • Clear project scope and timeline
  • Can work independently or small teams
  • Leads to additional work (scanning, storage)
  • Straightforward service delivery

Cons

  • Physical demanding work in file rooms
  • Dusty and sometimes unpleasant conditions
  • Lower revenue per project ($2K-$15K)
  • Project-based (not recurring revenue)
  • Must work efficiently to be profitable

How to Get Started

  1. Develop efficient inventory methodologies
  2. Create standardized reporting templates
  3. Set pricing (per-project or hourly)
  4. Target businesses and government agencies
  5. Market through moving companies and consultants
  6. Complete inventory projects efficiently
  7. Upsell scanning, storage, or consulting services

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