"We're too small." "We don't manufacture anything." "We just provide services." If you've had these thoughts about emissions reporting, you're not alone. However, every business has an environmental impact through its spending, and measuring this is
"But We Only Provide Services!"
"We Don't Make Physical Products"
That's fine! Service businesses still have environmental impacts through:
- Office operations spending
- Business travel expenses
- Purchased services and supplies
- Professional services costs
Common Service Business Examples
You might be a:
- Consulting firm
- Professional services provider
- Software company
- Financial services business
- Marketing agency
- Design studio
Your spend data helps calculate your emissions impact, even without physical production.
"Our Business is Different..."
"We Work From Home"
If you operate from home:
- Provide your business-related expenses only
- Include relevant travel costs
- Report professional service purchases
- Include technology and equipment spending
"We Share Our Office Space"
For businesses sharing facilities:
- Focus on your business-specific expenses
- Include your portion of shared costs
- Report your direct business purchases
- Include relevant service contracts
"We're Seasonal"
If your operations vary throughout the year:
- Provide full-year spend data
- Include all seasonal operations
- Report slow-period expenses
- Include year-round service costs
"But Most of Our Costs Are..."
"Just Salaries"
That's common for service businesses. Focus on:
- Non-salary operational expenses
- Business travel and meetings
- Office supplies and services
- Professional service purchases
"Contractor Payments"
Include spending on:
- Contractor services
- Project-specific purchases
- Shared resource costs
- Support services
"Digital Services"
Report spending on:
- Technology services
- Software subscriptions
- Digital infrastructure
- Support services
Making It Work for Your Business
Focus on What You Can Track
- Professional service purchases
- Business travel expenses
- Office-related costs
- Technology spending
Keep It Simple
Even without physical products, you can:
- Monitor your spending patterns
- Identify efficiency opportunities
- Make informed supplier choices
- Understand your environmental impact
Still unsure if this applies to your business? Contact our support team at support@emitwise.com or through our platform chat. We can help you understand how emissions reporting works for your specific situation.
Remember: Every business, regardless of type or size, has an environmental impact through its spending. Understanding this impact is the first step toward sustainable business practices.
"We Don't Have the Budget/ Resources"
As a small business, every resource counts. The good news? Emissions reporting doesn't require a big budget or dedicated sustainability team. Here's how to make it work with what you have.
"We Can't Afford New Systems"
Use What You Already Have
You already have what you need:
- Your accounting software
- Existing business records
- Regular expense tracking
- Basic spreadsheet tools
No New Tools Required
When your customer requests emissions reporting through Emitwise, you get:
- Free access to our calculation platform
- Support from our expert team
- Tools for data analysis
- Resources for improvement
"We Don't Have a Dedicated Team"
Work With Your Existing Staff
Usually, one person who handles your business finances can manage this process:
- Someone who sees your expenses
- A person who manages supplier relationships
- Your office manager
- Your finance person
Minimal Time Investment
- Initial setup: About an hour
- Data gathering: Using existing records
- Submission: Simple upload process
- Review: Quick check of results
Making the Most of Your Resources
Smart Shortcuts
- Export data directly from your accounting system
- Use existing expense categories
- Leverage current supplier information
- Build on processes you already have
Focus on Progress
- Start with readily available information
- Improve data quality over time
- Use insights to reduce costs
- Build efficient processes gradually
Need guidance on working within your constraints? Contact our support team at support@emitwise.com or through our platform chat. We understand small business limitations and can help you find practical solutions.
Remember: Sustainability doesn't require big budgets - it starts with understanding your current spending patterns.