How much does an ESG report cost?
The cost of producing an ESG report depends on whether a company chooses to work with a consultant, utilise software, or complete it in-house. Hiring a sustainability consultant typically costs between €5,000 and €25,000, whereas specialised ESG software such as ESG Lift is available from just €890 annually. For most SMEs, leveraging software represents the most cost-effective solution for their ESG reporting needs.
How much does a voluntary sustainability report cost with a consultant?
Sustainability consultants typically charge between €5,000 and €25,000 to prepare a voluntary sustainability report, depending on the size of the company, operational complexity, and the scope of advisory services. This fee generally includes stakeholder interviews, data collection, materiality analysis, and ESG report preparation. This approach is highly effective if comprehensive strategic advisory and ESG strategy development are required alongside reporting.
How much does a voluntary sustainability report cost using software?
Specialised ESG reporting software significantly reduces the cost of compliance:
• ESG Lift (up to 10 employees): €590/year
• ESG Lift (11–50 employees): €890/year
• ESG Lift (51–1,000 employees): €1,590/year
These subscriptions include the VS Assist AI chatbot, a hybrid greenhouse gas / CO₂ calculator, EFRAG-aligned PDF export, and unlimited annual reports.
Are there any hidden costs?
With a software-based solution, there are virtually no hidden costs – no consultant fees, hourly rates, or travel expenses. The internal time investment in the first year typically ranges from 1 to 3 hours for ESG data collection and input. In subsequent years, this effort is significantly reduced by importing prior-year data.
Does a voluntary sustainability report deliver a financial ROI?
The ROI calculation clearly favours ESG reporting: an improved ESG rating can optimise corporate borrowing terms by 0.1 to 0.5 percentage points. On a loan of €500,000, this translates to annual savings of €500 to €2,500 solely from lower interest rates. Additional commercial benefits include winning public tenders and retaining preferred supplier status in sustainable supply chains.
VS report costs at a glance: Consultant fees vs software solutions, ESG Lift pricing, and when the ESG report delivers a financial return on investment.