Business Overview:

Now is a great time to start an energy consulting business, and generate some fantastic profits while helping to protect the future of our planet. It is now widely recognized that we must develop more sustainable and renewable forms of energy and ways of living in order to protect the environment and our planet. As a result, energy consulting has become a multi-billion dollar industry and you can cash in on this booming green industry and contribute to the protection of our world by starting an energy consulting business. With an energy consulting business, you consult with homeowners on how to make their homes more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. By doing so you’ll not only be doing your bit for the environment, you’ll also be saving your clients money as a result of lowering their utility bills. To achieve this, you’ll visit and assess your clients’ homes in order to determine wasteful energy usage, and make suggestions on how they can improve the efficiency of their energy use either by making changes to the structure and materials of their home, or by taking such actions as installing solar energy panels. If you’re passionate about the environment, now is an excellent time to start this business as projections indicate that the market for green energy services is set to grow substantially in the years to come. For example, recent research suggests that the home energy industry will grow from $8.1 billion USD to $23.4 billion USD over the next five years. This is due in part to the growth in a global awareness and acceptance of the need for both conservation and for more environmentally friendly forms of energy usage. It is also due to the fact that homeowners are increasingly realizing that going green can save them money, both in the short term and the long term. In addition, governments around the world are increasingly encouraging efficient energy usage, with billions of dollars in tax incentives being offered to entice homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient. You can start to serve this ever-growing green market and generate very respectable profits at a low start-up cost. Business ideas like this one will be more successful if you have proper training. But you can usually complete the energy consulting training you need locally and in a reasonably short period of time. Therefore, if you’ve got the desire and hunger to contribute to the betterment of our world, and you want to build a profitable and successful green business doing it, learning how to become an energy consultant might be the best decision you could make.

A Day in the Life of an Energy Consulting Business Owner:

As an energy consulting business owner, you day will begin with a check of your calendar to see which clients you are booked to meet with. You will then travel to your client’s residence and carry out an audit of their house to assess the efficiency of their energy usage. Having done so, you will compile a report showing your findings and suggestions on how your clients can make improvements. Your report might suggest your clients make changes to the structure and materials of their home or it might suggest they take action such as installing solar energy panels on their roofs. Of course, with this business you could hire energy consultants to work and carry out your energy audits for you, in which case a typical day would be spent marketing your energy consulting business to win new clients and further increase your profits.

About Your Customers:

Your clients will be homeowners who want to lower their energy bills and become more environmentally friendly by improving the efficiency of their energy usage.

What You Need to Start:

• Training in energy consulting
• Marketing (website, flyers, ads, word of mouth, etc.)
• Computer
• Business license
• Financial tracking software

The Good:

• Your business will be contributing to the protection of the environment and the planet.
• You’ll be making your clients happy by saving them money on their energy bills.
• The green energy industry is booming—meaning you can expect both the demand for your services and your profits to continue to grow in the years to come.
• You can start this business at a low cost.
• You can start and run this business from the comfort of your own home (although you will need to travel to your clients’ homes).

The Bad:

• Some of your clients may be resistant to long-term energy solutions such as installing solar energy panels as they can be expensive and clients won’t usually see a quick return on their investment.
• You may find that many prospective clients are still resistant to the need to take environmentally friendly action in their homes.

Resources:

• Association of Professional Energy Consultants
• International Solar Energy Society
• California Association of Building Energy Consultants
• Wikipedia on Energy Conservation

Technorati Tags: energy consulting business, how to become an energy consultant

Business Overview:

If you’re looking for a small business venture that will allow you to make a huge impact on the environment, you should start a cooking oil filtration business. There are tens of thousands of fast food restaurants in the US alone, hundreds of thousands worldwide. The majority of these restaurants use cooking oil for french fries and other fried menu items. Add to that the thousands of other types of restaurants that offer fried items on their menus. This turns into a major environmental issue when these restaurants generate tons of waste oil. A business that cleans the oil and properly disposes of the waste material offers an eco-friendly solution that eating establishments will gladly pay for. They’ll also appreciate benefits such as an improvement in their food quality, a reduction in liability and reduction in frying costs. As the business owner, operating a green business also makes you eligible for government tax incentives. As you can see, green business ideas offer many benefits to both the recycling business and the customer. When starting an oil filtration business, you must decide if you want to purchase a franchise. This option will be more costly at first but it comes with equipment, marketing assistance, a protected territory and a list of clients. You can start with one truck or van and as your business grows, you can add vehicles to your fleet and increase the size of your staff. Another advantage of running a business like this is the residual income you will receive from your clients since you will need to perform oil filtration at their restaurants on a regular basis. In addition to advertising on your vehicles, consider placing ads in the phone book and executing a direct mail campaign to area restaurants explaining your services. You can also market your services to area schools. Securing a contract to service all the schools in a district is a great way to increase profits. Once you get a few clients, word will spread among the restaurant community and you likely need to scale up your business in order to handle the demand.

A Day in the Life of a Cooking Oil Filtration Business Owner:

Your day will begin with a check of your appointments. You or your staff will travel to restaurants and perform your oil filtration service. When you are not working at a restaurant, or if your staff handles those duties for you, you will spend your day marketing your business around town.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be restaurant owners and managers needing oil filtration services. You may also have schools on your client list.

What You Need to Start:

• Oil filtration equipment
• Van or truck
• Marketing plan and materials
• Staff (optional)
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• The demand for this type of business is huge.
• You will earn residual income from regular services.
• You do not have to have a storefront for this business.
• Green businesses are eligible for tax incentives.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.

The Bad:

• Start-up investment is high.
• If you don’t purchase a franchise, it can take some time to build your client list.

Resources:

• National Recycling Coalition
• Green Restaurant Association
• Wikipedia on Cooking Oil

Technorati Tags: cooking oil filtration business

Business Overview:

Starting a cloth diaper business is not only environmentally friendly but a great way to tap into a trend that is coming back into popularity. Before the advent of disposable diapers, cloth diapers were parents’ only option. They were bulky, unattractive and hard to fold and pin. Disposables are easy to use but rough on the environment because they are not biodegradable. A baby will go through more than 4,000 diaper changes before being fully potty trained. That can add up to over $1,200 USD for diapers that will be used once, soiled, then sit in a landfill. Today’s cloth diapers are not only easy to use, they come in adorable designs, don’t need pins and offer parents a terrific option that lessens their carbon footprint. So why don’t more parents use this earth friendly option? In a word – cleaning. With disposables, you simply throw the mess away; a cloth diaper has to be cleaned so it can be reused. This can be a less than appealing process which is why operating a diaper service is one of the best business ideas out there today. Picking up, laundering and delivering clean cloth diapers is a valuable service that parents will gladly pay for. All you need to get started is a commercial sized washer and dryer and some detergent. Doing the laundering yourself will bring in more profits but you could also send the diapers to a third party laundry service. You’ll also need a van or large vehicle to handle pickup and delivery. Consider a magnetic sign on your vehicle advertising your business. Be sure your phone number and email address are prominent. If you have a website, be sure it’s easy to remember so drivers can make a mental note without having to write it down. Once you have your process sorted out, you’ll need to market your new business. Leave fliers at local baby stores, try to get a list of new births from area hospitals and find listings for local doulas, midwives and baby planners. Send out fliers to this list of prospective clients explaining your service and its benefits. Once you get a few clients on your list, not only will their repeat business keep you busy but word of mouth will be a powerful marketing tool that costs nothing. You may soon find your business in need of additional vans and personnel to handle the workload.

A Day in the Life of a Cloth Diaper Business Owner:

Your day will begin with a check of your appointments. If you are handling the pickup, you will map your route and make your way around town picking up soiled diapers from your customers. You will take them to your laundry facilities (or a third party laundry) and start the cleaning process. Next you will organize cleaned diapers and arrange them for delivery. You or your staff will deliver cleaned diapers to your clients and schedule future pickup dates. You will also spend part of your day marketing your business to area baby stores and other places new moms frequent.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be parents of babies in diapers looking for an easy way to be environmentally friendly.

What You Need to Start:

• Van or other vehicle for transport of diapers
• Website (optional)
• Washers and driers (or laundry facilities)
• Marketing materials
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• This is a service that environmentally conscious parents will pay top dollar for.
• Start-up costs are relatively low.
• Franchises are available to help you get started.
• Green businesses are eligible for tax incentives.
• You can easily run this business part time.

The Bad:

• The work can be repetitive.
• It can take some time to build up your client list.

Resources:

• National Association of Diaper Services
• Real Diaper Association
• Real Diaper Industry Association
• Wikipedia on Diapers

Technorati Tags: starting a cloth diaper business

Business Overview:

If you are looking for a truly unique green business, you should start an antifreeze recycling business. Antifreeze isn’t just used in automobiles; in fact, the automotive industry is just one on a long list of businesses that use antifreeze every day. Industries such as mining, logging, water industries (marine, ocean, river), oil exploration, construction and farming use antifreeze in massive quantities. Once antifreeze is used, there are only three options available for this waste coolant: pour it out (illegal), pay a licensed hazardous waste business to dispose of it (expensive), or recycle it. Obviously recycling this waste material is the best option. The antifreeze recycling business is one of the major untapped green business ideas out there today. We all know it’s important to recycle but to be able to do so with toxic chemicals is a giant leap forward in today’s green movement. You will need to seek out the proper equipment in order to properly recycle your customers’ waste antifreeze. You can find such equipment online. While the investment is not small, the return is virtually unlimited. Most recycling units can fit in the back of a pickup truck so you don’t even need a special vehicle to transport your equipment. The amount of money your business can make depends on how much coolant you recycle and how much you charge. As an example, you will probably recycle about 50 gallons of coolant at each stop. Working a full day, you can make about six stops a day equally 300 gallons. The cost to recycle one gallon of antifreeze is about 15-45 cents (USD). If you charge $2.50 USD per gallon, that’s $750 USD per day and over $180,000 USD per year. The best part of this business is it’s an easy sell. If you give a potential client the choice of dumping, paying someone to haul it off or recycling the waste, most of the time they will choose the environmentally friendly third option. Not only is this option best for the planet but government tax incentives are available for green businesses. As you can see, there is a huge opportunity available for the entrepreneur willing to make an investment that will turn into a sizeable contribution to the environmental movement.

A Day in the Life of an Antifreeze Recycling Business Owner:

Your day will begin with a check of your schedule to see if you have any appointments that day. Once you have a few clients, you will be going back to those businesses on a regular basis. You will spend some time each day researching new businesses to market your services to. You will need to have a website set up so your clients can get a better understanding of your services and cost breakdown. If you have a staff driving the route(s) for you, you will coordinate with them throughout the day to make sure they’re making all their stops and that everything is running smoothly.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be businesses that use antifreeze in varying quantities that need recycling services.

What You Need to Start:

• Antifreeze recycling equipment
• Truck or other vehicle to transport equipment
• Driver (if not driving yourself)
• Website
• Marketing plan
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• Demand for this business is high.
• Businesses get tax incentives for recycling.
• You can charge top dollar for these services.
• Once you are familiar with how to perform the recycling services, it’s a simple process.
• Once you are a well-established business, you can add additional trucks and equipment to your fleet.

The Bad:

• The startup investment is high.
• It can take some time to get your first few clients and turn a profit.

Resources:

• National Recycling Coalition
• Construction Materials Recycling Association
• Automotive Recyclers Association
• Wikipedia on Recycling

Technorati Tags: start an antifreeze recycling business

Business Overview:

If you are looking for a business idea that is easy to start, profitable, and green, you must learn more about how to open a consignment shop. Opening a consignment shop can be exciting and fairly easy. What you need to start, aside from the usual business license, permit, and insurance, is a good storefront location. Once you’ve gotten this far, a catchy name and a supply of the type of inventory you are interested in selling will get you on your way to starting a consignment shop that is fun and profitable. The inventory you’ll need to start a consignment store comes from individuals who want to sell their gently used goods but who want a reputable store to help them sell their items. This can be a real win-win situation in that you get your shop’s inventory for free (on promise) and the client has an opportunity to sell their treasures for a solid profit without any of the work. Plus, you can decide precisely which items you want to stock for sale and which ones you want to pass on. While you might initially think of a consignment shop as a place to sell used clothing, there are so many more options. You might choose to sell home goods or baby gear, or perhaps your store is chockablock with decorative treasures for the home that you adore. You could even focus on more practical household items such as dishes and pictures to help the first time homeowner. In this business model, the world is yours. After you and the client have signed off on a consignment policy outlining all the details of your business transaction, you put the items up for sale in your store. When the item sells, you contact your client (usually on a monthly basis) and they receive the percentage of the profits that they agreed upon in the consignment policy. When you’ve figured out how to start a consignment shop that fits your entrepreneurial desires, you can rest on your laurels knowing that you’re doing your part to reduce, reuse, and recycle while you and your clients profit.

A Day in the Life of a Consignment Shop Business Owner:

Once your shop is ready for business, a typical day will start with a review of your inventory. This is crucial since you will not only be looking to profit on your stock, you will also be beholden to your clients and so you’ll need to ensure that you are super organized when it comes to inventory. Next, you will want to see that your salable stock is in pristine condition and that your store looks as good as a retail store with brand-new items for sale. The goal here is to eradicate any feelings a potential customer might have that things in your store are “used” and therefore sub-par. You will also want to decide how you’ll accept items on consignment. Perhaps you allot certain days for drop-offs or maybe you schedule one-on-one meetings with your clients to review their goods. Regardless, getting your hands on the next wave of inventory will always be on your mind. Finally, reviewing your finances and ensuring that you and your clients are profiting well from your sales will keep your business afloat and a smile on your face.

About Your Customers:

In this business, you will have customers and you will have clients. Your customers will be browsers and shoppers who are looking for gently used treasures for a good deal less than they were originally priced. Your clients will be those savvy individuals who brought items in on consignment for you to sell on their behalf. They will be looking forward to earning money on something they no longer use without having to do any of the work in selling it.

What You Need to Start:

• A storefront location
• Business license, permit, and insurance
• Inventory on consignment
• Detailed consignment contracts and legal paperwork, plus a customer return policy
• Employees, if you desire
• Inventory-tracking software
• Financial-tracking software

The Good:

• You can start this business with a reasonable investment—about $10,000 USD.
• Your inventory is populated for free.
• You will be helping the environment in the sense that your store naturally encourages people to reuse items instead of buying them new.
• You will be helping your clients earn money from their unwanted goods.
• You can include employees to help run your shop, thereby providing a good local small business.

The Bad:

• The startup, though reasonable, is still enough that you should be quite serious about your interest in a business like this before you jump in.
• It takes a bit more work to make your shop enticing since your items are used—you’ll want to make sure everything you sell is sparkling clean.

Resources:

• Association of Resale Professionals
• American Apparel and Footwear Association
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Clothing, Accessory and General Merchandise Stores
• Wikipedia on Consignment

Technorati Tags: how to open a consignment shop, how to start a consignment shop, opening a consignment shop, start a consignment store, starting a consignment shop

Business Overview:

Weddings are big business, but these days helping the betrothed save money is vital, and here’s where a used wedding gown store can be a great business idea. To start a business like this, you will need a solid chunk of startup capital (think: $10,000 to $15,000 USD) and a retail location for your store. Your location will have to be accessible and large enough to house your inventory of gently used wedding gowns. Speaking of inventory, you can build yours by purchasing gowns outright from individuals or you can work on consignment or even a combination of the two. If you buy your inventory, you’ll want to get the gowns for a very competitive price so that you can offer deep discounts to your own customers, which is why consignment can work so well in this business. It keeps your startup costs in check and still enables your business to profit well with each sale. Because you’ll want to offer personalized attention to each bride-to-be, you’ll also likely want to elicit the help of competent salespeople to run your store and help your customers find the perfect wedding gown. With the additional prerequisites like a business license and permit, plus insurance to protect your assets, you can open your store and watch as brides-to-be find their dream dress at a great price.

A Day in the Life of a Used Wedding Gown Business Owner:

A typical day will start with a check on your inventory and a review of your store to ensure your gowns are displayed in the most sales worthy fashion. You will also want to keep your sales staff up to date on your business goals, and check in with everyone to keep the store running smoothly. Aside from your stock and your salespeople, your calendar will be your saving grace. Each day, you’ll want to make sure you know which customers need their gowns on which days and have them set aside and ready for pick-up. The easier you make this process on your brides, the more successful your store will be. Finally, you’ll have to keep a close eye on revenue and expenses so that you know best how to price your gowns and how many you need to sell to keep your profits high.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be future brides who want to find a beautiful gown for their wedding day without breaking the bank. Some customers might just be in the market to browse, but many will come seriously seeking their dream dress. It’s up to you and your staff to provide them with the same experience they would have in an upscale gown store as you show them dresses with price tags that make them smile.

What You Need to Start:

• A storefront location
• A supply of used wedding gowns
• Business license, permit, and insurance
• A competent sales staff
• Financial-tracking software

The Good:

• This type of business can grow with your experience and can be very rewarding, both personally and professionally.
• You will be providing a valuable business for brides-to-be and for the local community.
• You can keep your inventory costs down by having your dresses for sale on consignment.
• This is a fairly easy business to operate if you’re prepared to provide stellar customer service.
• There are many accessories and add-ons you can incorporate into your store to increase your profit.

The Bad:

• The startup investment is enough that you will want to ensure this is the business for you.
• You might encounter a few so-called “bridezillas” in your shop; providing good customer service to all your potential customers will ensure your shop maintains a solid reputation.

Resources:

• Association of Wedding Gown Specialists
• Association of Resale Professionals
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Clothing, Accessory and General Merchandise Stores
• Wikipedia on Wedding Gowns

Technorati Tags: used wedding gown store

Business Overview:

If you are interested in helping others save money while being a friend to the environment, you should look into starting a solar water heating business. With the rising costs of electric and gas power today, more and more people are looking into alternative methods to heat and cool their homes. A solar water heater can save a homeowner more than 50% on his or her water energy bills. They do cost more than a regular hot water heater up front, but in a few years, homeowners usually recoup those expenses, making this a very attractive option for many people. Owning a solar water heater can also get you some pretty attractive tax credits. It seems solar water heaters should be able to sell themselves, right? In some cases, that’s true but if you have good research to show your potential customers and high quality installation experts putting in the units, you should have no problem convincing customers that this green business idea is worth the initial expense. Once your business has some residential clients, you might look into installing solar water heaters in apartments and commercial buildings. You will want to advertise your business in the green community in your area. If there are any businesses that sell environmentally friendly home improvement products, it would be a good idea to get your business prominently displayed there. Even big box home improvement stores should be receptive to energy saving products. You can also advertise in local magazines, in the newspaper and online. After you get a few installations under your belt, you should have homeowners and business owners lining up to take advantage of this energy-saving green business idea.

A Day in the Life of a Solar Water Heater Business Owner:

Your day will begin with a check of your calendar to see if any installations are scheduled that day. You will talk to your installation experts to make sure they have the equipment and information necessary to do the installation. You will follow up with your customers after the installation to ensure they are happy with the work. You will spend some time marketing your business and doing research into the latest solar water heater technology. At the end of the day, you will record the day’s payments and make sure your crew is ready for any jobs the next day.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be homeowners, business owners and apartment or condo owners looking for a cost effective and environmentally friendly alternative to standard hot water heaters.

What You Need to Start:

• Business plan
• Marketing plan including research to show customers
• License and insurance
• Relationship with solar water heater equipment distributor
• Staff of installation experts
• Vehicles to transport large equipment
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• As more people become aware of this technology, the demand will continue to rise.
• Installations are simple.
• Tax incentives are available for operating a green business.
• Helping people to be more environmentally responsible is rewarding.
• You can charge top dollar for high quality installations.

The Bad:

• It could take some time to build up your client list.
• It might be difficult at first to find skilled installers who are familiar with solar equipment.

Resources:

• Solar Energy Industries Association
• Solar Trade Association
• International Solar Energy Society
• Wikipedia on Solar Water Heaters

Technorati Tags: solar water heating business

Business Overview:

If you’ve got an interest in the strategies and solutions that can help sustain our natural resources, green business consulting might be the industry for you. A green business consulting firm works hand-in-hand with existing businesses to review and revise (or even overhaul) the company’s production or processing methods in order to make them more environmentally conscious. In other words, you teach businesses how to make less of an impact on the environment in everything they do—whether it’s a manufacturing plant, a newspaper printer, or a technology company—and as a result, they either save money or even make money. It’s an awesome job, and an awesome responsibility, and it requires more than just an entrepreneurial spirit. In order to be a consultant or even just to consider a business idea like this, you need to be talented both in business and environmental science, and you need to be able to develop viable solutions for the businesses that hire you. Unless you have a degree in these fields, you will likely need training and mentoring from green business consultants who are finding success in this field. Luckily, there are many training programs and guidebooks that can help you get your credentials in order and your business up and running. Aside from preparing yourself to enter the industry, there are few startup costs associated with running a business like this, especially if you plan on starting from your home-based office. Once you get your feet wet and you have client recommendations under your belt, the sky is the limit to the number of businesses you can help find their sustainability—a win-win-win situation!

A Day in the Life of a Green Business Consulting Firm Business Owner:

Initially, much of your time will be spent learning the ropes of this business and understanding what your role as the consultant will be. Once you’re working with clients, your days will consist of networking, researching, planning, and revising the model you will propose to your client. You will need to fully understand your client’s business approach in order to modify it to be more environmentally responsible. Having a solid training background and a mentor you can bounce ideas off of will help you considerably in this business, especially as you first start out. You will also need to prepare either a report or a presentation of your plan for the client, so some writing and interpersonal tasks will be part of your daily activities. At the end of the day, you will want to make sure your efforts pay off and your business is holding up—using financial tracking software will make this aspect of running your business a breeze.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be the owners or managers of businesses who are looking for ways to make their businesses “greener” and ideally will be looking to cut costs while they’re at it. If you can create plans that help businesses cut costs, increase production, and become more environmentally friendly, you will find yourself with no shortage of customers.

What You Need to Start:

• Knowledge of business management and environmental science
• A solid business and marketing plan
• An efficient home-based office
• Training or mentorship in green business consultation
• A pricing schedule for your customers

The Good:

• This business is entirely scalable.
• You can start a business like this with little money upfront.
• Once you start helping clients, you can earn a solid reputation and become the go-to firm for green business consultations.
• You can feel good about what you’re doing to earn money.

The Bad:

• This business is not a one-size-fits-all opportunity; you need some talent and expertise in the fields in order to make it work.
• Your business might start off slow; you might work with a company for weeks or months before they sign off on your plan.

Resources:

• Green Business Association
• Institute of Management Consultants
• Association of Management Consulting Firms
• Wikipedia on Green or Sustainable Business

Technorati Tags: green business consulting

Business Overview:

If you want to help our environment and have been looking for a green business, you should consider starting a compost business. Starting a composting business is a great way to go green and be a successful entrepreneur at the same time. These days everyone is looking for a way to save money and help the environment. This business idea has been around for ages but was previously only utilized by rural populations. Today, with the popularity of environmental friendliness, more and more urban and suburban gardeners are interested in using compost in their organic gardens. The only problem is they don’t have the time or space to make it themselves. Compost has to sit for at least six months in order for all the microbes to be killed by the heat of the heap. Naturally, finding space for a rotting pile of compost could be problematic for your average gardener. But if you have some space you can designate for a large compost heap, the compost business may be perfect for you. But before you start collecting organic material in your back yard, you really need to have a composting business plan. This plan will help you decide how much compost you will be able to maintain, what types of containers you will store it in and how you will transport it to your customers. There is also a scientific component to the compost business. It is very important you don’t sell compost with any microbes present. You will need to inspect your compost regularly before packaging it for sale to ensure it is microbe-free and ready for use. This old practice can be a great new green business for the environmentally friendly entrepreneur. You could even decide to sell purely organic compost—something many environmentally conscious gardeners really want. You could carve out a niche for yourself selling only high-end organic compost and have a web site that explains the uniqueness of your product.

A Day in the Life of a Compost Business Owner:

You will need to check on compost that is nearly ready to sell. You will examine it for microbes and package it for transport. You will work with a drop-shipper or other delivery service to ship your compost to your customers. If you’re starting to run out of room, you will need to purchase more containers and get them set up. You will regularly add organic material to your newest batch of compost. Finally, you will spend some time marketing your business in green magazines and on the Internet. If you have a website, you’ll also want to check for new orders and ship out the product to your customers.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be gardeners looking for organic compost for their gardens.

What You Need to Start:

• Business plan
• Marketing plan
• Space to set up your compost bins
• Compost bins
• Organic material
• Relationship with shipping company

The Good:

• This is a relatively simple business to start.
• The startup costs are low.
• The demand for organic compost will continue to rise.
• There are tax incentives for operating a green business.
• You can set your own hours and work only when you want to.

The Bad:

• There is a storage issue to consider.
• Organizing shipping can be costly if you don’t work with the right carriers.

Resources:

• Association of Compost Producers
• U. S. Composting Council
• Wikipedia on Compost

Technorati Tags: compost business, composting business, composting business plan

Business Overview:

Here’s a green business idea that can feed you well, pad your wallet, and protect the environment all at once: Open a vegan restaurant. The opportunities for a business idea like this are truly endless—you can decide the ambiance, the location, the menu, and the level of eco-friendly resources you use to sustain your restaurant. You don’t even have to be a chef or foodie to make this business work for you, but you should be committed to the philosophy behind it. A vegan restaurant offers its customers food and drink (and perhaps even decor) that contains and uses no animal products or by-products. As a result, the menu is often naturally eco-friendly and customers will be drawn to the animal- and earth-conscious business code. As an entrepreneur you will want to understand the key reasons you might choose a vegan restaurant over another business venture. For one thing, conscious eating has reached new levels as people are keenly aware of the proven connection between bodily health and their diets. Never before has leaving meat off the menu been so attractive—or so lucrative. Knowing that by choosing a vegan restaurant your customers are feeding their bodies well and helping to prevent disease might be enough to keep your tables full and your reservations booked solid. Add to that the idea that you are serving food that sustains our environment and you will add “environmentalists” to your customer base. The truth is that animals raised for consumption take a great toll on our environmental resources (water, land, waste, transportation, etc.). The statistics prove it, and you can use these facts to market your meat-free menu. You will also have easy customers like those animal lovers who have chosen not to eat living beings. A vegan restaurant gives animal advocates a place to eat where they don’t have to pick apart the menu to find a suitable option. But that’s gravy, here’s how to really find success: Beyond your built-in customers, you can guarantee the triumph of your vegan restaurant by having a top-notch chef prepare the myriad vegan dishes that have become more and more mainstream. Delicious meat-alternatives like tofu, tempeh, and seitan make it easy for chefs to prepare five-star meals that will make a diehard carnivore happy. With a cool location, a hip ambience, and a menu that makes the Zagat grade, your vegan restaurant business can keep you rolling in eco-friendly, animal-free “dough” for years to come.

A Day in the Life of a Vegan Restaurant Business Owner:

As the owner of a vegan restaurant, the responsibility of knowing where each and every one of your menu items comes from and being able to vouch for its vegan label will fall on your shoulders. You will want to be able to guarantee your food sources in order to ensure your menu and business philosophy remains untainted because some of your customers will likely be passionate vegans who firmly believe in the vegan way of life. You will also want to work with your chef directly to ensure the quality of your menu. Ordering from vendors, maintaining the building, and ensuring all of your employees understand the philosophy of the restaurant will be tasks you’ll need to attend to often. Of course, keeping track of your finances will be key to your ultimate success as a business owner as well.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will range from zealous vegans who are excited to have a new restaurant in town to curious eaters who are willing to try a something new. No matter the type, every customer will expect a sparkling clean restaurant with professional servers and an interesting menu. And every customer will want to leave satiated and feeling good about their food choices.

What You Need to Start:

• A restaurant location and name
• A business license, food permit, and insurance
• A staff
• A chef experienced in vegan food preparation
• Vegan food suppliers
• Financial-tracking software

The Good:

• If you are vegan yourself or if you understand the passion behind the philosophy, this is a business idea about which you can feel proud.
• As a small business owner, you will be employing many locals at your restaurant, thereby building the local economy.
• You can find fame and success in a business like this.
• You might decide to open another restaurant.

The Bad:

• Opening a restaurant requires a good deal of money and effort upfront.
• A solid business plan is a must; too many restaurants fail when there is not a clear direction for the business in place.

Resources:

• American Vegetarian Association
• Green Restaurant Association
• Veggie Places (UK)
• Wikipedia on Veganism

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