photo credit: woodleywonderworks

With President-Elect Obama’s announcement that he will establish an “Apollo Project” to develop a Green Economy, there is no doubt that “the Green Technology train has left the station.” Indisputably, investors will start to invest heavily in companies that appear to possess commericializable Green Technology that will enter the marketplace as the US embraces the Green Economy and develops the necessary infrastructure to make this happen. Before staking a claim to one or more of these companies, however, investors should understand whether existing patent rights owned by third parties could undermine the investment potential of even the most promising Green Technology innovators.

Anyone seeking to capitalize on the Green Economy and its attendant Green Technology must recognize a fundamental reality of US patent law: in granting a patent, the Patent Office cares only that an invention is useful, novel and nonobvious. Significantly–and this is the rub for investors in Green Technology companies–the Patent Office cares not a wit that an invention has commercial significance either today or in the future. As a result, many patents exist today for inventions that did not possess commercial viability when the patent issued, but that cover Green Technology that today may be on the cusp of commercialization. The owners of such patents can (and quite likely will) enforce their rights against those companies that successfully introduce that same Green Technology into the marketplace. Put simply, investors in Green Technology innovators must be hyper-diligent to ensure that inventors who had the same idea but could not commercialize that technology do not derail their commercial plans.

A salient and well-known example of an inventor extracting a patent toll from a successful innovator is found in the infamous NTP vs. Research in Motion (“RIM”) patent litigation. In this case, NTP acquired patents issued in the early 1990’s to email technology for use on mobile devices. The inventor of the NTP-owned patents never commercialized the patented technology and the patents issued several years before RIM introduced the technology into its BlackBerry(r) device. Nonetheless, after several years of contentious litigation, RIM settled with NTP for over $600 million. The huge settlement was bad enough, but RIM also suffered from loss of market share due to the uncertainty resulting from the litigation, which certainly led to significant additional financial loss. No doubt investors in RIM would have liked to know about the NTP-owned patents prior to making their investments in this mobile email innovator.

Many people reference the NTP vs. RIM case using the term “patent troll litigation.” However, it would likely be wrong to characterize the owners of patents to not-yet-commercialized Green Technology with the pejorative “patent troll.” Many reasons can be present for such patented inventions having failed to be successfully commercialized, not the least of which is that a market simply may not have existed at the time the patent covering the technology issued. In the US, however, any inventor owning a patent possesses superior rights to the patented technology over one who successfully commercializes that same technology. In short, inventors’ US patent rights trump those of innovators. (Note that this rule differs in some oher countries, where the patent laws require compulsory licenses from the patentee to those seeking to commercialize the patented technology.)

So what does all this mean for those who seek to capitalize on the emerging Green Economy by investing in innovative Green Technology companies? At a minimum, Green Technology investors must endeavor not to focus solely on the viability of the technology itself such that they fail to determine whether another party owns superior rights to that technology. To this end, Green Technology investors must obtain Freedom to Operate opinions, which will inform them whether the technology of interest is covered by a third party’s patent rights. While this may seem like an obvious step when vetting a new Green Technology investment, I am nonetheless repeatedly surprised that even sophisticated VC’s and private equity investors fail to conduct the most basic of Freedom to Operate analyses before moving forward with an investment decision in a technology company.

A Freedom to Operate analysis should only be the first step when investing in a potentially commercializable Green Technology company, however. An investor must also conduct what I call a “Permission to Innovate” analysis. A Permission to Innovate analysis tells the investor whether any third party patents exist that are close to the likely development and commercialization path of the relevant Green Technology. A knowledge of such closeness is critical to know when a technology is yet-to-be commercialized because an innovator must be able to develop technology freely in response to market forces. A Permission to Innovate analysis will provide the investor with knowledge of whether the area of Green Technology in which she seeks to invest is crowded with third party patents that could limit the freedom of a Green Technology company to innovate in the future.

Many investors will see the emerging US Green Economy to constitute a possible “gold mine” and will rush to stake a claim. Nonetheless, investors would be well-served by realizing that good Green Technology ideas have been in existence for many years, and many of these ideas are covered by US patents. Investment success may hinge on knowledge of such pre-existing patent rights to ensure that a company’s commercialization of promising new technology is not restricted by the person who first invented and patented that technology. As such, I believe it is critical for Green Technology investors to develop substantive patent knowledge of the relevant patent landscape prior to joining the Green Technology “gold rush.

Jackie Hutter is Principal of The Hutter Group, a leading provider of IP (“Intellectual Property”) business counseling and competitive analytics to forward-thinking organizations that seek to maximize firm asset value by capitallizing on the power of intellectual property. She has over 13 years experience counseling innovation-driven companies, universities and business development and investment professionals in maximizing their firm intellectual asset value. Jackie was named a SuperLawyer(R) in Intellectual Property in Georgia in 2004, and she has been a frequent speaker on IP issues to her fellow lawyers. Jackie was formerly Senior Patent Counsel at a Georgia-Pacific LLC, where she had sole responsible for Dixie(R) patent matters and, later, the company’s Chemicals business. Prior to joining Georgia-Pacific, Jackie was a shareholder at the prestigious IP firm of Needle & Rosenberg, PC (now Ballard & Spahr), where she represented mulit-national companies, universities and innovators in protecting their IP to create maximum asset value. Jackie has also been a patent and IP litigator, which gives her a unique perspective in how to maximize firm IP value by avoiding litigation. Prior to attending law school on a full academic scholarship and where she graduated with honors, Jackie obtained her M.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and she spent several years as practicing chemist at Helene Curtis (now Unilever). She is a named inventor on one U.S. patent. Jackie lives in Decatur, Georgia, in a groovy mid-Century modern house with her husband, 2 daughters and several pets.

photo credit: bbjee

Small-business owners often think of ‘going green’ as a double-edged sword. On one hand, many think of going green as the right thing to do to support the environment and the local community. Yet many also see it as an extra expense that cannot be recouped.

As a small-business owner, what should you do? Is the amount of time and money you’ll spend on going green worth the investment?

The answer is: Yes. Go green. More and more companies are going green every day.

Most small-business owners do not know that environmental management can be beneficial to the company in ways that go well beyond helping the environment:

· From an internal operations perspective, going green can actually reduce costs and help avoid liabilities, as well as present unexpected business opportunities if your company can provide an environmental solution to others. You can even go so far as to obtain certification from an independent third party so you can include their logo or “ecolabel” on your product and other green marketing materials. Ecolabeling helps market your product to green-conscious consumers.

· From an external perspective, by going green your company is that much more attractive to investors, lenders, insurers, customers and employees.

Environmental management is quickly becoming a bottom-line benefit – and a proverbial win-win – for small businesses.

Not All or Nothing

Environmental management is not an all-or-nothing proposition. There is so much that can be done to go green – from buying green products to recycling to using green technologies to moving to solar power. The multitude of options can seem overwhelming.

Yet, there is a tangible approach to environmental management that can be easily mapped out and implemented according to how you prefer to do business. It involves, simply, developing an Environmental Action Plan.

How do you develop this Environmental Action Plan? The place to start is the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA has put together a workbook designed specifically to help small businesses go green. This workbook is called the Small Business Environmental Management Plan Workbook and can be found and downloaded at the Business.gov web site.

Step One: Develop an Environmental Policy

The first step is to take some time to develop an environmental policy. This is both an internal and external statement that formalizes your company’s level of commitment toward going green.

First decide what is most appropriate for your management and employees. Whether implementing a recycling program or moving to solar power, decide on what will work best for you. Then, put this decision into a formal document. The document will serve two purposes:

· to help communicate to the entire company your environmental level of commitment, as well as a first step toward communicating employees’ environmental responsibilities

· to help communicate your environmental management plans to suppliers, customers, shareholders, and the community so everyone will be aware of where your company stands in its efforts to go green.
There is also an environmental policy worksheet – including guidelines and samples – in the EPA Environmental Management Plan Workbook.

Step Two: Assemble an Environmental Manual

An Environmental Manual will be your “how to” document. This will map out the details of your environmental management strategy and how, exactly, you plan to go green.

This document should include things such as those environmental regulations and permits that pertain to your business, as well as best practices for environmental management. It is important to note that these details will be quite different depending on your industry and your business. Regulations, permits, and best practices will be vastly different for food service, healthcare service, or landscape service businesses.

And, of course, there is also an environmental manual planning worksheet – including guidelines and samples – in the EPA Environmental Management Plan Workbook.

Step Three: Go Green

Once you’ve got the details in place, it’s time to go green – according to your Environmental Policy and Environmental Manual. You must, of course, implement any necessary training and additional communication to company employees. You should also:

· Keep records of your environmental management activities

· Monitor your environmental compliance

· Measure your environmental performance

· Report your environmental results

Once your environmental management plan has been in place for a significant amount of time, you’ll also want to conduct an environmental review to see what’s working, what’s not, and what other policies you may want to put in place over time.

Conclusion

There is so much you can do as a small business to go green. While moving to solar power may be out of your reach, implementing a simple recycling program may be just the right fit. In fact, you may be surprised that the more you do, the more it will benefit both your company and the environment.

For more detailed information on going green, including Environmental Management and how to put together an Environmental Action Plan, go to the Green Business Guide section of Business.gov.

Nancy Sternberg, Business Gateway Program Manager, U.S. Small Business Administration

Nancy B. Sternberg was selected as the Business.gov Business Gateway Program Manager in May 2006. In this role, Ms. Sternberg is responsible for working with representatives from the 22 partner agencies to improve the delivery of services to businesses by providing a single access point for businesses to easily find government information, including forms and compliance assistance resources and tools. Ms. Sternberg moderated a press briefing for an audience of more than a hundred business leaders and business owners at the National Press Club to unveil the Business.gov site, which is designed to help businesses stay in compliance with federal regulations.

Recently, Ms. Sternberg rolled out a new version of the site that focuses on environmental management and how “going green” can improve the bottom line. Green business topics such as recycling and the use of green marketing are discussed as ways to increase a company’s revenue and appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.

photo credit: kevindooley

Calling all green business bods! Want to hear more about how environmentally-friendly technology can benefit your business? Or are you looking to further your environmental career by boffing up on the latest green science?

Green technology certainly is the way forward for smart business owners and job-seekers looking to move into a successful company. Advocates of green technology claim that the green revolution will be just as explosive and all-encompassing as the advent of information technology in the last 20 years. The main goals of green technology advocates are to end the cycle of disposable products, replacing it with one where products that can be reused are created; reducing waste and pollution; finding alternatives to fossil fuels; and creating new, sustainable methods of production that can meet society’s needs.

So where can you find out more?

Next month, ecoConnect, facilitator and promoter of innovative green technology, will host a green business forum with guest speaker Zac Goldsmith. Son of billionaire Sir James Goldsmith, Zac is a renowned environmentalist, anti-globaliser and the director and editor of The Ecologist magazine.

The forum is for anyone with interest or involvement in green technology and sustainablity. It will provide fascinating discussion on the environmental technology sector, as well as a showcase of examples of the most innovative green technology. The forum will take place on Tuesday 21st October at 6.30pm, at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. Want to get involved? You can book a place by searching for ecoConnect’s website.

EcoConnect is a not-for-profit, social enterprise organisation, which holds regular green networking events useful to anyone pursuing an environmental career. Its mission is to champion green technologies and services, connecting them with commerce and industry.

If your business is lagging behind in the 20th century model of wasteful technology, or you are a job-seeker tired of working for a company like this, watch this space for more news about green technology, and keep checking our Blog for companies that are already part of the green revolution!

Rachel Charman, a writer for Juicyjobs.biz Green Jobs UK – an environmentally friendly green job search board which offers free job listings to Environmental, NGO’s, NFP’s and ethical companies promoting green, fair trade services and support sustainable living. For job seekers Juicyjobs can help you find the ideal Environment jobs in London.

photo credit: Susan E Adams

In the wake of An Inconvenient Truth, the eyes of the business world have opened wide to the consumer demand for doing greener business. As a business advisor, I have noticed this trend and the companies that are embracing it. My clients are always looking for ways to set apart their business in order to increase their company’s bottom line. For many companies using environmentalism can be a very effective way of differentiating their business from their competitors.

One example of a company that uses its green thumb to stand apart from the crowd is Greenkarat.com. They sell rings that are made of recycled gold and platinum taken from old jewelry and other items. The company emerged with the goal of starting a trend to limit industrial methods of extracting jewelry’s precious metals and gems from the earth that damage the land and endanger ecosystems. Their market knowledge told them that there would always be a demand for jewelry yet they saw an opportunity to do things differently. Their mission is to “…provide an ecologically and socially responsible jewelry alternative to those who seek change.” Greenkarat rings have been featured in top magazines like InStyle Weddings and are enjoying much international success. While your company may not be able to be as green as Greenkarat, it is wise to observe how the trend of environmental awareness and concern will affect the behaviors of your customer base and, in turn, do what you can to use this trend to your business’ advantage while also taking part in helping this noble cause.

There are many ways you can go green. One thing all companies can do is recycle their garbage. Other potential recyclables include computer hardware and office equipment. Companies can also join one or more green organizations. There are local conservancies and other local and national organizations that can easily be found through the internet. Companies with more money to invest in the cause can use solar panels to reduce their energy needs. Companies can also find ways of becoming a paperless or less-paper-using office.

Becoming a green business just makes good business sense, because many organizations and individuals are willing to pay more or go out of their way to support green companies. If your customer base shares the value of environmentalism, or a segment of your market does, this could be a way to drive new sales and cultivate loyalty within your customer base. The increase in operational costs (if there is one) of doing business the green way, should be offset by the increased margins you will be able to command by increasing your value proposition to the market. You will not only provide your customer with a valuable product or service you will also provide value to the world in which you operate. There is a measurable economic value associated with being a green business, and that value is now being recognized and paid for by the marketplace.

In order to capitalize on the environmental actions your company chooses to take, make sure to promote your efforts by including a section or page on your website that discusses your intentions and explains the measures you’re taking to join this movement. If your business has a storefront, you can put a sign up in a visible area explaining what you’re doing for the environment. We suggest that you don’t print pamphlets since the paper usage runs contrary to the classic green cause of saving trees.

Of all the business trends in the market today, the recognition of the value of being environmentally conscious and eco-friendly is one that I am most excited about. As a business owner you have the power to not only add value to customers but also to make the world a better place. What better way to differentiate your business than by joining the fight against waste and pollution and actively working to preserve our natural resources? For more help with differentiating your company to create increased loyalty and profitability, visit www.flourishingbusiness.com.

Elizabeth W. Gordon, founder and President of The Flourishing Business, LLC, is a visionary leader who has a passion for helping others achieve their entrepreneurial dreams and enjoy more of the best in life. With a vast and diverse background in many business arenas, Elizabeth regularly has the opportunity to share her business acumen with clients, large and small. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Atlanta and the Board of Directors of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Atlanta. She is an Accredited Executive Associate of the Institute for Independent Business (IIB) and a certified Life Coach.

photo credit: Capitan Giona

Environmental & Economic Benefits

A new color class of jobs that could cross all lines, including the unemployment line, is here. It’s called “green-collar jobs,” and could save our environment and economy. This blossoming sector includes technicians in the renewable energy and energy-efficiency industries, in which there are already 8.75 million U.S. jobs.

The term “Green Collar Jobs” was first coined by Alan Durning in his 1999 book, Green Collar Jobs. His book examines the move from economic dependence on logging timber to “green-collar” jobs such as sustainable forestry, ecosystem restoration and tourism in the post logging rural towns of the Pacific Northwest.

Urban Studies Professor Raquel Pinderhughes, of San Francisco State University, first defined green collar jobs in 2006 as “manual-labor jobs in businesses (or other enterprises) whose products and services directly improve environmental quality.” She identified 22 economic sectors in which green jobs are located, including green building, energy retrofits and sustainable food production.

By the year 2030 the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries are poised to generate up to 40 million U.S. jobs and generate $4.5 trillion in revenue if public policies, including a renewable portfolio standard, incentives, public education, and R&D are put in place, according to a recent report.

The report was commissioned by the American Solar Energy Society, a leading nonprofit dedicated to advancing the U.S. toward a sustainable energy economy. “Everyone knew the renewable energy boom was coming, it just showed up sooner than anyone expected,” said Neal Lurie, Director of Marketing of the American Solar Energy Society.

Internationally renowned energy economist Roger Bezdek, Ph.D., President of Management Information Services, Inc., based in Washington, D.C., led the research.
Key findings of the report include:

* The 40 million jobs that could be created in renewable energy and energy efficiency by 2030 include millions of new jobs in manufacturing, construction, accounting, and management

* Renewable energy and energy efficiency industries today produce nearly $1 trillion in revenue in the U.S. generating more than $150 billion in tax revenue at the federal, state, and local levels

* Revenue from the energy efficiency sector, including from energy efficient appliances, insulation, windows and recycling, is currently larger than revenue from renewable energy, but the renewable energy industry is growing much more quickly

* Solar, wind, ethanol, and electric vehicles are likely to be some of the hottest areas of growth

The energy bill passed in 2007 does authorize $125 million for green-collar job training programs in 2008 but the industry says that isn’t enough to keep more of the jobs from getting outsourced. Some of the jobs can’t be outsourced, such as Home Energy Star Rater, or solar installer or spray foam operator.

For those who are looking for some adventure, hard work, a secure future and want to be in on the nuts and bolts of it, getting some dark green training is advisable, which can come from a combination of “learn as you earn” on the job training, and formal classroom or online study.

There are a light green variety of jobs on the horizon for those who aren’t up for the demands of a dark green job, such as bolting down solar panels, or operating a spray foam machine. The light green jobs include salespeople, marketers and managers to handle procurement and sales of Renewable Energy Certificates (REC), administrators and assistants to process paperwork involved with incentives, lobbyists to help pass favorable legislation for the environment and lawyers to handle legal interests of the green business.

Becoming certified in a Home Energy Rater System (as a HERS rater), or in the Building Performance Institute (BPI) as a certified energy auditor, is a hot field right now. This usually requires a combination of work in a related area, along with technical classroom training on the latest building science that, if applied, could save a homeowner 20% to 75% on heating, cooling, water and electric bills.

The HERS rater or BPI certified energy auditor training is essential to knowing how to use tools like a blower-door to test for air-flow leakage, infra-red cameras to check for insulation levels, gas detectors to test for gas leaks, carbon monoxide detectors for hazardous venting conditions, etc. Consider attending the Affordable Comfort Institute conference this September in Atlantic City, NJ. See http://www.affordablecomfort.org

While some have complained that environmentally-friendly measures might stall economic growth, others, including high-level investors from Wall Street, are maintaining that the move to green is already offering many opportunities.

The fact is, per unit of electricity produced, more jobs are created for renewables than for coal, gas-fired or nuclear plants, including all construction and fuel cycles. What’s good for the environment is what’s good for the economy, because a shift to better energy solutions would create jobs, better health, and a sustainable planet.

For more green collar job resources, see http://www.bized.com

Cathy Sims, BA in Sociology, journalist for 30 years and publisher and editor of the biz.ed Guide for 22 years. Host of the Business Education Talk Show on Cablevision for 12 years.

photo credit: Choubistar

In today’s global market place people are looking to go green for many reasons.
One good reason is the environmental impact going green has.

If you consider the impact of fuel burn in the daily commute to work the overpowering reason to go green is the cost of gasoline.

More and more the ability to stay at home and telecommute is taking first choice for many people.
Inter the home business arena and the ability to have family time when you want it, work in your sweats and slippers, not have to suck the exhaust fumes of the traffic ahead of you on the daily commute is another environmental plus.

Now the dawn of going Green really makes sense to the stay at home business. With the event of webinar conference calls, instant messaging, email, the access to the internet on every form of communication and the blossoming down turn of corporate jobs has awakened the drive of many home businesses.

The ability of high technology to interface with down home values has driven one home business to record setting growth. This is good news to those looking for a home business in this maze of global confusion.

To have a successful green home business you want to be sure that you do not jump on the wrong ship. Several things must align for green be effective.

The product should be toxic free with a wide range use (usable for animals and humans alike).

The return on your work should be substantial with no hard qualifying to keep your check coming in each month.

There should be no breakage on commissions that go to the company ever. Avoid the company that says in their income statements “we pay Up To” a certain amount this is a sign that they may not pay that much unless you qualify.

The company should have a strong vision of where they are going long term and should have a strong policy of enforcement.

There should be a global bonus pool that all the top distributors can share in which helps the many groups of distributors work together for the common goal of the company (IE, they all share in the global growth eliminating competition.)

Last but not least there should be many events tied to the internet for training the new growing business builders who want go green and make lots of green from home.

One company has accomplished all of that in one sweep. Growing at a rate in its first four years faster than Wal-Mart, E-bay, and if you think back that far even Microsoft.

This going green and high-tech for this company had created some income figures that out pay some if the top government paying jobs in the white house. This company has made more millionaires than the famed show Deal or No Deal. Going green can really change your life and life style. Try it you might like it!

Keith Hiebert has over 25 years of experience in the home business arena and as aligned himself with Xango a company that in five years is doing business in twenty five countries so far. Keith Hiebert can be reached by accessing his web site http://StreamLineQuick.com

photo credit: Paul Lowry

The most important fundamental step to launching a successful PR campaign is to target the right audiences. The one question every business owner will ask is simple, “Show Me The Money”. As a PR professional you want to ensure that you are directing all of you’re PR campaigns on profitable paths.

Many times PR pros can benefit from hot trendy markets. This is an ideal opportunity to create a demand for products and services offered in PR campaigns. The task here is to find solutions to implement products and services that will add value to hot trendy markets. Therefore increasing a demand and revenue earnings.

Exploring some of these hot trillion dollar markets could put your PR campaigns on a fast track:

1. Target Multicultural Market – A $1 trillion dollar buying power predicted by 2010. When targeting this market consideration of cultural perspective and media stereotypes are vital. Conducting market research and consumer insights will be a primary element and bilingual promotions should be incorporated.

Highlight:

According to Packaged Facts and the Selig Center for Economic Growth located at the University of Georgia, “African American consumers will swell to $1 trillion by 2010. The national share of buying power for African Americans will increase to 8.6% by 2010 from 8.4% in 2005, per Selig. Hispanic buying power is projected to rise to 9.2% from 8.1%; Asian American buying power will rise to 4.9% from 4.4%, while American Indian buying power will stay steady at 0.6%.”

2. Target Baby Boomers – A buying power of over $2.1 trillion dollars. There are over 78 million baby boomers and every eight-seconds a baby boomer turns 60, totaling 11,000 baby boomers turning 60 a day. Targeting this audience requires a vast knowledge of cultural values. Implementation of product and service value is primary and referral networks are key elements to building strong client loyalty. Support groups and tradeshow affiliations recommended.

Highlight:

This is the first generation in their golden-haired years that marketers can primarily reach most through email and cell phones.

3. Target Green Industry – The green market is valued at $227 billion dollars per year and expected to reach $1 trillion dollars by 2020. Environmental friendly approach introduced with product or service offerings is the best solution to approach this market. Direct implementation of environmental friendly practices in everyday business is strongly encouraged.

Highlight:

Environmental friendly business practices include carpooling, telecommuting, bicycling, recycling, organic purchasing, public transportation, and alternative energy sources.

4. Target Alpha Moms – Holding the power to make 80% of the family purchases and a yearly buying power the same as Great Britain, spending $1.7 trillion dollars a year! Online marketing a resourceful solution to reach this target audience. Product or service offerings should emphasis in-depth detail of features and benefits. Production of quality product or service offerings a constant demand for this market. Strong peer influence and networks trendy practice.

5. Target Mobile Market – Today the worldwide mobile data market is worth 100 billion dollars and by 2015 the mobile content market is predicted to be worth $1 trillion dollars. Today mobile websites offer an opportunity to reach 1.8 billion consumers through cell phones. Targeting this market is setup to be the largest circulation to reach consumers in the world.

CR “Cataunya” Ransom is the Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Mosnar Communications, Inc. in metro Atlanta, Georgia.
CR consults clients and speaks to audiences relating to global marketing and public relations practices. CR is the creator of the Mega Powerhouse Marketing system http://www.megapowerhouse.com

photo credit: dokusentia

If you have ever thought about opening your own business but never found the needed funding for doing so, you may have put your hopes on the back burner. Owning a business can be a very powerful step in life – becoming your own boss can literally change your life. Even though some lenders are very hesitant to loan money for new ventures, there are many lending institutions that do business online that are willing to loan you the money to start your new business.

Online Competition Yields Big Savings

Because of the competitive online world of finance, you stand a better chance of getting approved for your new business loan by utilizing the services of an online lender. In addition, online competition drives the approval rates up while the interest rates are driven down! This means you can not only get approved, but pay less over the life of your new business loans due to online competition between lenders in the finance sectors of the Internet.

Figuring The Loan Amount

When deciding how much to ask for in your new business loan, consider all of the start-up costs that you might encounter. You should include money for the initial lease on the building you will use, equipment, furnishing, remodeling, upgrades, inspections, advertising, publicity, salaries for employees.

If you will have any incidental expenses, you should consider those as well, such as money to pay yourself during the beginning months of the operation – this will go a long way towards assuring the success of your business. List the purchases you will need to make as well as how much you have budgeted for each amount.

Typical business loans can start out at $10,000, going all the way up to $100,000; even more is available if you can present a worthwhile business plan that makes your business idea seem more like a great investment to the lending institution – meaning that the lender is more certain that they will be repaid timely without effort on their part if your business appears to be one that will make money.

Hassle Free Online Applications

To apply online, you will visit the lender’s website. There you will find information pertaining to the type of loans that are available to you, including links to begin the loan application. Most of the documentation that you will need to provide to the lender in regards to your loan application can be either emailed by attaching a copy of the scanned document as well as transmitted faxed documentation. Either way is acceptable.

You, of course, will be asked for general information concerning your past as well as current employment, statements of financial worth, business plan for the business you plan to start, as well as information about any security that you wish to pledge to secure your new business loan.

Security can take the form of your home, boat, real estate, as well as other holdings. You may also want to include any cosigner information that you might wish the lender to consider when processing your application. Applying with a cosigner who has great credit as well as a good financial statement will increase your chances for approval while getting you the best interest rate possible.

Kate Ross has a Master in Finance and has been a university teacher as well as a financial consultant for years. She specializes in Unsecured Loans and also in helping people to get approved for Guaranteed Loans for Bad Credit, home loans, guaranteed loans, bad credit auto loans, guaranteed credit cards among many other financial products. For further information, please visit http://www.speedybadcreditloans.com

photo credit: Wonderlane

As consumers we have the power to encourage banks and other financial institutions to be more socially conscious and green. The recent financial collapse has shown that the way banks have been working must be flawed. Now that the banks are “looking in the mirror” so to speak and trying to sort out what went wrong we have the chance to help guide their restructuring. Now is a good time to let them know that we want businesses that care more about the earth and those of us who share it.

This is not as foreign a concept as you may imagine. A recent study discovered that when asked 43% of American bank customers would rather deal with a bank that appears green. Unfortunately for many banks that appearance of green is something they have exploited as a way to forgo an actual social and environmental contribution.

The banks are claiming green by doing something as simple as online statements. Now, it is true that eliminating monthly bank statements could reduce paper demand by about sixteen and a half million trees or forty six thousand acres of trees, but that is a far cry from a true green commitment. It is after all to their benefit to stop the paperwork and save money on paper and labour. But there are other problems here.

We can all agree that preventing deforestation is great for the environment but to absolve the banks of any other environmental responsibility and let them call themselves green strains credibility. Does saving a few trees in North America outweigh funding coal mining or deforestation in the Congo? But there are some real green banks out there setting the standard and developing the working models that provide their customers with amazing interest rates with healthy profits for them during the current economic downturn.

Some of these green banks have actually been in business for over 30 years. Working with a “triple bottom line” model that works on the premise that in addition to bringing profit to the bank and its customers, it must also ensure that the community, and environment profit as well. One way they accomplish this is by supporting such concepts as micro-lending. A concept that has lifted literally millions of people out of poverty to contribute to their local communities and environment.

By also avoiding quarterly earnings reports and over-leveraged debts they have escaped the same problems so many other banks are experiencing. They operate online savings accounts that yield 3.5% while giving their customers a nice feeling, knowing that the money is going to help build a green economy.

We need our banks and financial institutions to set a good example for other large and small businesses that a green business model works. Micro-lending should be the norm, not the exception. Insuring that the business, the environment, and the community all show a profit is a way for all businesses to show their green commitment. With the need to re-evaluate the way our financial systems work on our doorstep, the time has never been better to make this change for a greener and socially responsible business community.

Don has been a consultant for over 20 years and tries to provide valuable information for people in difficult times. As someone who has been there. He supports a website called http://helpinhardtimes.com as a way for people to get their lives back on track and possibly even make the money they need to make it through rough times.

photo credit: Unhindered by Talent

It’s a good thing that “going green” is finally a trend. Big businesses are going green with environmentally safe products, environmentally safe fabrics and environmentally safe packaging. But, the trash isn’t entirely off the streets yet.

There are still companies cutting corners and not only that, but we our starting to feel the crunch from the lack of valuable resources. Worrying about the environment is not just worrying about maintaining safe guidelines on resources we use. But, it also includes making sure we have resources to use in the future.

With new natural gas cars and gas plus electric models entering the market, our reliability on oil will be considerably lower in the near future. But, having a natural gas car means that you won’t be able to take a cross country trip just yet. Natural gas facilities aren’t everywhere like gas stations are now. Plus, filling up can take up to about sixteen hours as reported by Rex Roy, a Detroit-based automotive journalist who has recently released his first book, Motor City Dream Garages.

While gas consumption is a major concern, we also need to look at other issues we face. Taking gas consumption as a warning, it is imperative that we look around at other issues like pollution. Looking at a country like China can help us understand what could possibly happen to anyone else if eco-friendly measures aren’t taken.

Hearing the numbers from China’s present consumerism habits is almost breath taking. To watch what can happen to a country in need and devouring everything it needs is an eye opener and to think that those problems manifested out of its emulation of the American lifestyle is scary. We need to start setting a better example?

Remember when there were rules like take what you need and make sure you use all that you take? Waste is intolerable. But, until we feel the crunch from the lack of resources do we understand why those basic principles were so important.

The vicious cycle of consumerism becomes compounded by the waste left behind. If it doesn’t go in the air, it goes in the ground. Either way, it’s another issue to be resolved. So, we are burning both ends of the candle. And we need to learn how to do one major magic trick before our candle burns up completely.

We need to learn how to slow our consumption to a pace where everyone is full and nothing gets wasted while we maintain a healthy growth of future resources. Plus, we need to learn how to better manage the exhaust rate even when our consumption level is healthy. But, the major problem we face is making each individual understand that consumption is entirely up to them.

You can look at big business. But, supply and demand are actually dictated by the consumers. The more we want, the more big business will supply. If we could actually get our wants under control, they would become predictable. Predictability would mean that supply and demand meet. Waste goes away. So, while you might want to blame all of our problems on big business, it really does come down to one person…you.

So, start using natural cleaners like Arm & Hammer Baking Soda. Use organic pesticides like Citronella. Buy locally produced organic foods and have more barbecues with natural gas rather than charcoal. Recycle everything you possibly can and heat this winter with alcohol based gel fuel. You’ll be very green and leading by example is the best way to get everyone else around you involved as well.

Jessica Brylan has been a student of construction all her life, under her father who retired in 2004. Her passion turned to interior design and strangely evolved into becoming a fireplace expert. Her latest report DIY Fireplace demonstrates her knowledge and love of fireplaces. Read further details about The Ventless Gel Fireplace Reports.