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Many “environmentally correct” mutual funds are available, but many are not making much money. Yet they do have a bit of a following, which is good to see, unfortunately it appears many are not good business models and taking total advantage of the Green Media Hype, without making a profit or even providing that much “green” or environmental assistance to the reality of pollution.

Perhaps this article will help me illustrate my point: In the Napa Valley, CA Register:

Green business is a highly underrated opportunity for small business.The exploding opportunities for entrepreneurs continues to be in organic products, trash and recycling of garbage, and marketing to the “green lifestyle” clientele. So why is green in these days, and why do we know have an ever-expanding $280 billion green industry? One reason is the growing number of regulations that push our industries and communities to leave less of a “carbon footprint.” California has led the way with the passage of Assembly Bill 32 or the Global Warming Solutions Act, which mandates that the state lower its global warming emissions to 1990 levels by 2002.

So, it seems politicians are once again giving away money and of course, there are entrepreneurs lining up to take it, take it for all its worth. If all these companies were legitimate that is fine, but even this carbon-credit scheme, is questionable, as it gives folks that were never going to pollute in the first place, free money. You know, it just seems like a big Enron type trading scheme again, this time sanctioned by the government.

In the end all these carbon credits will act as a tax on all of society, raising cost of living, and who gets hurt? The poor who are working to make it to the middle class, which will be hurt worse. People and companies should not pollute because it is the right thing to do, not because someone is paying them, bribing then and giving them free money, our money, the taxpayer? We need to pay attention to what is going on here in the name of the environment, the Nobel Peace Prize Recipients and a huge contingency of Vulture Capitalists and their backers.

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

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Self-employment is simply a marvelous idea especially when the current situation in the job market is worsening day by day. There is one brilliant idea using which you can not only earn a great deal but also help keep the environment clean and pure. The small green business is a unique concept and is growing popular with time. It is expected that more and more people will soon take interest in developing their own green businesses which will in turn help save our planet. How to raise capital for small green business is one of the main concerns with entrepreneurs willing to enter in this field. Here are few ideas that have proven effective for many entrepreneurs:

Importance Of A Business Plan

Before you start off with your fund raising program for the small green business, you should create a foolproof business plan. This should be the top most priority – and in case you are skipping this step – you might end up in a mess. In fact the business plan is required when you are about to take a loan from any financial organization. The business plan should cover all aspects of the business proposal. The objective of the business, the profits and the risks involved and also the amount of funding initially required – these are the key features of a perfect business plan.

Sources Of Funds

Now when you are ready with the business plan, consider the sources from where you can expect the funds. The co-operative societies often readily fund independent small business projects. There are some charitable organizations as well who like to fund these sorts of projects. You can also seek help on the web. Just type “how to raise capital for small green business” in the search box and you will find a large number of organizations that fund these types of ventures. You can also look for an efficient small business funding directory where you will get all possible resources that you might need.

In fact the fundraiser websites have specific categories for the businesses. If you are planning to start a business with the home grown vegetables or other organic food stuffs like nuts, poultry items etc., there are certain organizations which specialize in funding these businesses. If you are good at cooking or know people who can help you with this, open a business for organic cooked food and chances are that you will prosper a lot. Apart from the food products, there are beauty and decorative products that are prepared organically. These make excellent salable items. Their wide array includes soaps, candles, oils and many more products. Personalized stuffs, Christmas gifts, wraps, clothes can be your products for small green businesses.

Once you know the ins and outs of the small green businesses, you can go ahead and approach any financial organization, community, charitable fund etc for financing the project. If you can impress them with your idea, then you will never have to worry about how to raise capital for small green business.

Never before has Raising Capital For Small Green Business been this quick and easy! Grab all the inside information while there’s still time at Internet Fund Raising

photo credit: sytoha / Syed Touhid Hassan

When starting a business, one of the first things you need to consider is the method for financing your business. You need cash for business and other licenses as well as for incorporation expenses. If you’re going the franchise route, then you’ll need to ante up thousands of dollars to buy in. Then there may be training requirements which require the investment of time and even more dollars. All this cash outlay probably happens before you make your first dollar.

Once you’re up and running, you will need to buy supplies, pay suppliers and meet payroll. All of this before the first invoice is generated. In addition to the start up costs, businesses need working capital and cash to survive until they get paid for their goods and services. A big new contract is wonderful. It could really catapult your business t greater success and profit. But do you have the Cash Flow to survive?

Alternative financing companies like Noble Finances provide cash flow for businesses which are unable to qualify for traditional bank financing. Usually these are the newer businesses that are already grappling with start up costs. Businesses with accounts receivable invoices can get cash advances. Why wait 30 days or 60 more days to get your cash when accounts receivable financing or factoring provides your business with cash in 48 hours. Other businesses which accept VISA and MasterCard as payment can get a cash advance against their future credit card sales. If equipment is needed, the cash advance could provide the funds to acquire what you need to deliver. But there is another option for equipment. A cash preservation strategy would be to lease the needed software and/or equipment. That way you wouldn’t have to come up with the cash for immediate and full purchase. So, don’t despair if the bank says no.

Cash flow is critical to business survival. But studies have shown 6 factors are more important predictors of business success than is cash. They are:

1. Setting annual growth targets
2. Developing and executing a growth plan
3. Improving management efficiency
4. Participating in corporate supply chains
5. Operating in an innovative, uncontested or unaddressed market place.
6. Starting your business when you, the owners, are less than 55 years of age.

It’s been said that cash is king. But business success factors have more to do with management than with finances. Banks wisely look at the management team and management skills before giving loans. Business / management know how that is pertinent and applicable to the business is essential… But, without cash there will be no business to lead and manage.

Would faster invoice payments help your Cash Flow? I’d like to invite you to claim access to your *FREE* Report, “Factoring: Why Factoring May Be Your Best Financing Options” by visiting http://www.GetCashFromReceivables.com.

Turn your accounts receivable into immediate CASH! Call 404-374-3384. Although we do not provide loans, we do provide cash flow solutions to businesses that may not qualify for traditional business loans from a bank. Noble Finances offers factoring / accounts receivable financing, equipment leasing, software leasing, cash advances on future credit card sales and pre-settlement lawsuit and law firm funding.

Noble Finances: Accelerating CA$H Flow!

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Whether or not you believe global warming could be the end of civilization, there are other compelling reasons to take action to be environmentally friendly in your business. Respect for the planet and life all around you is the most basic of those reasons, but here are three others: it will reduce your costs, increase your efficiency, and add to your USP (unique selling position).

By following the familiar reduce, reuse, and recycle mantra you can save financially, which will allow you to invest more into growing your business or free up family finances.

You can increase your efficiency and get more organized by making small “green” changes such as printing less. For example, fewer piles of overflowing paper will make it easier to keep that working space clean and uncluttered so you can stay focused.

Sharing that you care, whether it’s about the planet, the people, or some other angle, or some other cause entirely, helps you connect with your market and become more “real” than just a hidden person behind a faceless website. It’s okay to allow your personality and passions to shine through your website and marketing. In fact, it’s smart marketing!

So with those benefits in mind, here are some small steps you can take to make your business greener:

1) Reduce the amount of paper you use. Before you print, think. Do you *really* need to print out that email or document? If you just need a backup copy, pick up an inexpensive USB thumb drive and use it to save copies of important files.

2) Reuse and recycle. Keep a small box or tray for paper that you’ve printed on but no longer need and announce to your children that they are welcome to color, paint, cut, etc with the paper. Kids don’t mind recycled paper and some really creative projects can result from paper that’s already been used.

3) Buy EnergyStar appliances. Watch the energy usage on any appliances you purchase–computers, sergers, sewing machines–whatever tools are required for your trade. Always turn them off when not in use.

4) Go paperless for billing. Many business models easily lend themselves to e-billing. If yours does, do it. It will save you not only paper/envelopes, but also time and postage. Bills get where they need to go quicker, too.

5) Use organic, recycled and/or natural elements. If you’ve got choices in the materials you use, take a few minutes to research your options. You may be pleasantly surprised by the range of choices available.

6) Choose reusable. Instead of notebooks and paper for your to do lists, consider a dry erase board or go to a digital online version. Try Google Calendar instead of a paper planner. If your products require certain materials during the production process, can you use something reusable instead of disposable?

7) Buy in bulk. You’ll save time as well as trips back and forth to the store if you purchase in bulk.

Change your lighting. Open the windows in your home office or working area and enjoy the beautiful, natural light! Replace your old style light bulbs with energy-saving fluorescent bulbs to save energy and reduce your electric bill.

9) Choose a VA (virtual assistant) instead of an in-person assistant. Work with employees or contractors who work from their homes and you’ll help save the gas and emissions from cars driving back and forth as well gain as many, many other benefits.

10) Combine errands and schedule meetings selectively. Can you do them all on one day? Fewer trips in your car are better. If you can eliminate some errands by having the USPS carrier (who’s already driving by) pick up packages or meeting with clients via Skype instead of in-person, consider it.

11) Buy Green Tags. With green tags you can compensate for your CO2 usage. I purchase mine through Green Tags USA.

12) Go 100% Replanted. Through Replant Trees you can have trees planted to make up for your paper usage.

13) Choose your packaging materials carefully. You can find green packing materials starting at sustainablepackaging.org Recycle or reuse when feasible.

14) Deliver your products digitally. Can you offer a digital version of your products? How about offering your patterns as a PDF download? Or a PDF ebook option of your printable book? Encourage the digital options. Check out e-junkie.com for an easy way to sell digital items online.

15) Sell locally. No need for shipping if you sell to local customers. Try craft shows or farmers markets if they fit your products. You can find listings online at Indie Craft Guide or Indie Craft Shows. Depending on your products you could also work out discounts or commission based deals with tourist shops, museums, locally owned bookstores and other businesses or organizations in your local area.

16) Support green businesses. Does your webhost power their servers with green energy? Does your printer offer recycled paper for brochures or business cards? Look for ways to support other businesses who are making an effort to be green.

17) Share your commitment! Several websites (EcoFirms, EcoBusinessLinks, Green People, Coop America, and others) maintain link directories of eco-aware businesses. Add yours if you’re taking action steps to be earth friendly.

Work at home mom extraordinaire Michelle Shaeffer publishes The Muses Brainstorm, a weekly ezine with tips to help you balance, manage, and market your home based business. If you’re ready for inspirational guidance and bright ideas sign up free at http://www.thesmallbusinessmuse.com

photo credit: Mark Warner

Grants come in a wide array of sizes, for a broad array of purposes, from a myriad of sources. While most grant information rests at the Federal level, there are plenty of other sources of funding for a business startup out there. This article will focus on getting grants from your local community.

First, there are sound reasons for your local chamber of commerce and better business bureau to offer grants for businesses to start up – businesses employ people, and boosting the local job market is one of the important things your city government does. Even if your business just employs two part time shipping clerks, it still makes sense for your local business development center to host a grant program to help new businesses start out.

Likely candidates names for your local municipality’s business development center will be Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Council, or Small Business Development Corporation. In addition to grant proposals, most of them have extensive libraries on things like local tax regulations, federal and interstate and state regulations you need to concern yourself with, local labor laws, and how to get your jobs listed in the want ads and local unemployment center. There are also organizations run by retired businesspeople that offer classes in starting a business, including step by step instruction on how to set up a business plan, how to handle your first two years taxes (where the capital put into the business can offset the revenue generated) and more. You can find out more about what resources your local area has for instructing small businesses and incubating them by going to the public library, or checking out your city’s web site.

To get a local grant, you’re going to have to demonstrate a mixture of enthusiasm and hardheaded business sense. Passion counts, but so does a demonstrated ability to plan, as does focusing attention on how your business needs will tie to local suppliers and supply chains, and will provide jobs for local people. Many municipalities have something analogous to the Community Development Block Grant Loan Program. How this works is that the municipality or county applies for a grant (called a block grant) from the Federal Government to do local spurring of business development, and then uses that funding as seed capital to make low interest or short term loans to local businesses to help them start out, provided they hire low income people from the area.

Many larger cities have programs like the one in Seattle, where for businesses that will employ more than 100 people, and will need new construction, can get grants for new construction if the buildings are Green, or LEED certified, minimizing construction waste and power usage.

Many grants are tied to non-profit organizations. You don’t have to be a non-profit organization to benefit from such a grant; you can work with a local NPO to get the grant, under an agreement where they’ll use your firm for goods and services – this represents a triple win for the underwriting grant agency. It helps a non profit organization work on a project that ameliorates a problem they’ve been assigned money to fix, it helps you, by giving your company contracts for work to be done, and it helps the community by allowing you to hire more people to get the job done. The local restrictions on this sort of partnership are varied and numerous, and it’s worth it to talk to someone at the local city hall to see what can and cannot be done without conflict of interest or collusion complications.

The last place to dig for grants (or the first one in some situations) is a local trade organization. If you’re in a field with a vital services niche, and it’s going unmet, it’s not unreasonable to get grants from a business organization to open the type of business they support; it helps bring their profession into a higher profile, or represents moving into an untapped market to them.

All of these should help you find local grants that help you achieve your goals.

Every year, the government– local, state, and federal–gives away millions of dollars to people just like you for business ideas. Leon Edward shares information on government funding, Federal, State ,Local Grants , where to find start up grants, sources, free grant money cd, how best to fill out applications, grant management step by step tips, setting up a business steps at his website http://www.business-idea-grants.com

Get A Free Legitimate Home Based Business Report and Free Internet Business Library with Online Business Ideas, Free Training Newsletter at Leons Home Business Website http://www.homebusinessit.com

Leon Edward Helps people to start, grow legitimate Internet Based home business income with business structure, small business legal service information, step by step guides and online business training articles, reviews, marketing blog and newsletter… with legitimate business ideas and opportunities as top BBB rated home businesses, turnkey internet business, a 3 steps to internet income business proven mlms, even a start free work at home program.

Environmental and sap consulting jobs at ConsultingCrossing.com. Two reports recently released identify the hot consulting industries for 2008 and beyond. SAP consultants are expected to have a great job market in 2008. advertising consulting jobs, business consulting jobs, SAPCrossing.com, TechieCrossing.com

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With the current U.S. economic conditions, financial institutions are tightening their grip on funds. Markets have dropped dramatically, foreclosures are popping up like daisies in the spring and small-town banks have gone belly-up to be purchased by larger banks. Every day brings newscasts with more dreadful financial tidings and we’ve been warned that loans will be harder to secure. So, if your business is in need of working capital, you may be thinking that the outlook is pretty bleak. There is hope, however and there are a few things you can do to increase your chances when you sit down in front of that loan officer.

First, you need to develop a positive attitude. That may seem difficult, given the point of view of the media and the general population. It may be easier, though, if you simply remember a few important facts:

Lenders have to lend to make money. Financial institutions don’t simply gather funds. They make money by loaning money. Your finance charges and interest are your bank’s bread and butter. The bank has nothing to gain by hoarding funds because there’s a crisis.

Business is a good investment. It’s obvious that our financial institutions need something other than the housing market to invest in. Businesses like yours contribute to the economy, pay taxes and employ our citizens. Your government and your bank want you to stay in business.

Banks have money to loan. No matter how dire circumstances appear to be, there is money to be loaned. Those banks that survived the initial crunch did so because they’re solvent. Banks that weren’t prepared have been absorbed or supported by bigger, stronger institutions.

So, is a good attitude all you need? Well, it is not quite this simple. Attitude is simply the first step in projecting the right image, and image is the key. To clarify that, we’re talking about image, not just appearance. You and your business need to have the right image. Here are a few pointers on building that image:

Appearance is important. A loan officer is more likely to believe in your success if you look like a success. When the numbers are close, the impression you make will make a difference. With this in mind, pay a some attention to how you dress. Put on a professional looking 2-piece suit and a necktie. Dressing professionally shows that you mean business and it will give lenders the confidence that you will be just as persistent in making your business succeed as you were in getting the loan.

Prepare a business plan. This holds true whether your business is a startup or well established. A solid business plan answers any questions your lender may have about what you do, where you’re going, and why you’re there. Just as importantly, it says, “I’m serious about my business.”

Have your records ready. Making the process easy on the banker is going to do a lot for everyone’s disposition. Get your financial records together and organize them. If you think something might be needed, take it. You can’t have too much information, although you only need to provide what’s asked for.

Be nice. Remember that you’re dealing with a person representing a business. Treat that person with respect and you may earn his or her respect in return.

Will all of this guarantee that you’ll get the loan you ask for? Absolutely not. If your credit score is too low, you can expect to be turned down. If the debt to income ratio is too far off, it’s not going to fly in this economy. After all, that’s how the mortgage lenders created the current crisis in the first place. Following these simple guidelines will, however, start things out on a positive note, and that is half the battle.

Mr. Pohl is the owner and founder of United E-Commerce. When he is not managing his businesses he enjoys sharing what he has learned about starting and running successful companies by publishing articles for online magazines. If you are looking for a business loan and are looking for great ways to dress professionally on a budget he suggests you check out the following cheap neckties and cheap bow ties.