Starting a green business

Why should you start a green business? In our world of today, where last years computers or mobile phones are regarded as ancient products and the amount of waste produced is growing into 

unbelievable dimensions it is time that we human beings are turning the tide! Sustainability is a great idea and a goal we should and will have to achieve in order to improve and maintain living conditions on our planet.

Can environmentally friendly ideas be turned into a sustainable business? Absolutely! Business sustainability shows itself by generating profits for shareholders, improving the lives of its employees and customers and protecting the environment.

Any profitable green business is therefore perfectly suited to be sustainable. Environmentally friendly companies or green companies are striving to protect and improve the environment.

Producers of wind power generators or solar power panels harness the natural elements and offer alternative energy that unlike traditional energy sources (coal, oil, Uranium) will not strain or pollute our environment in one way or another.

A wind turbine in Radevormwald (Germany) turning wind energy into electricity

The recycling industry offers a lot of green business ideas. To get our planet back into good shape everyone should start to reduce, reuse and recycle! There are so many things that get recycled I am sure there might be a niche for you too if you are interested in this kind of enterprise. You can recycle waste paper, cardboard, electronic devices, glass, food waste, household waste and cans. Most recycling companies specialize on one line while others open recycling stations to separate and recycle as much waste as possible. 

To start a green business...

you first will have to decide which kind of environmentally idea would suit your personal interests and your wallet.

If you are not technically minded than a businesses that produce alternative energies like those mentioned previously might not be your cup of tea.

The set up costs for waste collection and recycling stations might be to much for you to handle. With a good business plan finding can be obtained from banks or maybe even from your local government. Even the politicians (I guess not all of them) know by now that environmentally friendly business practices are essential for our survival. But no matter which idea you want to pursue do a proper research of your topic of choice.

Check out your potential competition locally and nationally!

• Learn as much about them as possible! 
  
• Their company size, 
  
• their areas of expertise, 
  
• their market share,
• the products and services they offer 
  
• the quality of their customer service and 
  
• their pricing...! 

If you do this thoroughly you will learn a lot and get an idea if and where you might be able to find your opening in the market.

Do your costing and your business plan. Set yourself realistic goals and targets. If you don't know how to write a business plan do some research online about it. It's not that difficult and there is lots of good information out there.

Study and learn as much as you can about your chosen industry. A lot will depend on your knowledge and expertise. You will be the captain of your future enterprise.  

Once you have done your homework and start kicking into action! if you are one of the guys or girls that wants to go all out straight away make absolutely sure that you have all your ducks in a row and your business plan and financing are rock solid!

If you are rather the kind of person that wants to start on a small scale first and build up your business step by step (I believe Microsoft was started in a garage?), than you should chose an environmentally business idea that can be started at a pace and level which suits your time and budget.

When I considered starting a green business I didn't have a lot of space that I could allocate to my future venture and only a tiny budget! 

• I invested about $10 and was on my way! 
  
• I started my first worm bin in 1998 and started selling bait worms from home in the same year. 
  
• Now 15 years down the line 
  
• I have millions of quiet, hard working employees (worms :-)) which don't want any money for their services
•  but are content if I feed them kitchen waste or any other organic material like horse manure or dog poop which I get for free.
• The worms convert the food waste, garden waste and organic household waste into nutrient rich worm castings, one of the worlds best balanced plant foods and soil conditoners.
• Worm castings can be used to produce worm tea which I sell as a liquid organic fertilizer and natural pesticide.
• The worms are consistently multiplying because they are prolific breeders. (Rabbits could learn a thing or two from them :-) )
  

I must have sold millions of worms and countless home made worm bins to customers from all walks of life, gave workshops about worm composting in National botanical gardens, schools and garden centers.

Recently I published my first book to share my experiences about commercial worm composting and show step by step how anyone can make money with earthworms! 

I started my green business. I turned a hobby into a profitable business. And believe me if I can do it so can you!I am no high flying dude. I am just your every day kind of guy who believed that he could do something worthwhile and create a sustainable business. 

I was unemployed for several years in my life and no one wanted to give me a job! So I had to create my own job and become my own boss!

I believe you can do it as well! There is talent and ability in everyone and with a little believe and determination all things are possible

No matter which niche you choose, no matter what budget you have, you can start a green business and can be successful!

----------

For more worm compost related information!

Type your question or keywords (for example “earthworm”) into the search box below.

Worm composting for retired people

----------

Return from "green business to the Home page"

---------

The benefits of worm composting

---------

How to start a profitable worm business on a shoestring budget!

----------

Worms recycle dog poop

-----------

Recycling with earthworms

-----------

How to recycle food waste

-------------

Worm farming a sustainable business idea