How Do I Start My Own Green Business?

Thank you to Penny Bauder of Green Kid Crafts for this informative “How to” about starting your own Green Business.

Hi! My name is Penny Bauder and I am the owner of Green Kid Crafts. Like so many children’s products, Green Kid Crafts is a mother’s invention, born out of need. I’m a busy working mom, but nothing is more precious to me than spending quality time interacting with my two children. Like many other parents, I want to spend my limited time connecting with them, not scrambling for ideas and shopping for safe and earth-friendly supplies. That is where Green Kid Crafts comes in! I wanted to create something that would make life easier for parents like me while also setting the tone and expectation for how my children choose to live in the world.

Are you interested in starting a green business? If so, congratulations! There is a huge opportunity for growth in the green market. In a recent survey conducted by GoGreen, about 48% of people reported that they have already made a few green changes to accommodate the environment, and another 40% of people said that they were actively pursuing an environmentally conscious lifestyle. I found that while it was easy to find resources to start a business, there was less out there about starting a green business, and even less about how to market a green business. I’m here to share a few tips with you on how to turn your green business dream into a reality.

1.    Begin by checking out Start-Up Nation, a great site that includes everything you need to know about starting a business.

2.    Decide what shade of green you’d like your business to be. Ask yourself the following questions: What are my reasons for becoming green?  How does being green integrate with my business plan? How does being green give me a competitive edge? In any area where I cannot go green, how can I offset my consumption?  Do I want to have my business certified as being green? When choosing to purchase products and services, how do I qualify them as green?

3.    If you need funding, check out Green VC, a great resource of funding sources and contests for entrepreneurs working on socially- or environmentally-focused ventures.

4.    There are many sites out there that will help you offset your consumption. We like Carbonfund.org. It’s a lot easier and cheaper to become carbon neutral that many people think!

5.    Get your business certified as a green business through Green America.

6.    Partner, partner, partner! Partner with other earth-friendly businesses, blogs, and environmental organizations to get your name out there. The green community is a strong one and businesses that are trying to embrace a more sustainable future are welcomed. Word of mouth in the green community goes a long way.

As moms, we have a direct path to influencing the kind of a world we will create. We can align our daily actions in our family and our businesses to create a more sustainable future and be a force for creating a sustainable, green future for all of the planet’s children.

I would love to provide support and advice for your green start-up! You can contact me at penny@greenkidcrafts.com.

About Green Kid Crafts:

Green Kid Crafts is the original earth-friendly craft subscription company. With Green Kid Crafts, parents and kids can enjoy fun, creative and earth-friendly monthly projects that spark creativity and cultivate respect and love for the environment. Suitable for kids ages 3-8, our subscription program delivers three new and exciting craft projects to kids every month. All materials are included in the package, so parents need only check the mailbox to enjoy a set of fun and enriching activities with their kids. Monthly memberships and gift subscriptions are available starting at $19.95. Visit Green Kid Crafts at www.greenkidcrafts.com.