The Grass is Greener for Eco-Friendly Business Ventures In The Next Decade

Green is more than just a fad--it's a paradigm shift that's changing how we live today, and how we will live tomorrow. A "green" business plan draws on natural resources sustainably, developing products and services in harmony with the environment. Here are five business ventures that would leave a small carbon footprint--but make a big impact on the market.

Bamboo Fashion Boutique
The market for green fashion is growing faster than...well, bamboo. Bamboo is revolutionizing fashion as a sturdy and sustainable fiber for clothing. The plant can grow several feet a day, and is ready to harvest within three to five years. Customers like bamboo because it is soft, inexpensive, and socially responsible. Mother Nature likes it because the robust, hypoallergenic weed can be produced without chemical fertilizers or antimicrobial treatments. Tap into the bamboo boom by opening a green fashion boutique. Capture window shoppers with a Main Street shop, or tap into the worldwide market with a Web storefront. Web Designers can help you build a Web site armed with online credit card processing capabilities.

Green Housecleaning
Cleanliness is next to godliness--assuming you trade the caustic chemicals for eco-friendly cleaning products. Homeowners are willing to pay a premium for housecleaners who leave the environment unharmed and the toxins out of their home. Your green housecleaning service can offer total tender loving care (TLC) to your client's home and the environment. To go the extra mile, offer houseplant maintenance services--plants clean the air of carbon dioxide and emit oxygen. Logistics are the number one challenge in running a housecleaning business. Keep your cleaning staff coordinated and your customers happy by investing in a call center to answer calls and schedule weekly appointments.

Eco-Marketing Consulting
As green fever sweeps the market, businesses are scrambling to publicize their commitment to sustainable business practices. Entire brands are built on green values--Whole Foods, Patagonia, and Ben & Jerry's ice cream, to name a few. Today's businesses need a capable marketing specialist to manage their eco-friendly image. Internet advertising offers a zero-impact means of getting the word out without killing trees. Internet Marketing companies can help you with search engine optimization and pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns. For a full eco-marketing service, offer environmental certification management consulting. Certified Organic, Energy Star, and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) are some of the high-profile certifications that can make or break a green brand.


Paperless Office Consultant
From medical clinics to law firms, businesses are afloat in paperwork. Efficiency and, in the case of health care, government regulation, demands a transition to digital records. Apply your project management and IT skills to help businesses go paperless. Depending on your experience profile, your consulting business may specialize in IT consulting, data processing, medical billing, creating electronic health records, or another field of expertise.To get your start, establish a credible Web site by hiring a web design firm that will help you with building an online presence and advertising your services and if necessary, take on a pro bono project to build your reputation.

Green Bike Shop
Highway gridlock and air quality concerns are driving more and more motorists off the road and onto alternative vehicles such as bicycles. Yet most bicycle stores cater to Spandex-clad athletes with racing and mountain biking frames unsuited to the urban commute.Your urban commute shop meets the need for business-suit-friendly transportation options. A selection of European bicycles with chain guards and Vespa scooters will help commuters get to their destination in style. For riders who put utility first, custom-build sturdy bikes with cargo baskets, coolers, and trailers. With bikes and scooters like these, customers will never miss their gas-guzzling SUV. Online Marketing is a great way to get the word out about your services. A locally-focused PPC campaign can also help establish you as your town's cycling guru.

By building an eco-friendly business, you're helping build a better future--and tapping into a vast emerging market. You can use online business networking sites to network with Green Entrepreneurs, Venture Capitalists and Industry Experts to build your green business venture for the next decade.