Save Money by Going Green with This Ultimate Business Guide

Julie Starr • Jul 15, 2020



In this day and age, more and more companies are working towards being more environmentally friendly. This is great because as more companies work toward being environmentally friendly, they are also learning that going green can actually save them money. If you want to find out more about that then take a look below.

You’ll Buy Less Paper-Products

One way that you can save a lot of money by going green would be for you to invest in a paperless operation. Cloud networks can easily scan any documents you want into your cloud system and this will reduce the amount of waste that you produce. If you are not very computer savvy or if you want to boost your computer skills overall then the Kettering University might be able to help.

Reusable Products

If you work in the retail sector, then why not think about investing in some reusable products? You might want to invest in some insulated shopping bags that have your company logo on the front, or you may even want to try and look into the various other green options that are available. Reusable items are ideal because they mean that less waste is going to the landfill.

Install a Dispensing System

So many businesses tend to offer their customers some water as a courtesy when they sit down for a meeting and this is great. You have to remember though that not all plastic bottles can be recycled. With 25% of water coming from the municipal water supply, it’s safe to say that it’s not worth wasting your money on. If you want to get around this then invest in a water dispensing system that can be used by your customers. This will save your team and your customers’ money, and it will also mean that you are doing your bit for the environment.

Lower your Utility Costs

Utility costs tend to be thousands every month for bigger businesses. That being said, it is more than possible for you to cut down on your utility costs if you switch out the lightbulbs you have right now for ones that are energy efficient. LED light bulbs can easily last for 20 years and they use far less energy to work. As if that wasn’t enough, they can also give you a much purer form of light. Communities can also benefit from companies in the area going green. After all, sometimes more jobs are created, and the community emissions are much lower too. This will improve the energy efficiency of the area and it will also help your company to set a good example for other local businesses.

Taxes

You should also know that your business can save a small fortune by going green through tax savings. A lot of different governments will help you to save money on your tax if you go green and this can work wonders for your company at the end of the year. If you want to take advantage of this then make sure that you hire an accountant if you can.

 

By Julie Starr 19 Apr, 2024
If you’re looking to start up a business that puts environmental responsibility at the forefront of how it operates, or that aims to offer new eco-friendly products and services to the market, then you need to make sure you have a plan for it. In part, you need to think about where the money is going to come from to help you get the business up and running. Here, we’re going to look at a few examples of places you can get the funding your green business needs. Finding like-minded investors A lot of capital in the startup spaces comes from investors who will take the time to look over a host of prospective businesses that are looking to get their start and will choose those that best align with their goals. Finding an investor isn’t always easy, so start by networking in the right professional spaces, especially those that might built specifically for entrepreneurs and business owners in the green sector. There are websites that can help pair your business up with investors, as well, but this can be a fairly competitive space. You want to have the room to be able to talk to potential investors about the profitability of your business, as well as the values and dedication to eco-friendliness that drive it. Getting hold of some credit The other traditional means of funding any business is to get a loan that can allow you to cover all of the necessary upfront costs, and running costs until you’re able to get yours up, running, and making money. Banks were the typical method of borrowing money like this, originally, but as banks got bigger, they lent less to smaller businesses, and as such, commercial funding solutions rose up to take their place, to some degree. If you’re going to try to borrow money, then you need to ensure that you are completely prepared for the application process, which can necessitate a business plan, which is designed, in part, to help show the viability and path to profitability to any lenders. Finding green grants and other financial incentives The push towards greener businesses and more sustainable industries isn’t something that’s only on the minds of a few business owners. There are always state-funded and non-profit-funded initiatives that aim to help those with green businesses on their mind get their start. You should take a look at the range of green business grants and other funding options set up, be it locally, in your state, or federally. Some of these funds and grants will be set up for businesses tackling climate change, ecosystem change, and environmental waste in specific ways, but there are always more grants to keep an eye out for, so make sure you learn how to write a grant proposal well. Finding those who are like-minded, either in seeing the profit potential in your business, or in getting behind the values of it, can help you not only get the funding you need, but it can lead to very advantageous relationships in the future, as well.
By Julie Starr 17 Apr, 2024
If there’s one thing that all business owners have in common, it’s that you want to have a successful business that rakes in the profits. However, some business owners then start to ignore the importance of safety in the workplace. Having a safe business is integral to the health of your employees which in turn, affects the success of your company. And, when it’s overlooked or not implemented properly in your business, you’re actually risking how well your business functions. Not having the right business safety protocols in place can and will affect productivity, cause injuries, cause losses, and even put you at risk of major action being taken against you in a courtroom. So, if you want to make sure that doesn’t happen to you, take a look at these safety tips that you should implement into your business. Have clear equipment safety procedures If you run a business within an industry that uses machinery for things like manufacturing and construction, then it’s so important to make sure you put in place some safety guidelines to govern the use of that equipment . Make sure that the safety guidelines are clear and very easy for everyone to understand, and without the risk of any confusion from anyone on your team. And remember to make sure that the machinery is only used for its intended purpose. Doing that can help you avoid any operational misuse that could end up in someone getting hurt. Also, there are lots of pieces of machinery like forklifts that need the user to have special training. So, if you allow someone to use machinery without the necessary training, you’re putting their health and safety at risk, not to mention the lawsuit that could be filed against you. That’s why it’s important to make sure your equipment and machinery safety procedures are clear for all to see at all times. Make sure there are clear safety rules Alongside making sure that your machinery and equipment safety rules are always in clear view, you will also need to make sure you publish important business safety rules. You’ll need to think about everything, from safety compliance to health, and you’ll need to make sure all of those rules are alway available to your employees. If you’re unsure on what’s compliant in your industry, or you simply want to make sure you’re not missing a trick, you can use isnetworld compliance assistance to make sure you’re running things how you should be. And, where necessary, these rules should be placed in multiple locations of the workplace to make sure all employees and any visitors are aware of your safety procedures. You should also make sure you’re regularly reviewing and updating these rules and procedures and let your team members know what changes have been made, even if they’re only minor changes. Make everyone accountable for each other’s safety While it’s important for you to make sure you, your team, and anyone else that visit’s your business location are safe at all times, there’s only so much you can do. Everyone needs to be held accountable for their own safety, so it’s important for you to create a culture of awareness in the workplace. You’ll need to start by encouraging them to follow the rules you’ve put in place, and you can do this by giving them the equipment and materials they need to work in a safe manner. You should also encourage everyone to be accountable for others safety as well, and this can be done by making sure safety equipment is left in the right place, or by making sure things are cleaned after use to prevent any damage. For example, making sure knives in the kitchen are cleaned well and not left somewhere that could be dangerous to the next person in the kitchen, such as the sink. Provide first aid training Finally, if your business uses any type of machinery or equipment where someone could get hurt, you should always have someone on hand to provide first aid if needed. That’s why it’s a good idea to make sure everyone has first aid training in case something does happen. There are loads of first aid training companies out there that can come in and teach your team members as a group, and they will certify them afterwards to show they’ve learned what they need to. It might be a cost you don’t particularly want to front, but it might just save the life of you or one of your workers.
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