• Ecopreneurship 101: a Guide for Future Green Business Leaders

You may be considering a new business that allows you to help our planet. It's important to know about the fast-growing field of ecopreneurship — and the many ways in which green businesses are making our world a better place.

What Makes An Ecoprenuer? 

To succeed as an ecopreneur, you'll need to combine your passion for the environment with good business skills and practices. This guide will help you understand what it means to be an ecopreneur, and give you an overview of some of the different types of eco-businesses that exist today

Ecopreneurs are people who use entrepreneurial skills to create new solutions for environmental problems like climate change or waste management. The term can also refer to entrepreneurs who take existing products and services, and make them less harmful to the environment

Top Eco-Companies

The good news is that there are tons of companies stepping up to make a difference.      Here are some examples of inspiring eco-companies:

•  Dr. Bronner's organic soaps and personal care products are some of the best-selling eco-friendly and environmentally responsible products.

• Yvon Chouinard founded Patagonia and pledged to donate 1% of sales to environmental causes.

• Zara's business owner, Amancio Ortega, has pledged zero waste for his company's supply chain and using sustainable textile manufacturing.

Business Check-List

If you want to start your own ecopreneurship, use these steps to get started:

1. Find a niche market that you can fill.

2. Select a business structure that will work for you now and in the future.

3. Register your eco-companies name and create a logo.

4. Get business insurance for protection from damage or theft.

5. Make sure you have all the licenses and permits needed to operate a business.

6. Set up an online presence with a website and social media accounts for marketing.

7. Secure funding for your business through loans, personal savings or crowdfunding.

Before You Start

The lure of starting your own business is understandable. The benefits of being a business owner include: flexibility, control, independence, freedom, and profitability. More and more people are trading in their corporate jobs for the opportunity to become their own boss.

The transition from employee to entrepreneur can be both exciting and scary. If you're thinking about jumping into the world of entrepreneurship, here are some things you should know:

• It's not all glamor.

• You may have to quit your job.

• Getting funding is hard.

• Don't underestimate your need for passion and perseverance.

What are some expected costs? 

• Accounting and legal

• Advertising

• Business fees including tax

• Interest and bank charges

• Maintenance and repairs

• Office lease or website hosting

• Staff salaries 

• Logo and marketing supplies

• Sourcing eco-friendly materials packaging, energy-efficient technology...etc

• Manufacturing product or carrying out service 

• Insurance 

Keep in mind to communicate effectively with your employees, whether they work together in the same office or are located remotely. Using the wrong tool to compress a PDF file can distort font sizes, image quality, etc. Be sure to reduce PDF file size in order to keep the quality of the document at a smaller and more shareable size.

Keep Moving Towards Green

Use this guide to help you jumpstart your "green" business. Keep learning and before you know it you'll be well on your way to creating something sustainable!

For more advice and assistance going green, join your local chamber of commerce today.