How Green is Your Company?

According to a recent Women Impacting Public Policy survey of women entrepreneurs, the top three concerns they had were:

1. Health care costs
2. Energy costs
3. The environment

"Two-thirds of the respondents believe that global warming and environmental changes will affect them or their businesses and 45% want to see the government use both incentives and regulations to encourage businesses to encourage conservation."

While you may not be able to reduce your clients' health care or energy costs you can have an impact on the environment. Demonstrating how your company is environmentally friendly can lead to a significant increase in your bottom line - especially if you are selling to women entrepreneurs.

Does your company have a green policy and are you actively using it in your marketing and promotions?

Small Business Links for 2007-04-11

• Small Business Owners Say Technology Is Important to Success of Their Businesses - Small Business Owners Routinely Use Internet for Professional Networking and Business Purposes
  
  
• SBA Expands Express Loan Lenders Network - Small business owners will enjoy significantly increased access to capital, thanks to changes in the SBAExpress pilot loan program announced recently by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
  
  
• Health Care Costs Again Leading Concern of Small Business, According to SBRB Study - The cost of health care has replaced concern about energy and fuel as the leading issue impacting small businesses, according to the latest Small Business Research Board (SBRB) study released here today.
  
  
• Safeco Simplifies Coverage for Small Business Owners; 'Safeco BOP Access(TM)' Puts It All in One Package - Calling it the most important new commercial insurance product in years, Safeco (NYSE: SAF) today announced the rollout of Safeco BOP Access(TM). This new commercial insurance Businessowner Policy (BOP) disentangles the insurance buying process for small businesses -- such as restaurants and light manufacturers -- that have above-average insurance needs.
  

Health Care Costs Continues To Top SMB Concern List

According to the latest Small Business Research Board (SBRB) study, health care costs continue to top the list of concerns for small business owners.

"It is interesting to note that purely domestic issues such as concerns about health care and taxes have overtaken worries about energy and fuel as the leading issues faced by small businesses," said study co-sponsor Gregg Steinberg, President of International Profit Associates. "Energy and fuel availability and costs have leveled considerably reducing the uncertainties and gyrating costs that caused business owners and managers so much grief. Meanwhile, these same businesses are being challenged by much more time sensitive beginning of the year issues such as renewal of health care insurance coverage with higher premium amounts and the planning, preparation and filing of corporate and personal tax returns."

More than 550 small business owners and senior managers participated in this SBRB poll.