Small Business Owners Will Pay More For Green Products

If you have not already considered your Green strategy, now might be a good time to start if you are selling to small business owners. According to a new survey from the Wells Fargo / Gallup Small Business Index, two thirds of business owners are willing to pay more the products and services needed to run their businesses if they knew that the companies suppling them were environmentally-friendly.

According to Harlan Lee, CEO of Virginia-based Harlan Lee & Associates: "Environmental actions I take today with my business will help ensure that our company can continue to grow and thrive in the future. Combining business practices with a responsibility for the environment is the right thing to do. If every small business owner could share best practices and take simple steps to incorporate environmental activities, together, we could make a very large impact on the success of our businesses, our customers, and ultimately our environment.

Small business owners are also in favor of government action that is aimed at improving the environment including:

• Spending government money to develop alternate sources of fuel for automobiles (78% in favor)
• Spending more government money on developing solar and wind power (76% in favor)
• Setting higher emissions and pollution standards for business and industry (75%)

With so many small business owners looking to the environment as a key element in their purchasing decision, does your company have a Green policy outlined that shows your values are aligned with those of your customers?