Did you know that 69 percent of U.S. consumers always or sometimes consider the environment when deciding which product or service to buy?¹ That’s an opportunity for small businesses that offer environmentally friendly products to differentiate their business from the competition. The Small Business Association’s Green Business Guide provides a number of tools to help businesses do just that.

Here are a five resources to get you started:

• Smart Steps to Sustainability: A Guide to Greening Your Business – Provides an overview of the benefits to greening your business, including a 5-step process and specific opportunities for small businesses.
• Green Business Case Studies – Learn from other businesses as they describe the benefits of greening-up, such as enhanced brand image, stronger customer loyalty and increased appeal to socially responsible investors.
• Green Certification and Ecolabeling – Learn how to obtain certification from one of several independent organizations so you can include their logo on your products or your promotional materials.
• Market Research – Including a study by the University of Texas that includes tips for avoiding the pitfalls of green marketing.
• Environmental Grants and Loans – Links to resources for financing your business’s innovative environmental products and to support your environmentally friendly business.

A green product or service doesn’t guarantee you’ll capture the market. It still has to provide value to your customers by helping to solve a problem. But in a competitive market, it can help you stand out in the crowd. Consider the resources offered by the SBA to help you gain that competitive edge.

¹ 2012 Cone Green Gap Trend Tracker, How to Use Green Marketing Effectively in Your Business. U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA.gov, 2012.

Link 1:  http://www.sba.gov/content/green-marketing