Constructive Criticism/Partners - Green Business Virtual Consultancy

**ColinD4321** · 11-23-2008 08:12 PM

I am considering starting a web based virtual consultancy to help small businesses navigate going green. I am a consultant who normally works with large multinational corporations to gain a competitive advantage while reducing the environmental impact of doing business. We recommend measures to reduce energy consumption, design renewable energy systems, draft corporate sustainability reports, vehicle replacement policies, recycling programs, incentives for employee innovation, develop marketing strategies, etc.

Our services are prohibitively expensive for small businesses, yet these companies could benefit greatly from the information we provide our clients. I want to create a fully automated, web based, virtual consultancy to share the multitude of synergistic opportunities to improve social, environmental and economic performance with small business owners.

I believe such a platform could be created and marketed at a modest cost - $150k using only myself, a software engineer, graphic designer, and a marketing specialist I give seminars with. It could be marketed via green business conferences (booths are typically $1.5k-3k) and google ad words. Initial signup, creation of a detailed company profile and a summary of recommendations would be free of cost to encourage a large number of clients. Clients would only begin payment if they wished to receive detailed implementation plans. Revenues would also be generated by halving discounts for clients from purveyors of goods and services recommended.

Finally, my company has had me sign no non-compete/non-disclosure agreements, thus I would be violating no laws or agreements in creating this product using our methodologies.

Thank you for your time in reading my concept and I look forward to your thoughts. I will ultimately be seeking investors once this is solidified, but I am likely a few weeks from an actionable business plan.

**jasaunders** · 11-23-2008 09:24 PM

Few days too late

I just got back from Greenbuild yesterday.

Not sure on the viability of the business, lot of questions, too many to list here. But once you get a business plan together, feel free to send my way.