Four Ways Your Small Business Can "Go Green"

While giving back to the environment should be a priority every day of the year, it is especially so this week.  Earth Day was yesterday, April 22, and many people and businesses are looking for ways they can become more eco-conscious.  Here are four small steps you can take to turn your small business “green.”

1. While going paperless is the ultimate goal, there will most likely always be some instances where paper is necessary for your business.  When you must use paper, use a post consumer-waste (PCW) product.  This is paper made entirely of recycled paper and has a recycling symbol on the packaging.
2. Use biodegradable cleaners.  Using natural cleaners not only is better for the body in terms of exposure to toxins, but also reduces the amount of toxins that get released into the environment as we’re doing something as seemingly simple as just cleaning the office.
3. Replace traditional light bulbs with compact-fluorescent or LED lights.  They may cost more upfront, but last longer than traditional light bulbs reducing the amount of waste that result from replacing more often.
4. Place recycling stations right next to every community trash can in the office.  The more your team sees the recycling station, the more they will be thinking about and the more things will get recycled.  To encourage use, you can even have internal competition or incentive on who recycles the most each month!

Taking care of the planet has become more of a priority in the mind of consumers, and by following these simple steps your small business can give back to the environment, too!  Do you have any other ways your business is going green?  Share them with us on twitter @honorcu using #askhonorcu!

Listen to Honor’s Scott and 97.5 Y-Country’s Wild Bill talk about more ways you can “go green” in this week’s Mason Jar Monday! 

Comment on this post, or follow us on twitter @honorcu and use #askhonorcu to get involved! You can also comment with the topic you want to see discussed next week! It's your money, and we want to talk about things you care about!

Three Ways Credit Unions Can Help Your Small Business

Do you own a small business?  Keeping your business open is the main goal, but have you ever thought of a credit union to help you do just that?  Credit unions are local, but are not too small to help your small business.  Small businesses are the backbone of our community and credit unions understand that.  Here are three ways that a credit union can help your business achieve financial success:

1. Business Checking options that do more!  Many credit unions offer checking accounts for businesses that are more than your basic checking account.  For example, Honor has a business checking account that has no minimum balance, a free debit card, and extra e-services to help you manage your business’s checking account better.  Another type of business checking account that many credit unions, like Honor, offer even earns the business interest! 
2. Business Loans with flexibility!  When many business owners think of a business loan, they think of a bank.  It’s time to start thinking differently!  Credit unions can offer business loans with many of the same features as banks, but often with lower interest rates and more flexibility!  Honor Credit Union’s business loans allow both weekly and bi-weekly payments, has no pre-pay penalties, and competitive interest rates to top it all off!
3. Tech tools to make your life easier!  As a small business owner, you have enough to worry about.  Let some of the extra e-services that credit unions can offer take a little off your plate!  Direct Deposit, employee payroll, online banking, and ACH are all services that credit unions like Honor can offer your business.  Honor’s business checking online banking system is even compatible with Quicken and Quickbooks to make managing your books even easier!

Small businesses are an important part of our community, and managing your small businesses finances shouldn’t be a hassle.  Credit unions are here to help and can offer your business the solution it needs to achieve financial success.

Check out Honor Credit Union’s Business Services Manager, Kathy B. talk with Wild Bill about the business services Honor offers in this week’s Mason Jar Monday!   

Comment on this post, or follow us on twitter @honorcu and use #askhonorcu to get involved! You can also comment with the topic you want to see discussed next week! It's your money, and we want to talk about things you care about!