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We see nearly every company on the planet touting themselves as being green, but, are they all – really?

We have a different take on being a green small business – it starts with your bottom line.

All businesses have to be in business to make money. If your business (whatever it is) is not making money, it will not be a business for long.

Thus, to make money you have to attract customers. To attract customers, you have to offer products and services that provide both functionality (meet their needs) at a solid price point. While many consumers will give lip service to only wanting to buy green products and services, most do not follow through with that talk if functionality goes down or prices rise. In fact, being green almost always takes a third place behind usability (meeting a need) and price.

Now, if you decide that your business wants to be greener you might change the way your business attracts customers – meaning buying more expensive ‘natural’ products which could increase the prices you offer or buying materials or offering services that reduce your perceived functionality – all of which will drive some (many) customers away.

Thus, you have to balance being green while still meeting customer needs.

We look at this with a simple point of view – provide what your customers want (in its full form) with less.

Think about it this way:

Doing green the business way! Check out the rest of this article at Business Money Today.

One of the universal truths is this: When you don’t need something, you can get it. When you do need something, you can’t.

That’s true of financing, too. The times where you need financing most desperately may be the times when it is hardest to get, thanks to some jerk named Murphy and his stupid law. If your credit was floundering already, your efforts are probably torpedoed before they even begin.

But it doesn’t have to be that way, as Entrepreneur explained in a recent article. The to getting financing is ensuring your business and personal credit is not in shambles, something you can do if you put a little effort and follow some of the smart advice out there on the Interwebs.

Two things matter, credit and cash flow.  If you want financing, work on both.  Here is a way to get started. Keep on reading this article at Biz Engine.

In an economy where every bit of capital can help or hurt a small business, is Bank of America cutting credit lines to some small businesses?

That question emerged on Tuesday after a Los Angeles Times report cited at least two small-business owners who claim that Bank of America is now forcing them to pay their balances in full versus on a monthly basis — a move that could wipe them out.

“I was like, ‘Dude, you’re calling a guy who’s barely surviving!’” Babak Zahabizadeh of Burbank, Calif.-based Messengers & Distribution told the Times, claiming he received a letter from Bank of America that stated his $96,000 debt must be repaid later this month. “My final word was that I can double my payment — but not triple or quadruple it. I told them if they apply too much pressure they’re going to push me into bankruptcy.”

And, for some reason, I still like this bank! Keep on reading at Huffington Post.

VCs poured significantly more money into deals in 2011, according to a recently released MoneyTree Report by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association, based on data from Thomson Reuters. Venture capitalists invested $28.4 billion in 3,673 deals in 2011, an increase of 22 percent in dollars and a 4 percent rise in deals over the prior year. The amount of venture dollars invested in 2011 represents the third highest annual investment total in the past ten years.

In terms of the fourth quarter, investments in the quarter totaled $6.6 billion in 844 deals, which is actually a 10 percent decrease in terms of dollar amount and an 11 percent decrease in deals from the third quarter of 2011 when $7.3 billion went into 953 deals.

Double-digit increases in investment dollars in 2011 were spread across a number of industries, including the Clean Technology and Internet sectors. Investment dollars also increased across every stage of investment categories, with the exception of a 48 percent decrease in seed stage investments. First-time financings rose in 2011 compared to the prior year, however, fourth quarter investing did show a decline in both first-time dollars and deals when compared to Q3 2011.

Finally, quit following political favorite and start investing for tomorrow. Keep reading this interesting article at Tech Crunch.

A new small business lending program at the University at Albany has created a new generation of entrepreneurs in the Capital Region who have $35,000 for their dreams and a great deal of confidence.

On Wednesday, UAlbany introduced the first class — 11 people — to complete its new Small Enterprise Economic Development, or SEED, program. Participants such as Patricia Greenwood, who runs a vintage shop in Schenectady called Patricia’s Room, said the program, anchored by a $2.5 million revolving loan fund established by SEFCU, has made led to vast improvements.

“It renewed my life,”Greenwoodsaid during a presentation at UAlbany’sSchoolofBusiness. “I didn’t know where I was going when I entered into the program.”

With the help of a loan from SEFCU,Greenwoodhas been able to move into new space on162 Jay St. She lost her previous location inTroywhen the building where she rented space went into foreclosure.

“I’m now in a space that is beautiful,”Greenwoodsaid. “It is the space of my dreams.”

We need more programs like this that combine financing and knowledge to use it properly. Check out this article at Loan Safe.

Global lending giants Chase (JPM.N) and Citi (C.N) said they substantially increased loans toU.S.small businesses last year, both exceeding previous commitments.

Chase said its small business loans rose to $17 billion in 2011, up 52 percent from 2010.

Citi said it lent $7.9 billion to small companies last year, an increase of more than 30 percent from the prior year and exceeding its previous commitment of $7 billion. Since the start of the economic downturn in late 2008, many small businesses have been struggling to get loans, lines of credit and other financing.

But a monthly poll of small business sentiment released Jan. 10 by the National Federation of Independent Business, a trade group, said small businesses’ access to credit ranked at the bottom of respondents’ concerns, with only 4 percent of owners reporting financing as their primary business problem.

But, overall lending is down to small businesses last year.  Don’t expect increases this year – to politically charged. Keep on reading this article at Huffington Post.

Business Credit Cards

A small business credit card or corporate credit card can help you keep your company’s expenses on track and obtain the buying power you need to operate your business. Some business credit cards also reward you for all your business purchases in the form of cash back or airline miles.

Compare the business credit card offers below and apply for the card that’s right for you

In need of quick but flexible working capital?  This might be your best and only option in this economy. Check out these business cards at Business Money Today.

If you’re looking to renovate your franchise business and funding is a little tight, it may be necessary to apply for financing in the form of a remodel loan. You’ll find numerous sources for these loans, ranging from the federal government to your local bank, and it’s essential to choose the one that best suits your individual purposes.

SBA loans ideal for franchise renovation
Business owners looking to finance the renovation and remodeling of their existing facilities may want to consider lenders providing loans guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). For this situation, the agency’s 7(a) loan program, which is known for having the widest variety of applications, would likely be the most appropriate.

The uses of 7(a) loans include (but are by no means limited to) financing the expansion or renovation of existing facilities, as well as purchasing the equipment, machinery, materials, land and inventory you will need to finish the job properly. Since the 7(a) is considered the most prominent SBA loan, you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a lender in your area who provides this financing.

Franchise need money too – SBAs are great for these. To find out more keep reading at Boefly.

This year a smallNew Yorkfish market vendor in theBronxfinally got fed up with its large bank. They dumped them and signed up for banking services at a much smaller bank. “They were not getting the attention they used to get and had become accustomed to,” said the CEO of Signature Bank in an interview with AmericanBanker last week.

And that’s too bad for the former banking service provider of the Hunts Point fish market vendor because according to AmericanBanker.com, it’s exactly small businesses like these that are driving the recovering commercial/business loan market. In fact, two of the smaller commercial lenders inNew York, Sterling Bancorp and Signature Bank, reported a significant uptick in loans from businesses that jumped ship from a larger bank.

The opportunities of letting clients jump ship have not been lost on the larger banks: Michael Fusco of Chase Manhattan, one of the largest banks in theNew Yorkarea, told American Banker that “we’ve made a concerted effort to grow our state’s economy by drastically increasing our small-business lending.”

Small businesses have learned to get by on less. Keep on reading at Peerform.

Most entrepreneurs are in the dream business—but Max Marty is actually in the business of other people’s dreams.

The 28-year-old son of Cuban immigrants, Marty founded Blueseed LLC, a high-tech startup incubator set to open on an ocean vessel off the coast ofCalifornia. The enterprise is designed to sidestepU.S.immigration restrictions, yet still be close enough to host impromptu meetings withSilicon Valleyexecutives.

“The American Dream has shifted,” Marty told Portfolio.com. “It used to be you follow your dreams, then it switched to climbing the corporate ladder, and now it’s switching again—back to the self-made person.”

Foreigners tend to start more businesses here then Americans. Keep on reading this interesting article at Portfolio.