Ecopreneurist

Sometimes forgotten by entrepreneurs hoping to open a green business is the burgeoning personal service industry. As more and more consumers express concern about environmental toxins, opportunities increase for entrepreneurs interested in providing greener, safer alternatives for some common household tasks.

Ranging from low initial investment services like housecleaning to highly regulated child care more and more consumers are seeking eco-friendly alternatives. Regulators, especially in green states like California, are aiding this trend, by introducing legislation that prohibits the use of toxic chemicals.

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Should we expect more cleaners to be going green soon? It seems inevitable: California has mandated a phase-out of the toxic cleaning chemical used by dry cleaning services called PERC, of perchloroethylene, by 2023. Environmental regulations put in place in 2002 in Southern California allow cleaners to use, but not install, PERC machines. There’s still quite a bit of progress to make, though.

Over 85% of America’s 33,000 or so dry cleaners use PERC, which the EPA classifies as a neurotoxin and is a petroleum-based product that contributes to global warming.

Dry Cleaning isn’t the only business that has relied on chemicals now considered more dangerous than previously thought. San Francisco entrepreneurs, Todd Gean and Jason Yeafoli recently launched the, immediately successful, non-toxic house cleaning business called Maid Green.

The entrepreneur’s team of well-trained eco-friendly cleaner’s scrub polish and brighten San Francisco homes using only non-toxic, natural, environmentally friendly products paired with equal parts elbow grease and common sense.

Environmentally friendly services are popping up all over the country driven by an increased interest in avoiding toxic chemicals, many of them available as franchises. Some opportunities that eco entrepreneurs may want to consider are:

1.Dry Cleaning

2.House Cleaning

3.Lawn Care

4.Childcare

5.Carwash

6.Window wash

7.Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning

8.Catering

9.Pet care

10.Pest control

In every area of their lives consumers now are looking for greener alternatives. Savvy entrepreneurs can capitalize on this growing interest and start a business that provides healthier services for customers, a healthier working environment and a healthier planet.

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