2Sustain

New research from BusinessesForSale, an online marketplace that brings together buyers and sellers of businesses and franchises, suggests that more business buyers are placing the installation of green initiatives above staffing and IT issues in their list of post-acquisition priorities.

Why? I assume it’s because business buyers are becoming increasingly aware of the long-term financial benefits of an energy efficient and otherwise eco-friendly office.

(If you still need convincing about the business case for energy efficiency investments, read this earlier post about how MBA students from the Environmental Defense Fund’s 2009 Climate Corps uncovered $54 million in energy efficiency savings at their participating host companies.)

It’s also interesting to note that BusinessesForSale is likewise seeing that the acquisition of green businesses is on the rise.

“We’re witnessing a sharp rise in inquiries on solar panel installation firms, green cleaning businesses and manufacturers of green fuel, which suggests the demand for green businesses for sale is currently considerable,” says Jeremy Mandell, Head of Marketing at BusinessesForSale.  “At present we’re advertising a book recycling business with sales revenues of nearly $2 million, which could easily be considered mid market. If green business opportunities were not taken seriously by buyers five years ago, then they certainly are now.”