What is the cost to become a Green Irene Eco-Consultant?
Green Irene has two enrollment options to make it simple and affordable for you to start your own Green Irene Eco-Consulting Business: the $350 PLUS Eco-Consultant Training and Business Launch Package or the $150 BASIC Eco-Consultant Training and Business Launch Package.

With the BASIC Package you’ll receive the necessary basic elements to start your business such as your E-commerce enabled website and marketing tools. The PLUS Package offers all of the contents of the BASIC package PLUS many additional components including a wide range of products (retail value of $300), more customized marketing tools such as customization of materials and local press release distribution plus QuickStart Program Eligibility (potential to earn a $100 bonus). We continue to believe that there is an added benefit to having a selection of products to demonstrate at consulting appointments and workshops with the potential result of higher product sales.

With either package, you’ll receive access to our highly regarded online training program including our new Version 2.0 which includes feedback from over 500 Eco-Consultants who have gone through our 30 hours of online training.

Are there extra or hidden costs?
The initial enrollment fee covers all required costs for one year such as training, research, website, marketing, email forwarding and communication from HQ. We used to have a $25 quarterly fee ($100 total per year) that we eliminated for 2010. Although a renewal fee has not yet been determined, there will be an annual renewal fee established that will be lower than the previous $100 a year.

Do I need to hold inventory of Green Irene products?
No, we hold the inventory and ship the products directly to the buyer. The Eco-Consultant will need a demo kit to be able to effectively sell some of the products, but the Eco-Consultant is not required to buy and hold any inventory.

Do I have to pay extra for marketing materials?
During the training and set-up period, if you have purchased the $350 PLUS Eco-Consultant Training and Business Launch Package, our staff customizes the Green Irene Service Sheets and Green Irene Guides with your name, community and contact information and emails them to you in PDF format so you can print them out yourself. You are never required to buy additional marketing brochures from us. Everyone will be shipped a starter package of service sheets, Green Irene Guides, postcards and Green Irene folders. When you need more you can print the ones you received by email or you can choose to purchase them from Green Irene (in particular the postcards and folders which are from a professional printer). All of the Green Irene Service Sheets and Green Irene Guides are available in our Ask Green Irene Database, which you have access to anytime.

You can order business cards and other items like car decals and name badges from a third party printer who has templates set up for us or you can have them printed in your community. There is no requirement that you buy any of these items from our supplier, but if you choose to have them printed locally, you just follow the templates we have pre-approved.

Do I receive a salary and benefits?
No. Eco-Consultants are independent business people and not employees of Green Irene LLC. You are trained by Green Irene and use our consulting materials and products.

How will I get paid?
Green Irene LLC handles all billing fees to the clients. You receive a monthly check based on collections from your clients for consulting and product sales.

How much can I expect to earn?
You earn 80% commission on residential eco-consulting services, such as the Green Home Makeover. On eco-consulting services for businesses with green business certification sold by Green Irene, the “Green Business Makeover with GBB Certification”, you earn between $200 and $450 depending on the number of employees of the business (based on the current price list as of April 22, 2010). Additionally, since the certification requires an annual renewal, you earn residual income on renewals. You earn 80% commission on add on consulting projects as well, whether for home or business.

How do I get customers?
We advertise and market Green Irene nationally and provide you with leads, but we need you to market yourself locally and network in your community. This is a grassroots, community-based effort, and the best marketing is word-of-mouth recommendations.

Can my company enroll as an Eco-Consultant?
We are getting more inquiries recently from companies who want to add our services and products to their lineup of existing services and products to widen the range of eco-friendly services they can provide clients. Green Irene has two enrollment options: the $350 PLUS Eco-Consultant Training and Business Launch Package or the $150 BASIC Eco-Consultant Training and Business Launch Package. For more information on these packages, see the details. Assuming that additional employees would all come under the corporate account, for each additional salesperson/consultant, we would charge a $100 training only fee for 90-day access to the training. This training only fee does not include separate marketing materials, email forwardings or individual websites (although they can be provided as additional add-ons).

Is Green Irene a Franchise?
No, and as a result there are no Franchise Fees.