Quick Books Software Review
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Summary: A QuickBooks user took the stacks of junk mail in his mail box and turned it into a thriving company that helps the environment.
Junk mail, unsolicited magazines, supermarket coupons — the list goes on and on. And none of that paper being shoved into your mailbox by your friendly neighborhood mail carrier is usually stuff you asked for. So why not stop it? Well, easier said than done. The process of removing your name from those mailing lists is harder than getting dogs to play nice with those junk mail deliverers. However, according to Pankaj Shah, GreenDimes can perform that legwork for you for less than a dime a day. “GreenDimes empowers consumers by eliminating up to 90 percent of their junk mail in their mailbox at home while having a positive impact on the environment by planting trees for members,” said Shah. Shah started the Palo Alto-based store in 2006 as a one-stop shop for eliminating pesky credit card applications and random store advertisements. And the planet, not just consumers, according to Shah, will reap the rewards. “GreenDimes offers complete sets of services to reduce junk mail, including tools that automatically remove names from dozens of direct marketing lists and a catalog tool that allows people to choose which catalogs they want to receive while stopping those they don’t want delivered,” Shah said. A dime a day
When the company got its start, its name said it all – spend a dime-a-day or $36 annually to stop junk mail. It is now only $20- a one time fee! The price is just one reason why Shah believes so strongly in his company. It isn’t about the profit; it is about the environment. “Even when we have low revenue days, the world is a better place because of what we’ve accomplished,” said Shah. According to Shah, GreenDimes’ service takes anywhere from 10 to 40 percent of the revenue and gives it to an environmental cause, such as Trees for the Future and American Forests. GreenDimes also accepts donations from their customers and has a team of bloggers who post religiously about other sustainable organizations and activities. The greener way to finance To maintain their green status, Shah made sure there were no shoe boxes full of receipts during the company’s inception. When it came to their finances, QuickBooks was the obvious choice. “It was affordable, customizable and easy to use,” said Shah, whose company is currently running QuickBooks Premier 2008. “I save time and money using QuickBooks.” “The business reports give us an accurate picture of how we are doing as a company,” said Daphne Tooley, QuickBooks manager for GreenDimes. “We are growing fast and QuickBooks gives us both an instant snapshot of our financials as well as a great look back at how we are progressing as a company.” After several recommendations from friends and family, the functionality made this greener choice his only choice when shopping. “(Our goal is) to do the most good in the shortest amount of time,” Shah said. “That concept hasn’t changed since the day I started the company.” Author: Christen Wegner © Copyright 2008 Intuit Inc. All rights reserved. Contact SNAP at snap@intuit.com. |