Why is Ethix a For-Profit Company?

Posted by Brian Thivierge on

This week we had the opportunity to talk about Ethix with a group of students from The San Francisco School of Digital Filmmaking.  They were looking for innovative companies to use as the subject of 30 second ads that they are creating as part of their course work.  We are eagerly awaiting news on whether we got selected for the project but in the meantime they asked us some great questions that got me thinking about some of the principles that were foundational to Ethix and that inspired us to launch the company.  One of the questions was “Why is Ethix a for-profit company?”

Answer is Yes!

Ethix is a social enterprise.  Enterprise as in a productive endeavor in the private sector and social as in thinking beyond our bottom line in the way we do business.  I have a huge amount of respect for all the work that is done and the impact that is created in the non-profit sector but I had a different vision for the company I wanted to help build.  There are a lot of reasons for this but these are the highlights.

Philanthropy isn’t enough!  On a very basic level, the idea that we should support the health, well being and education of the majority of our citizens through government spending or donations is running out of rope.  If the fact that this model is broken is not enough to convince you, think about it like this.  Should our social, educational and community needs be reliant on “left over” money that drops out of the private economy in the form of charitable donations.  There is something wrong with that.   Companies all over the world are learning that they have a vested interesest in the health and education of their customers and employees.  It is part of their bottom line.  Doesn’t it make more sense to move towards a more integrated economy that promotes the creation of private wealth while contributing to the broader social economy on which it depends to thrive?

We have a point to make… Seriously!  The financial service industry is chock-a-block with revenue models that baffle consumers and charge huge sums in fees and murky charges with very little value or accountability.  Merchant services is one of the worst offenders here.  We want to prove that it is not simply possible, but profitable to repurpose these models and make them transparent, ethical and socially responsible.  Possible to the tune of 25% of our total revenues at Ethix and profitable to the tune of… Well.  We will find out and keep you in the loop but things are going great.

Business is Social.   We think that the distinction between business and social needs is false.  Businesses do better in thriving local communities.  We are in the business of reconnecting businesses with social needs in their local areas in a way that does not cost them a dime and actually saves them money.

Making Money… is great.  We think so and our sales people think so and the non-profits and community groups that benefit from our Ethix Program agree.

The How & Why Of It All

Posted by Brian Thivierge on

Who is Ethix?

We are a committed team that love what we do. We are focused on giving back to our communities in our spare time. We are joined by a National sales team that are knowledgable, experienced and have passion for giving back and paying forward.

 

Why join as an Ethix merchant?

We will lower the credit processing fees you pay and give 25% back to a good-doing organization of your choosing.

 

How do we beat other’s rates?

Our motto is “fair & transparent” and our pricing structure reflects exactly that. We have no hidden fees and provide the simplest statement possible. We charge the interchange with only .25% plus $0.10 per transaction. Our sales reps can provide the saving range you can expect while signing up to be an Ethix merchant.

 

Why do we do this as a company?

We believe that is is crucial to fund organizations that do good work in our communities and it is important for us to be a socially responsible business.

 

How can we afford to do this?

We aren’t afraid of rolling up are sleeves and working hard. With over 12 years experience in the business, we negotiate on your behalf AND keep a much smaller percentage. We believe by doing this hard work we will not only build stronger communities, we can sustain our business through the word of mouth of our merchants and the organizations we help support.

 

How do I join this movement?

  • If you are a merchant, sign up for an Ethix account, processing your credit/debit cards and choose your non-profit you will to support.
  • If you are a Non-Profit or Charity you can have Ethix process you credit cards and save money with lower processing fees and receive funds back from the fees you pay. Then suggest Ethix to your supporters to raise more monthly funds.
  • As a consumer, choose businesses that are socially responsible, support charities and use Ethix as their merchant service provider.
  • We need your help to spread the word about Ethix. The more merchants that work with us, the more organizations we can help.

Make Money and Raise Money for Your Community – Come Work for Ethix

Posted by Brian Thivierge on

It’s official!  Ethix is looking for passionate, motivated folks who want to build a financially secure future for themselves and make a difference in the world.  We thought it might be useful for us to explain a few things about this opportunity.

We are a PURPOSE DRIVEN ORGANIZATION.  That means that our central goal is to make an impact socially and in communities all across America and all over the world.

We are a SOCIAL ENTERPRISE.  A business focused on meeting social as well as financial goals.

We are SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE.  You know… ethics and integrity are really important to us.  They affect how we treat our customers, how we treat our employees and how we do business in the world.

And if you decide to work with us…

You will earn RESIDUAL INCOME.  So when you stop working you don’t stop earning.  The acconts that you close are billed fees for our services every month and, every month, you get a portion of those fees.

You will BE YOUR OWN BOSS and set your own schedule.  Whether you want to do this for a couple of hours a week or full time, it is entirely up to you.  We will give you the training and support that you need either way and you will be a part of the Ethix Representative Network.

You will MAKE A DIFFERENCE by generating residual income for the causes selected by your accounts.  You can also advocate for any cause that you personally want to support.

So come join us in creating sustainable local economies and getting money from local businesses back into local communities.