SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship. They’ve been around for almost fifty years and the U. S. Small Business Association supports them.

Here are some of the things they provide:

• Mentoring – Mentors offer free, confidential advice on a range of issues. You can either meet face-to-face with a local mentor or browse their email mentors’ profiles and get assistance on topics such as strategy/planning, IT services, finance, marketing, or government contracting, to name a few.

• Business Tools – Browse the wide selection of “how to” articles. For example, one of the templates is “When is a Good Time to Open a Second Location of Your Bar or Restaurant?”
• Business Workshops and Webinars – Inexpensive ($20-$75) or free workshops are available locally. See the schedule for current workshops offered. In addition, online webinars are available 24-7, so you can watch them when it’s convenient for you. One of the most popular webinars is, “Quick Start Business Plan.”

SCORE volunteers are working and retired business professionals with expertise to provide assistance to small businesses. There are over 13,000 volunteers nationwide. Some even specialize in providing help for specific types of entrepreneurs, including people age 50 or older, minorities, rural business owners, veterans, and women.

Need some help with your business? Check out SCORE and find out how they can help you can come out on top.