How do I get help?

SCORE helps tens of thousands of small businesses each year. SCORE offers free counseling and low-cost workshops and seminars.

Find out how today’s entrepreneurs are succeeding with the benefit of free and confidential business counseling from SCORE. Start by contacting SCORE to request a meeting with one of our expert counselors.

Any small business can get SCORE counseling. Whether you are starting a business, experiencing problems, need assistance in growing or buying/selling a business, SCORE can help. All counseling is strictly personal and confidential.

In times of economic change, you must be diligent in preparing advance plans. Begin by developing a business plan with realistic sales projections and a plan to hold the line on costs. SCORE can provide advice to help you develop or update your plan.

Ask good questions to get the best advice. Before you talk to a counselor, think of five questions. Ask yourself what is the big opportunity or problem you would like to talk about? Then, ask two or three “Big picture” questions and follow up with more detailed operating questions. Establish a schedule for when you expect to accomplish tasks required to start your business. Plan additional meetings with your counselor.

Anticipate that you will have to work twice as hard as you imagined to make your business successful.

Be prepared to attend one or more workshops on starting and running a small business.