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For some reason, when I first heard about SCORE, I was skeptical. You mean an organization exists to help me with my small business? And its services are absolutely free? There has to be a catch. But when I had a particularly vexing tax question and nowhere to turn outside of paying a CPA, I gave SCORE a shot and contacted an online SCORE counselor. Within a day, my question was answered, my mind was at ease and I had made contact with a CPA who offers his services absolutely free through SCORE.
As it turns out, SCORE – known as the Small Business Counselors of America – has helped over 500,000 people over the past year, and over its lifetime since 1964 has helped start over 20,000 small businesses. SCORE is a resource partner to the Small Business Association (SBA) and there are over 300 SCORE chapters all over the country, meaning you’re never very far from a local SCORE branch.
If you haven’t yet taken advantage of SCORE, check out these 10 ways that you can start putting SCORE to work for you and your small business absolutely free:
- Ask Experts for Advice – Whether you have a nagging accounting question like I did or a question about starting up, business planning, marketing, social media, or another topic, you can ask your question to a SCORE counselor online 24/7. Within three days a knowledgeable expert will get back to you. Better yet, you get to choose your expert from a list so that you know just exactly who will be advising you.
- Participate in a Workshop – Take an online self-paced workshop or visit your local SCORE office for in-person workshops. Topics include “Building a Website,” “Assessing Your Company’s Financial Needs,” and “Advertising Your Business.” Workshops are also available in Spanish.
- Visit a Local Chapter – At your local SCORE chapter you can find small business resources such as mentors, or you can take classes for free or at low-cost.
- Attend an Event – Local SCORE chapters sometimes hold events. Visit with other small business owners in your area for some excellent networking opportunities.
- Download Templates for your Small Business – There’s no need to reinvent the wheel (or, in this case, common business documents) when SCORE has provided commonly used templates such as a Business Plan or Sales Forecast.
- Find a Mentor – If you find yourself at a business crossroads, or not quite sure what your next steps should be, perhaps its time for a mentor. You can find a mentor in your industry or one who is a specialist in a particular area. If you live in a rural area, or are just too busy to get to your local SCORE office, mentoring is available online.
- Win an Award – Winners of the Dream Big Small Business Award will win a $10,000 cash prize. You can nominate yourself, or another outstanding small business in your community.
- Follow SCORE on Social Media – SCORE is on Facebook and Twitter, and various SCORE advisors blog and network in an online community. Subscribe to SCORE’s email list, too, for news and updates on workshops, events and online resources. Rather listen than read? Check out SCORE’s podcast series.
- Test Your Knowledge – Wondering if you’re ready for business ownership? Take a Business Skills Assessment. More philosophically oriented? Take “Are you a Good Leader?” and more.
- Give Back – SCORE advisors are experts in various aspects of business, and many of them were once in your shoes as a questioning small business owner. When you’re ready, one of the best things you can do is give back to the businesspeople who come after you by volunteering to help them out.
What do you think?
How do you use SCORE small business services?