SCORE Association - Counselors to America's Small Business

Providing management and mentoring assistance for small businesses

SCORE is a nonprofit organization sponsored by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and dedicated to helping small businesses prosper since 1964.

SCORE's 389 locally organized, self-administered chapters offer services throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Volunteers are trained as counselors, advisers, and mentors to work in management and training for existing small businesses and for those considering going into business.

SCORE tries to match client needs with a counselor whose experience is in a comparable line of business. Check with your local SCORE office to determine if counselors with relevant expertise are available. SCORE can offer pre-business counseling, existing business counseling, and mentoring sessions for no charge.

SCORE also provides low-cost local workshops on business planning, management, financing, and marketing. If no local counselor has relevant experience, search online at www.score.org to establish email counseling sessions. Log on and click "Ask SCORE."

Application and Financial Information
Potential clients should contact their local SBA or SCORE office to request a meeting with a counselor. The SCORE chapter volunteers will check their rosters to try to pair clients with counselors who have relevant business experience.

Eligibility, Uses, and Restrictions
Any small independent business can receive help from SCORE. Clients need not have an SBA loan to receive support. SCORE services also are available to nonprofit associations. SCORE is a free business counseling service available to all American businesses.

Contact
To locate the SCORE office nearest you, check your local telephone directory or call (800) 634-0245 or send a fax to (202) 205-7636. For the hearing impaired, the TDD number is (202) 205-7333.

National Program Office
The SCORE Association
409 Third Street, S.W., 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20024
Phone: (800) 634-0245
E-mail: contact.score@sba.gov

Internet
www.score.org

Visit SCORE's award winning website for more than 2,000 pages of small business "how to" and trend articles, to find your nearest counseling location, and to receive counseling via email.