What is SCORE?

SCORE provides free web based counseling

SCORE, "Counselors to America's Small Business", is the premier source for experience based small business counseling and mentoring in the country. SCORE was established more than forty years ago. There are nearly 400 SCORE chapters nationwide. More than 10,500 volunteers provide individual counseling - in person and on-line - and business workshops for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Every Business wants to succeed. How can SCORE Help?

Everyone who opens a small business wants to succeed. There are many factors that contribute to success: a focused business plan, hard work, quality products and services—just to name a few. Another contributing factor to small business success is good advice. SCORE “advisors” or mentors, offer business advice based on their extensive experience. Each chapter has many “advisors” – not just a single advisor. Small business owners can benefit from numerous perspectives available through SCORE.

In fiscal year 2007, SCORE's nearly 400 chapters conducted more than 400,000 business counseling and workshop sessions. The SCORE Web Site, www.score.org is a popular site for small business owners, offering a wide range of business resources and "how to" information. The site also hosts a web based counseling program, which provides entrepreneurs with 24/7 access to more than 1400 online counselors in more than 600 areas of business expertise.

SCORE counselors provide advice and mentoring that helps entrepreneurs live their dreams of success. Based on the findings of an Impact Study of SBA Entrepreneurial Resources, SCORE estimates that our volunteers helped create more than 25,000 new jobs nationwide in 2004, or one for every seven new clients. SCORE also helped create 19,732 new small businesses in 2007, according to an SBA report sent to Congress. SCORE is proud to help small businesses succeed in our community.

SCORE is headquartered in Herndon, VA and has over 10,500 volunteers nationwide. Both working and retired executives and business owners donate time and expertise as business counselors.