Score - a Small Business Administration Helping Hand
A Home Business Article Contributed by Sharon Hill
Small Business Administration Counts on Score
The Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), part of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), is one of the best resources an emerging or prospective small business can call on for help with marketing, administration and expansion. The best part is that it's free. You can meet one on one with a representative at the nearest local office or you can ask a question online from the SCORE site, directing it to the counselor of your choice if you wish. You go to www.score.org and look at counselor biographies to find one or a few whose expertise is in the area where you need help.
SCORE began in 1964, and now has 12, 500 volunteers in 800 branch offices nationwide. Along with individual counseling, SCORE offers small business management and administration workshops and seminars. The Anchorage AK chapter of SCORE, for instance, is currently offering two hour seminars on Starting a Business and Financing a Startup Business.
Arizona's several chapters provide four hour seminars on accounting topics such as accounting systems, budgeting, financial statements, record keeping and forecasting; on business planning topics such as writing a business plan and marketing to the public;as well as a home-based business workshop that talks about business licenses, zoning, time management and self-discipline. An Arizona attorney is conducting a SCORE seminar on intellectual properties such as patents and copyrights.
Sacramento CA's one day presentations include a Pre-Business Seminar that talks about the implications and requirements of starting a business; and Business Success Seminar, which teaches enhancement of skills in the areas of business law, marketing and information technology. Workshops include training in QuickBooks, writing a business plan, and advanced Internet research.
Who are These Small Business Administration Score Volunteers?
Although most SCORE volunteers are retired, that is not a requirement. Still gainfully employed or not, the SCORE volunteer is or has been a business owner or manager and must apply and be accepted as a volunteer and then train as a counselor.
How to Get Your Small Business Administration Help Through Score
There are several methods for soliciting the help of a SCORE counselor. Your local Small Business Administration office can direct you to your local SCORE office or set up the appointment for you. You can go to the SCORE web site and search for a local chapter office, or you can ask questions online. There are even online workshops available.
Right now, for instance, SCORE's home page advertises an online Franchising Basics workshop through the International Franchising Association, a IRS course on small business taxes, a SCORE course on Internet marketing and a database of book reviews on business management issues.
If you have a specific topic or question in mind and would prefer getting an online answer rather than waiting for a face to face meeting you can go to their site and choose up to 10 of the 600 listed specialty areas and then choose a counselor from those displayed. If, for instance, you needed to advertising for employees you might select the categories of Classified Advertising, Human Resources and Personnel Administration.
When I chose these three the site offered 147 counselors in various parts of the country, with all their designated specialties listed. From this point you would complete a feedback form with your contact information and the help you need. Your counselor will get back to you by email.
Take a look at the SCORE site for all its fine small business services.
