Free Business Secrets of Success from S.C.O.R.E.

Whether a first-generation business owner or from a long line of entrepreneurs, business owners nationwide will benefit from the free services offered by SCORE.

SCORE is an acronym for the Service Corps of Retired Executives and is comprised of over 10,000 retired or semi-retired volunteers nationwide who have been successful in business and want to share their secrets. The difference between the successful business men and women at SCORE and the rest of the nation is that the people at SCORE are in 389 offices nationwide to help aspiring business people like you and me.

These business counselors are considered to be the "Counselors to America's Small Business" and are the premier source of free and confidential small business advice for entrepreneurs in any avenue. SCORE mentors help entrepreneurs in one-to-one advising sessions on a full range of business topics. From opening a pet grooming business to launching a financial and banking service, SCORE can help. How about doing something serious with your writing?

Back in the 1970s SCORE chapters were formed and expanded to include workshops and seminars in plain language that everyone can understand. In 1996, the non-profit organization went online and began providing advice by email to meet the entrepreneur's need to have service on an around-the-clock basis.

One resource is the Live Your Dream link. Volunteers help regular individuals target their business plan, improve marketing and increase cash flow. That's what they did for the "Jelly Belly" company. At one time, they were a small family business until they took advantage of SCORE's free services. Now, with nearly 800,000 square feet of production facilities in its two U.S. factories, Jelly Belly also makes candy corn, chocolates, gummies, sour candies and other tasty confections.

Another handy link is the "ask business advice" link online. Would-be entrepreneurs can choose an expert by business type or by state. For example, if a person wanted to open a restaurant, he or she can request a business executive with expertise in the hospitality or similar area. Naturally, business is business and though there may not be a "hospitality" person in Alaska, there is definitely a professional who knows business in general. (Incidentally, there is one in Anchorage, Alaska - chapter 558.)

For those already in businesses, SCORE can help small people make prudent business decisions, from how to invest more money to what the benefits are in company stock. All of their resources are on their website listed below and are far too extensive to list here.

Retired executives are welcomed to volunteer at his or her local SCORE chapter office. Some of the benefits of volunteering years of particular expertise include:

• Contributing to the success of others
• Being a part of the local community
• Making new friends
• Providing advice from home or office
• Leading workshops or seminars

There is so much to be gained by giving of oneself. Many SCORE executives have been happily active in their chapters for years!

Not quite ready to start a business today? Simply sign up for the free newsletter and get in the business loop. Learn what's cutting edge and what's not. Learn how to generate business and how to manage people. Some recent topics in the newsletter included "Does Your Small Business Think Big?", "Investigate Top Small Business Industries and Locations", and "Black-owned Businesses Grow in the U.S".

Whatever the decision is - having SCORE's website on-hand can help either start a business, improve a business or educate the reader about business and how it should be run.