QUESTION: I know that SCORE is an organization that provides counseling to small businesses, but why the name SCORE?

ANSWER: We get this question a lot from our many clients, so allow me to clarify. SCORE initially was an acronym for the Service Corps of Retired Executives.

Founded in 1964, SCORE is a nonprofit organization that provides free and confidential business mentoring services to prospective and established small-business owners in the United States. Now more than 13,000 active and retired business professionals volunteer their time and expertise.

SCORE’s core service offering is its small business mentoring program.

Mentors work with clients to address issues and learn best practices related to starting and growing a business, including writing business plans, developing products, conceiving marketing strategies and hiring staff.

Clients access mentors via free, ongoing face-to-face mentoring sessions or through email or video mentoring services.

In addition to mentoring, SCORE also offers free and low-cost educational workshops each year, both online and in-person.

SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Association. It operates out of 300 chapters across the country, with its national headquarters in Herndon, Virginia. 

The Naples Chapter of SCORE was founded in 1964, making it one of the oldest continuous operating chapters in the national organization.

Naples SCORE actively recruits volunteers with a wide range of business experience.

With more than 50 members, both retired and working, Naples  SCORE volunteers are real-world professionals with time-tested knowledge who donate thousands of hours to help small businesses succeed.

Our mentors have significant experience in the ownership, operation and/or management of both small and large businesses as well as nonprofits, with expertise in accounting, finance, marketing, management, international, manufacturing and business plan preparation, just to name a few.

There is no need for anyone to go it alone when organizations like SCORE exist to guide you through the complexities of organizing, operating and growing a small business. Remember, help is free for the asking.

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Gray Poehler is a volunteer with the Naples Chapter of SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Business. To ask a question or request free and confidential business counseling, call 239-430-0081 or log on to http://mlsvsj.salamzone.com/naples/local-mentors