By Lauren M. Trager, SCORE Volunteer

The pandemic has been difficult for everyone, particularly for business owners. Many businesses can no longer conduct business the way they used to before COVID-19 and are finding they need to reinvent themselves or sharpen their entrepreneurial skills in order to survive but lack the knowledge or wherewithal to do it.

Starting or growing a business can be challenging under the best of circumstances but you don’t have to go it alone. A wonderful nonprofit organization that can help is called SCORE. SCORE’s mission is to foster vibrant small business communities through mentoring and education. The Nation’s largest network of volunteers, expert business mentors, SCORE has helped more than 11 million entrepreneurs since 1964. Prospective entrepreneurs with a mentor are five times more likely to start a business—and small business clients who receive 3+ hours of mentoring report higher revenues and increased business growth.

SCORE mentors are remotely available by phone, email and video. This allows the entrepreneur to connect safely with expert mentors from their own home, all for free.

Your SCORE mentor can help you:

1. Grow your business
2. Improve your finances through cash flow management and investment analysis
3. Evaluate new sales and marketing outlets in order to best reach your target
audience
4. Create operations and inventory management strategies
5. Help with an exit strategy
6. And lots more

Now, and for the life of your business, SCORE offers educational workshops and seminars on many small business topics. Free online business documents, tools and templates on a variety of topics, including initial business planning, strategic planning, capital sources, marketing and government agencies that can help small businesses are just a sample of what is available at no cost.

If a small business entrepreneur, or someone who is interested in starting a business, is interested in SCORE’s help, all you have to do is go to SCORE.org and request a mentor. All mentoring is confidential and there is no limit to the times you can contact a mentor.
In addition to helping small business entrepreneurs, SCORE is also looking for volunteers to assist these entrepreneurs.

If you are interested, please go to SCORE.org and find out how to get involved.