To register for free counseling please click here: SCORE Registration

SCORE, "Counselors to America’s Small Business," is a nonprofit association comprising 12,400 volunteers in 364 chapters in all 50 states and U.S. territories. SCORE is a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

The Evansville Chapter of SCORE offers free, confidential, unlimited counseling to entrepreneurs and small businesses – both existing and startups. Their 26 counselors, all unpaid, are working and retired vol-unteers with executive expertise in various disciplines ― academia, accounting & finance, marketing, advertising, banking, business plan-ning, engineering, general management, human resources, law, inter-national sales, retail, and strategic planning.

The chapter office is at Innovation Pointe, 318 Main Street, Suite 223. Counseling can be arranged by phoning the office at 812-426-6144 or contacting the web site at www.evansville.score.org. Here one can also access an "FAQ" section that provides answers to many questions. A "Counseling Information Form" (SBA Form 641) must be completed to start the actual counseling process, which a cli-ent may complete online at the web site, or request by phoning the office, and then return by mail or by fax at 812-492-4301. A counselor or "mentor" will then be assigned and will contact the client to schedule the first session.

During the initial intake session, client needs are determined. The client may have a good idea where and why he or she needs help, and SCORE might determine where further assistance is needed. The SCORE counselors (two are normally pre-sent) and client will jointly agree on a plan to proceed. Follow-up sessions may include a co-counselor with specific expertise or experience in a special area of help needed. Assistance may also include an assignment to study pertinent busi-ness information found in SCORE-provided or other references, or doing on-line research using the SCORE or other websites. Counselors can also provide insight into how to buy, franchise or sell a business.

SCORE’s National office in Herndon, Virginia has a robust web site at www.score.org, where cyber-counseling is also available.

To register for free counseling please click here:  SCORE Registration