Formerly the Service Corps of Retirement Executives, this organization is filled with business pros who have been through the trenches and now offer their knowledge free of charge. Today the organization is simply known as SCORE since active business owners are now part of the more than 12,000 volunteer counselors who make up the organization. About half of them are veterans.
The SBA subsidizes SCORE along with local businesses and nonprofit organizations. All counseling services are free, though some chapters may charge for workshops.
There are 300 chapters across the country, and each operates independently. Larger chapters such as the one in San Diego, which has more than 90 volunteers and recently won National Chapter of the Year, may have greater resources. But, business owners can always visit the national Web site to get connected to a counselor who they can work with over phone or via e-mail, explained Alex Galenes, a San Diego SCORE counselor and retired Army veteran.
“This chapter has an amazing breadth of experience,” he said. “You name it, they’ve done it. We all have a passion for sharing essential information you need in business. The national Web site also has hundreds of articles on every topic you need.”
Galenes encouraged veterans to get connected with a SCORE counselor, who is registered with information on their business experience. He is registered as experienced in buying and selling businesses.
“It’s important to know what you’re getting into before you spend a lot of time or buy an expensive franchise,” he said.
www.score-sandiego.org
www.score.org
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