Personalized advice from a SCORE business mentor can help you start, scale, or successfully exit your business.

Having an experienced guide on your entrepreneurial journey is a game changer. Every entrepreneur needs a sounding board for their ideas, a gut-check for big decisions, and a supportive shoulder to lean on through good times and bad. Yet finding a business mentor — especially one who’s available to share years of expertise in your industry or market segment — might feel like looking for needle in a haystack.

That’s where SCORE shines. Since its founding in 1964 as a resource partner for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), SCORE has grown to become the nation’s largest network of volunteer business mentors with 320 offices across the country. Today, SCORE retains more than 13,000 active and retired business professionals who volunteer their time and expertise to any entrepreneur who needs it. In 2022 alone, SCORE volunteers doled out 4.65 million hours of sound business advice — all for free.  

Get Your Own SCORE Business Mentor, and More

It’s no surprise that having a mentor is just plain good for business. Entrepreneurs who receive at least three hours of mentoring from SCORE report higher revenues, increased growth, and greater longevity for their business ventures. Requesting a SCORE mentor is easy and — it’s worth repeating — free!

You'll provide your contact information; your preference for connecting, as mentorships can happen in person, through video chat, by phone, or via email; the general topic area you’d like to receive mentoring in; and any specific questions or issues you’d like to address together. SCORE then uses the information to pair you with a business mentor who best can fit your needs.  

Can’t commit to a full mentorship? The SCORE website offers a handy on-demand chat feature for quick answers from knowledgeable businesspeople. SCORE’s LiveChat is accessible on the bottom of every page at score.org on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET. 

Although SCORE’s signature offering is matching entrepreneurs with mentors, the organization is also a wellspring of helpful content that can supercharge your entrepreneurial growth. Check out its resource hub for rural business owners, veterans, women, and entrepreneurs of color; business planning and financial statement templates; disaster preparedness and recovery information; and business training on a variety of topics offered via webinars, workshops and events. 

Volunteer and Pass It On

On the flip side, you might be at a place in your career where you’d like to share your entrepreneurial insights with the next generation of small business owners. If you have real-world business experience and want to give back, consider joining SCORE as a volunteer. The key qualification is having practical business knowledge and a passion for small business. All volunteers receive specialized training and certification in mentoring methodology. 

Whether you’re looking for one-on-one guidance from an experienced businessperson, self-paced resources to help run your business better, or a way to make a difference in the lives of emerging entrepreneurs, SCORE has a winning track record that spans six decades. You don’t have to go it alone in your entrepreneurial journey: Join more than 11 million small businesses in SCORE’s supportive small business community! 

Visit score.org to learn more!