What SCORE Mentoring Offices Do

SCORE is a nonprofit organization that pairs small business owners with volunteer mentors — usually retired executives and business professionals — who review your business plan, help you think through decisions, and point you toward resources. SCORE mentors work for free, either in person at a SCORE office or by email and video call. You do not pay for the mentoring itself, though SCORE sometimes charges a small fee for workshops.

A SCORE mentor is not a consultant you hire to do work for you. Instead, a mentor asks questions, shares what they have seen work in their own industry or role, and helps you see problems or opportunities you might have missed. If you are starting a business, expanding into a new market, struggling with cash flow, or preparing to pitch to a lender, a mentor can walk through those situations with you over several sessions.

SCORE has about 250 chapters across the United States, each with its own office location and roster of mentors. Some chapters focus on specific industries — manufacturing, retail, technology — while others serve all business types. The chapter nearest you depends on where your business is located, not where you live.

Key Takeaways

  • SCORE mentors are unpaid volunteers, usually retired business owners or managers, who meet with you to discuss your business challenges and review your plans.
  • You can find your local SCORE chapter by entering your zip code on the SCORE website, and most chapters let you request a mentor match online or by phone.
  • Mentoring is free, but you will need to be specific about what you want help with — a mentor works best when you come with a concrete question or document to review.
  • SCORE chapters also run low-cost workshops on topics like business planning, marketing, and financial management, separate from one-on-one mentoring.
  • The mentor relationship typically lasts as long as you need it; some business owners work with the same mentor for years, while others meet a few times and move on.

How to Find Your Local SCORE Chapter

Go to the SCORE website and use the chapter locator tool. Enter your zip code, and the site will show you the chapters serving your area. Most chapters list their office address, phone number, and email on their local page. Some chapters operate out of a physical office where you can drop in; others work primarily by phone and email.

Call or email the chapter directly to ask about mentor availability. Tell them what kind of business you run or plan to start, and what you need help with. The chapter coordinator will either match you with a mentor right away or put you on a waiting list if all mentors are currently booked. Wait times vary by chapter and season — some chapters have mentors available within days, while others may take a few weeks.

A few chapters also let you request a mentor through their website. You fill out a form describing your business and your question, and the chapter sends it to mentors who match your needs. This route can be faster than calling, especially if you prefer written communication or have a specific informed you are looking for.

What to Bring to Your First Mentoring Session

Come prepared with something concrete. If you are starting a business, bring a draft business plan or at least a one-page summary of your idea, your target customer, and how you plan to make money. If you already own a business, bring recent financial statements, your current business plan, or a specific problem you are trying to solve — for example, "I need to cut costs by 20 percent" or "I want to know if I should hire an employee or use contractors."

A mentor can give you feedback on what you bring, but they cannot help much if you show up with only a vague idea. The more specific your question, the more useful the session will be. Write down two or three things you want to discuss before you meet, so you do not forget them in conversation.

Bring a notebook or open a document on your laptop to take notes. Mentors often share contacts, book recommendations, or websites you will want to remember. Ask permission before recording a session — some mentors are comfortable with it, others are not.

What Mentors Can and Cannot Do

A SCORE mentor can review your business plan and tell you where it looks weak. They can help you think through pricing, hiring decisions, and whether a new product or service makes sense for your business. They can introduce you to other business owners or professionals in their network. They can point you toward resources like the Small Business Administration, industry associations, or local lenders. They can also help you prepare for a bank meeting or pitch to investors by asking tough questions and suggesting what to emphasize.

A mentor cannot write your business plan for you, do your accounting, design your website, or handle legal or tax questions. If you need those services, a mentor can tell you what kind of professional to hire and what to expect to pay. Some mentors will recommend specific accountants or lawyers they know, but the mentor relationship itself does not include doing that work.

Mentors also cannot may provide that your business will succeed or that a lender will approve your loan. They share experience and perspective, but they cannot predict the future or control what a bank decides.

How Long Mentoring Relationships Usually Last

There is no set timeline. Some business owners meet with a mentor once or twice to get feedback on a specific decision, then move on. Others work with the same mentor for years, checking in when they hit a new challenge — a hiring decision, a lease renewal, a market shift. The relationship continues as long as both you and the mentor find it useful.

If you are not getting what you need from your mentor, you can ask the chapter coordinator to match you with someone else. This is normal and happens without any awkwardness. Different mentors have different strengths, and sometimes a better fit exists.

Many business owners return to SCORE at different stages of growth. You might work with one mentor while starting your business, then come back years later when you are thinking about expanding or selling. The chapter will remember you and can connect you with a mentor who has experience in your new situation.

SCORE Workshops and Training

Beyond one-on-one mentoring, most SCORE chapters run workshops on business topics. These are usually held in person at the chapter office or online, and they cover subjects like writing a business plan, understanding financial statements, digital marketing, and hiring your first employee. Workshops typically cost between $25 and $50, though some chapters offer them free.

Workshops are a good way to learn a skill or fill a knowledge gap before or alongside your mentoring sessions. Many business owners take a workshop on business planning, then work with a mentor to explore what they learned to their own situation. You do not have to be a SCORE mentee to attend a workshop — anyone can register.

Check your local chapter's website or call to see what workshops are scheduled. Most chapters post their calendar a few months in advance, and you can register online or by phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay for SCORE mentoring?

No. One-on-one mentoring is free. Some chapters charge a small fee for workshops — usually $25 to $50 — but mentoring itself costs nothing. SCORE is a nonprofit, and mentors are volunteers.

What if there are no SCORE mentors available in my area?

Some rural areas do not have a SCORE chapter nearby. If that is the case, ask the nearest chapter whether they offer mentoring by phone or video call. Many chapters now work with mentees outside their when ready area this way. You can also look into the Small Business Development Center in your state, which offers similar services.

Can a SCORE mentor help me with legal or tax questions?

A mentor can point you toward a lawyer or accountant and help you think through whether you need one. They cannot give you legal or tax information themselves. If your question is specifically about taxes or law, ask the chapter coordinator to match you with a mentor who has worked with a lawyer or accountant and can recommend one.

How do I know if a mentor is a good fit?

After your first session, ask yourself whether the mentor listened to your question, asked follow-up questions, and gave you something useful to think about. A good mentor does not have all the answers — they help you find them. If you feel rushed, unheard, or like the mentor is pushing you toward their own idea of what your business should be, ask for a different mentor.

Can I work with more than one mentor?

Yes. Some business owners work with one mentor on strategy and another on financial management or marketing. Tell your chapter coordinator if you want to be matched with multiple mentors, and they can set that up.