Offering free, expert business advice from highly successful executives and entrepreneurs in various fields, for the greater Bloomington, Indiana metro area and neighboring counties.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SCORE Association?What is SCORE’s mission?
What qualifies SCORE members to give business advice?
Do I have to be retired to join SCORE?
How can I join SCORE?
Are business secrets safe with SCORE?
What is the SCORE Association?
The SCORE Association is a not-for-profit association composed of 11,500 volunteer business counselors throughout the U.S. and its territories. There are
389 SCORE chapters in urban, suburban and rural communities. SCORE members are trained to serve
as counselors advisors and mentors to aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners. These services
are offered at no fee, as a community service. SCORE was formed in 1964 and more than 4 million Americans have utilized SCORE services.
What is SCORE’s mission?
SCORE provides professional guidance and information accessible to all to maximize the success of America’s existing and emerging small businesses.
What qualifies SCORE members to give business advice?
The key qualification SCORE counselors bring to clients is real-world experience. These volunteers have specific industry and business management expertise. SCORE business counselors may be working or retired business owners, business executives or operations managers. All SCORE counselors receive specialized training in counseling skills.
Do I have to be retired to join SCORE?
No. Many SCORE volunteers own businesses, manage corporations or own consulting firms. These working professionals contribute to SCORE as counselors and workshop presenters, just as our retired professionals volunteer. Both retired and working professionals are welcome in SCORE.
How can I join SCORE?
Check out our Join SCORE page.
Are business secrets safe with SCORE?
Yes. All SCORE business counselors honor the client's right to proprietary and confidential information. Client information remains confidential. All SCORE counselors abide by an association Code Of Ethics, which includes protecting the confidences between client and counselor. Each year, counselors reaffirm their commitment to the Code Of Ethics.