About SCORE's Small Business Counseling

SCORE's volunteer, business professionals provide counseling to anyone operating a small business or thinking about starting one. Counseling is free and confidential for as long as you want it. It's easy to start. All you have to do is choose one of the following methods to set an appointment:

• Register as a new client online here. If you've counseled with SCORE before, then skip this step.
• Or use the Contact Us form on this site to request a session
• Or call the office at 815-962-0122 to schedule a session

How Does SCORE Counseling Work?

Generally your first session is conducted at one of our offices. Counselors will talk with you about your needs. They will listen to your ideas and help you determine the feasibility of your business plans. They can act as counselor or coach. They can review your cash flow or help you develop marketing plans. For this first session you should be prepared to share your business plan or at least describe your ideas. You should expect your counselors to ask you a few questions. To help you prepare we suggest you review the typical questions on our Preparations Page.

If your counselor feels that your needs would be better met by other resources, the counselor will refer you to those resources. Sometimes that could be another counselor, who is more experienced in your business, or it could be another agency, such as the small business development center at your local college.

After the first appointment, you will probably be asked to do some additional research or planning activities. Then you and your counselor will agree on another meeting at a time and place convenient to both of you. In the meantime, you may share ideas or be in touch by e-mail or phone. Remember, there is never any charge for the counseling and all information is always treated confidentially.

You control the relationship. You set the appointment and decide when and if additional sessions are needed. You decide what to talk about and when to end the relationship. Some clients come only once, but others return many times. It's up to you. It's your business and our counseling can only help.

About Online Counseling

Some local counselors are flexible and able to offer online counseling. (See the counselors page for options). Usually a good approach is to meet in-person the first time, and then use a mix of online and in-person for follow-on counseling.  However, it is up to you and your counselor to decide what is mutually acceptable.

If you are not able to meet in-person or are in an area too far from a SCORE office, then you may choose to use the online counseling services of SCORE national.  The process is described on the online small business counseling page.

All SCORE counseling sessions are strictly confidential.  SCORE counselors subscribe to the Volunteer Counselor's Code of Ethics and Conduct.

To review our chapters counselor profiles, visit the Meet Our Counselors page. To schedule a counseling session or follow-on session, use the Contact page on this site or call the office directly at 815-962-0122.