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SCORE Free Business Mentoring.
SCORE provides free, confidential one-on-one mentoring to aspiring and established U.S. business owners.
Overview
What it does.
Clients can meet remotely or in person with volunteer mentors and continue working with them as business needs evolve. SCORE helps clients prepare for financing but does not itself award grants or loans.
Best for: A Chester entrepreneur or business owner who needs an experienced sounding board and practical next steps.
Eligibility
Who and what may qualify.
Eligible applicants
- Aspiring or established owners of U.S.-based businesses
- Nonprofit leaders seeking applicable business guidance
Eligible uses
- Business planning
- Marketing
- Finance readiness
- Operations
- Growth
- Succession and exit planning
Uses excluded by the source
- Direct grants or loans
Application
How to start.
- Submit a mentoring request or browse mentor profiles.
- Identify the business goals and needed expertise.
- Schedule an initial session and continue as useful.
Timing: Mentoring requests are accepted on an ongoing basis.
Planning notes
Limits to account for.
- SCORE advises on funding readiness but does not provide grants or loans.
Can be used alongside SBDC, lender, grant, and local economic-development assistance.
Evidence
Official sources.
- How SCORE Mentoring WorksSCORE · accessed 2026-07-10
- SCORE Business MentoringU.S. Small Business Administration · accessed 2026-07-10
- SCORE's Small Business ServicesSCORE · accessed 2026-07-10