Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 2 96 SCORE: EMPOWERMENT FOR SMALL BUSINESS F O R T H E L o v e O F . . . ANOTHER ANOTHER OUTSTANDING MONTANA NONPROFIT. OUTSTANDING MONTANA NONPROFIT. B O Z E M A N S C O R E WHAT DOES THIS MEAN IN PRACTICAL TERMS? SCORE is a volunteer organization staffed by successful entrepreneurs and businesspeople who have offered their time, energy and knowledge to assist individuals who are aspiring, starting or managing small businesses. There is ab- solutely no charge for this non-profit service available to all Montanans. All that is required is a desire to succeed, and to be open to mentoring from those who have had proven suc- cess in the world of small business. Hundreds of business owners have utilized SCORE ser- vices to increase their chances of owning and operating all manner of occupations, from food services to retail shopping, manufacturing, construction, and really everything one might imagine. No business is too small, or too unusual to qualify for assistance from SCORE mentors. The Bozeman chapter of SCORE has been assisting small business owners for 50 years, and has seen an uptick in inter- est due to recent rapid growth in Gallatin County. According to Rick Sanders, chair of Bozeman SCORE, "We have an ex- cellent team of volunteers ready and quite able to encourage and deliver personal attention and 'nuts and bolts' advice to budding entrepreneurs." Sanders also mentions that access to mentors can be either in-person or via Zoom, and can be arranged once the mentoring process begins. SCORE is also available in all areas of Montana and across the nation, with the same level of reliable assistance (see chart for locations & contact information). Approximately 100 volunteer mentors are available statewide, with an additional 15,000 across the United States, all of whom can be contacted as special needs or requirements become necessary for successful outcomes. In addition to one-on-one mentoring, SCORE also pro- vides extensive business resources online including tem- plates, guidelines, reference articles and a variety of edu- cational webinars, courses and workshops available to all. Topics include business planning, financing (including SBA), selling, tax planning and many other issues relevant to small business owners. One can also sign up for a newsletter feed at SCORE.org. "THE PATH TO SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS is different for every entre- preneur. For some, access to small business funding and key resources is challenging. For others, increas- ing business knowledge is the key to success. Whatever the needs, SCORE offers free mentoring, education and resources to make the path to success easier and more direct." ~SCORE "A friend suggested that a meet- ing with a business-savvy SCORE mentor might be helpful. She was right; my SCORE mentor had some gracious, timely advice, and encouragement for me." CHRYSTI THE WORDSMITH PRODUCER, NPR www.WordsmithRadio.org "The advice I was offered (from SCORE) was taken to heart, and undoubtedly contributed to the success of my very first business, which I started between my junior and senior years in college." BABS NOELLE OWNER, ALARA JEWELRY www.AlaraJewelry.com "Marketing is the most difficult thing I 've had to do in my business. SCORE provided coaching, resouces, and even role-playing to help me better understand mar- keting. Finding SCORE was really helpful as I launched my business. " CHRIS MORIARTY OWNER, MORAWAY ADVENTURES www.MorawayAdventures.com

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