SCORE DownEast Maine

SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Business, is a non-profit, nationwide association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of small businesses nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and receives funding and support from it.

Counseling

In the Downeast Maine chapter, counseling often involves providing general information on financing options, form of organization, strategic business plan, sample startup business plan guide, marketing tactics, product development, and cash flow management. We meet, usually in teams of two, with men and women who want to start businesses, as well as with owner/operators of existing businesses.

Start-ups usually want to know how to get financing, and this always involves a business development plan. SCORE volunteers supply startup business plan outlines and cash flow formats, and coach the would-be entrepreneurs in the preparation and refinement of their plan. Sometimes our business counseling indicates that their dream needs to be postponed for one reason or another…more often we are enthusiastic supporters of their business startup efforts.

Counseling with the owner/operator of an existing business generally takes one of two forms: expansion of an already successful business or help with one that is in trouble. We analyze their financial statements, look over and recommend improvements to employment, marketing, sales, and operational control issues, and provide support and encouragement to owners who are working hard to make it in Maine.

In all instances we offer follow-up counseling as required, often resulting in a number of sessions over a several year time span as the business develops.

We are a free service, staffed entirely by SCORE Counselors, and our discussions are completely confidential.

If you are interested in setting up an appointment with a SCORE counseling team, call (207) 667-5800 to get started!

Workshops

The Downeast chapter of SCORE also offers workshops from time to time on topics of general interest to the local business community. We bring in outside experts to speak on such issues as Tax Planning, Quickbooks, Website Design, Selling on eBay, to name a few. Please see our list of currently scheduled workshops for more information, including how to sign up. If there are no workshops listed now, revisit this site at a later date to see what’s happening!