A SCORE partner is an active experienced small business that wants to help other small businesses learn and grow with specialty counseling in their specific field of expertise. And they get paid for their professional assistance. SCORE volunteers, on the other hand, mentor and counsel start-up and existing businesses for FREE. A SCORE certified mentor will meet face-to-face with a client, listen to the request for business help and then put the client on the right track to success. When it comes time for a client to need a CPA, an attorney or an insurance agent, the SCORE volunteer mentor will suggest three names of partners in that particular field for that person to contact and select the one he or she wants to do business with. Usually, the initial consultation with partners is free, with future representation negotiated.
The benefit to the partner is being able to make that initial contact with a future customer. And, there is the satisfaction of knowing you were able to help someone get started in business as someone did for you. Some of our partners assist SCORE with workshop presentations for entrepreneurs. Although the presentations are free and generic within their industry, their presence alone is beneficial and promotional.
Northern Arizona SCORE has more than 30 certified mentors and co-mentors helping small businesses learn, grow and succeed. We also have a select group of partners to collaborate with us to provide the very best of what we have to offer. The colleges and universities are also our partners, as well as banks, website designers, social media and strategic planning experts, governmental agencies, marketing and advertising companies and grant writers. We also have access to over 10,000 certified mentors throughout the nation upon whom to call. However, we prefer to work with local business partners as they understand better our economy, our markets and our culture. Although the objectives of metropolitan area businesses are similar, we want to provide our young people and graduates with local job opportunities. SCORE is planning entrepreneurial centers in five locations throughout Northern Arizona beginning with one in the Prescott area and next in Cottonwood serving the Verde Valley area. These centers will be home to small businesses and some will be satellites of larger corporations, which will hire local employees. The emphasis will be on women in business and in some areas, the involvement of Native Americans. SCORE will need more partners to participate in this mission.
If you are interested in becoming a partner with SCORE, please contact us at 928- 778-7438, or, by appointment, visit us at our office at 1228 N. Willow Creek Road, Suite #2, in Prescott. We look forward to being your partner. QCBN
By Jerry Jones