SCORE business counselors have particular expertise in business planning and help numerous business start-ups through the detailed and time-consuming task of preparing a business plan, complete with financial projections. Often, start-up companies need to seek out sources of capital. SCORE business counselors will assist the aspiring entrepreneur with the preparation of the loan application package, which includes a business plan. Many clients request team counseling, in which several counselors with varied business experience will meet with a business owner to review strategies and plan for future business growth.
All SCORE counseling is offered as a free and confidential community service. There are 389 SCORE chapters around the country assisting entrepreneurs. While counseling is always free-of-charge, local SCORE chapters also offer small business workshops and seminars for modest fees.
In southern Utah, SCORE is a member of the Dixie Business Alliance, 1071 E 100 S, First Floor, Bldg. C, St. George, UT 84770. Phone (435) 652-7741, or sign up for E-mail counseling at www.score.org.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Ask SCORE for Sound Small Business Advice
If you have dreams of someday owning your own business, or if you’re already an entrepreneur and want to sharpen your management skills, keep an eye on this space. Here, you’ll find concise answers to common small business questions, tips on finding new customers and keeping old ones happy, plus insights into business-related issues you may never have thought of, but should.
In addition to the advice found on this blog, visit our website at In addition to the advice found on this blog, visit our website at http://www.southernutahscore.com/ .
In addition to the advice found on this blog, visit our website at In addition to the advice found on this blog, visit our website at http://www.southernutahscore.com/ .
Monday, October 5, 2009
Purpose of AskScore
Our Chapter wishes that by sharing with Blog visitors some of the advice we have provided, we can help others.
At the same time, we hope to encourage more inquiries.
Visit our website.
At the same time, we hope to encourage more inquiries.
Visit our website.
First Impressions ARE important
As a former small businessman, and frequent recipient of email, I am quite disappointed of the content of so much written and even printed material. The grammar is bad, but most noticeable is the lack of spelling abilities and non-use of spell checkers. Lately, in on-line help requests forwarded to me by SCORE, it seems only to have declined further.
Everyone, but especially entrepreneurs and people in business, please spell check everything you prepare.
First impressions ARE quite important.
Visit our website: http://www.southernutahscore.com/
Everyone, but especially entrepreneurs and people in business, please spell check everything you prepare.
First impressions ARE quite important.
Visit our website: http://www.southernutahscore.com/
Young Business falls on Hard Times, due to Failed Promises
SITUATION: A retail specialty shop, offering a singular line of foreign products in an area where many people have visited these foreign areas.
Associates not following through on promises, including sharing client lists; illness in family; business slow to pick up; quickly running out of funds and may need to get another job.
Internet site still under construction at present.
NEEDs to do something fast.
RESPONSE: There is no doubt you’re in a difficult situation. Whoever might solve most of your issues, could become quite rich! But, I do have two suggestions:
First, contact the SCORE Chapter in your area and ask to meet for a free consultation. As many times as you might meet with one of their volunteers, it is no cost to you. Its website is: http://www.saltlakescore.com/
Next, this is one marketing effort that could bring some quick results with a minimum of effort and no cost.
I suggest you set up a Blog for each of your product lines. What will this do?
For each product type, present several paragraphs describing the history and variety of this product line. Discuss the uniqueness of each, the artisans, where appropriate, and the background or history.
For example: if you were selling imported, exotic lumber from Brazil, you might begin with a history of the demand for that export, describe the quality, grain, color, and use for each type. Once your website is functional, you will embed a link to your website somewhere within the text.
The idea is to get the attention of people interested in this subject and then give them something interesting to read. Then, ideally they will click on your link, or for the present, come into your store.
However, your website is not yet functional. That is priority one for this scenario to be most effective. I hope you’ve found a way to get a low-cost site implemented fast. At the start of a local business like yours, even though you might get some distant business, there is no need to spend thousands of dollars for the perfect website.
In the meantime, a boilerplate paragraph at the bottom of each Blog entry would invite folks to visit your store or call, to learn more and to see examples of this product.
(“Boilerplate paragraph” is a paragraph giving a short description of your organization, along with the name, address, email address, and website address. I.e., “XYZ is a retail specialty shop located in My City that offers an assortment of Commonwealth wares. Included are Artworks, Glass, …It is located at …Mention this Blog and receive our everlasting gratitude!)
This will be doing something very positive for your future, and you may benefit from the feeling that you’re preparing some good foundation material.
Setting up a blog is simple. Go to: https://www.blogger.com/start
When setting up each blog, use the same user ID and Password for each. Each will be a stand-alone page, but by using your same name and ID, the name of all of your Blogs will appear on each Blog.
I wish that I could help more, but I know you’ll be able to get some good mentoring from your local SCORE office.
Visit our website: http://www.southernutahscore.com/
Associates not following through on promises, including sharing client lists; illness in family; business slow to pick up; quickly running out of funds and may need to get another job.
Internet site still under construction at present.
NEEDs to do something fast.
RESPONSE: There is no doubt you’re in a difficult situation. Whoever might solve most of your issues, could become quite rich! But, I do have two suggestions:
First, contact the SCORE Chapter in your area and ask to meet for a free consultation. As many times as you might meet with one of their volunteers, it is no cost to you. Its website is: http://www.saltlakescore.com/
Next, this is one marketing effort that could bring some quick results with a minimum of effort and no cost.
I suggest you set up a Blog for each of your product lines. What will this do?
For each product type, present several paragraphs describing the history and variety of this product line. Discuss the uniqueness of each, the artisans, where appropriate, and the background or history.
For example: if you were selling imported, exotic lumber from Brazil, you might begin with a history of the demand for that export, describe the quality, grain, color, and use for each type. Once your website is functional, you will embed a link to your website somewhere within the text.
The idea is to get the attention of people interested in this subject and then give them something interesting to read. Then, ideally they will click on your link, or for the present, come into your store.
However, your website is not yet functional. That is priority one for this scenario to be most effective. I hope you’ve found a way to get a low-cost site implemented fast. At the start of a local business like yours, even though you might get some distant business, there is no need to spend thousands of dollars for the perfect website.
In the meantime, a boilerplate paragraph at the bottom of each Blog entry would invite folks to visit your store or call, to learn more and to see examples of this product.
(“Boilerplate paragraph” is a paragraph giving a short description of your organization, along with the name, address, email address, and website address. I.e., “XYZ is a retail specialty shop located in My City that offers an assortment of Commonwealth wares. Included are Artworks, Glass, …It is located at …Mention this Blog and receive our everlasting gratitude!)
This will be doing something very positive for your future, and you may benefit from the feeling that you’re preparing some good foundation material.
Setting up a blog is simple. Go to: https://www.blogger.com/start
When setting up each blog, use the same user ID and Password for each. Each will be a stand-alone page, but by using your same name and ID, the name of all of your Blogs will appear on each Blog.
I wish that I could help more, but I know you’ll be able to get some good mentoring from your local SCORE office.
Visit our website: http://www.southernutahscore.com/
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