FEDERAL AGENCY:

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

AUTHORIZATION:

Small Business Act of 1953, as amended, Public Law 95-510, 15 U.S.C. 637.

OBJECTIVES:

To use the management experience of retired and active business management professionals to counsel and train potential and existing small business owners. All client counseling information is confidential.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Advisory Services and Counseling. Place Cursor Here for Definition

Training. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

SCORE members volunteer their small business counseling and mentoring services to the public free of charge. Small business training workshops are offered for a low fee. SCORE is a resource partner with the Small Business Administration and works with the agency to serve aspiring and existing small business owners. A small business owner interested in getting help from SCORE should contact a local office. The SCORE national office and the Small Business Administration's field offices can make referrals. Counseling is also available from the SCORE web site at www.score.org. SCORE volunteers are reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses and do not accept compensation for counseling.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   All existing and potential small business owners are eligible. The business must be independently owned and operated, and not dominant in its field, and must conform to SBA size standards.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Small business people benefit.

Credentials/Documentation:   None.

Pre-application Coordination:   None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   Personal or written application (SBA Form 641, Request for Counseling).

Award Procedure:   Not applicable.

Deadlines:   None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Not applicable.

Appeals:   Not applicable.

Renewals:   None.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Not applicable.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   The length varies as appropriate.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   None.

Audits:   None.

Records:   None.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   73-0100-0-1-376.

Obligations:   (Advisory Services) FY 01 $3,500,000; FY 02 est $3,500,000; and FY 03 est $3,500,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
FY 15 $8,000,000
FY 16 $10,500,000
FY 17 $10,300,000.

Since SCORE was established in 1964, it has helped 4.2 million people start or grow their small business. SCORE links volunteer business professionals, who have management expertise, with the owners/managers of small businesses and community organizations in need of management counseling. There are approximately 11,500 SCORE volunteers serving in all 50 States and U.S. possessions.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

SBA Act, SOP 60-10-2A, SCORE Operating Manual, Counselor's Professional Development Program Annual Report and Brochures.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  
See Regional Agency Offices. The initial contact can be made directly with SCORE chapters, with SBA District Office, or with the SCORE website at www.score.org. See Appendix IV of the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.

Headquarters Office:  
Nathaniel Bishop 409 3rd St., SW 6th Floor, Washington, District of Columbia 20416 Email: nvbishop@sba.gov Phone: 202-205-7007

Web Site Address:  
https://www.sba.gov/

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Not applicable.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Not applicable.