Need someone to bounce your business ideas off of? Free advice is offered by SCORE, which is manned by experienced former business owners who are now retired. Entrepreneurs and existing small businesses and startups are entitled to counseling, financial assistance, and special contracting opportunities with the government agencies.

SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business is a non-profit organization. It is not a government agency although it is associated with the government's Small Business Administration. We have used SCORE and can confirm that this is a terrific service. The advice rendered to you is confidential and invaluable.

You have several options when it comes to dealing with SCORE:

• Find and arrange a face-to-face meeting with a SCORE counselor,
• Ask and receive SCORE counseling via email, especially if the expertise is not in the local area,
• You can also view SCORE counselor skills first.

Wondering if you are a small business?
A small business is defined as being independently owned and operated and which is not dominant in its field of operation. If you have less than 500 employees, you still may qualify and if you are making several million dollars don't despair. Everything is based on the kind of industry you are operating in. Just check out the small business size standards. [PDF]