For the past few weeks, SCORE (The Senior Corps of Retired Executives) has been holding “open desk” counseling sessions for interested business owners on Tuesday nights at the Bend Public Library. Business owners and want-to-be entrepreneurs have been able to stop by without an appointment to discus problems and opportunities in their businesses free of charge.
So far, over 30 local business owners have utilized this service in the 10 two hour sessions since January 3. Of these, about half have been seeking information on starting their new businesses and the other half have come with problems associated with their existing businesses.
In their face-to-face meeting with a SCORE counselor, they have discussed a number of problems including how to reduce certain business risks, streamlining operations, assessing profitability of certain parts of their businesses, product and company market positioning, marketing planning, business planning, conducting market and business research and whether or not they should start or stay in business at all.
The types of businesses that have stopped by are construction, home remodeling/repair, vehicle repair, tax service/accounting, education, leather tanning, web site development, nutrition services, consulting, art, therapy, trucking and others.
Entrepreneurs interested in getting some advice from someone who has “been there and done that” can just drop in at the library between 5:30pm and 7:30 m on Tuesday nights. The sign-up sheet is at the second floor desk.
SCORE is an all volunteer organization of retired businesspeople who have achieved success as managers and owners of small and large businesses.
To learn more about SCORE see www.SCORE.org .
If you want to volunteer to help or schedule a SCORE counselor for another time with less time constraints, visit www.SCORECentralOregon.org and sign up for a personal meeting during regular business hours.
SCORE Central Oregon
Contact person: Gerry Smith ggsmith@bendbroadband.com 541-508-1648
