Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 17 million entrepreneurs start, grow or successfully exit a business. SCORE's 10,000 volunteers provide free, expert mentoring, resources and education in all 50 U.S. states and territories.
Small businesses are truly the heart of our nation, employing millions of Americans and boosting the local economy in every state. Entrepreneurs continue to pursue small business ownership at record rates, and they’re turning to SCORE for help.
From diverse backgrounds and industries, SCORE mentors know what it’s like to be a small business owner. They know it takes passion and hard work to make dreams come true. Partnering with entrepreneurs one-on-one, SCORE mentors support small business success by providing experienced advice, consulting on best practices, and education on business topics.
In 2023 alone, SCORE helped launch 31,167 new businesses and create 152,115 new jobs, including 120,948 non-owner jobs. We couldn’t accomplish this without the hard work of our 10,000 volunteers, who donated 4.5 million hours of their time to make it happen.
At SCORE, we believe anyone can successfully start a business with the right support. Whether you’re just starting or you’ve been in business for decades, connect with SCORE today and get the guidance you need to grow and thrive.
Our Mission
SCORE’s mission is to foster vibrant small business communities through mentoring and education.
Our Vision
We aim to give every person the support they need to thrive as a small business owner.
SCORE's Impact on Small Business Across the Nation
SCORE positively impacts communities, local businesses and the national economy by providing free, expert mentoring and educational resources to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses.
0
New businesses
launched in 2024
New businesses
launched in 2024
0
Non-owner jobs
created in 2024
Non-owner jobs
created in 2024
0
Total jobs
created in 2024
Total jobs
created in 2024
More about this impact analysis and SCORE's commitment to our clients’ success:
SCORE engaged a third-party firm (PricewaterhouseCoopers) to research the economic impact that SCORE’s mentoring and education had on the U.S. economy in 2024. This census survey invited 208,738 SCORE clients to participate and 14,099 responses were received.
To calculate total business starts and non-owner jobs created, SCORE applied straight-line extrapolation based on the number of respondents who reported using SCORE services. This methodology follows industry-accepted standards.
All respondents were asked, "Did you start or acquire a new business this past year?". Previously, this question was limited to those who answered "No" to "As of October 1, 2022, were you in business?". The prior approach may have undercounted new business starts or acquisitions by excluding existing business owners who started or acquired a new business. By including all respondents, this revision provides a more accurate count but may result in higher figures compared to previous years, impacting year-over-year comparisons. SCORE is continually reviewing its survey structure and methodology to ensure alignment with industry standards and to better capture its economic impact.
For a more complete description of our current methodology, please click here.
SCORE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Thanks to this generous support from the SBA and the selfless contributions of our more than 10,000 dedicated volunteers, we can deliver most of our offerings at no cost.
The SCORE Association thanks the generous individuals and organizations that have helped small business entrepreneurs across the country with their support.
Are you passionate about providing support, education and mentorship programs for small business owners and entrepreneurs? Consider joining our team at SCORE.
