My successes.

When Winston Powell first contacted SCORE, he knew how to make people dance – he just didn't know how to make his business books balance. As the owner of an entertainment company specializing in DJ services, photo booths, and lighting for corporate events and luxury weddings, Winston had the passion and talent to keep the party going. What he lacked was the business knowledge to keep his company thriving.

“I needed help with creating a budget for my business,” Winston explained about why he first reached out to SCORE. “I was trying to be more professional, and I needed guidance on the business side of things. I understand my industry, but I am terribly uneducated in business.”

Winston's journey into entertainment began in high school as a musical theater major. “I love to make people happy,” he says. That passion eventually led him to launch his LLC in 2018. For years, he balanced his growing entertainment business with a day job at a water bottling factory. But in 2021, he took the leap and went all-in on his business.

That's when the financial planning challenges really hit home. The biggest hurdle? “Not having a consistent income every week and every month made it hard for me to plan,” Winston recalls. Like many service-based businesses, his income fluctuated dramatically between busy seasons and slower periods.

Working with his SCORE mentor for six months transformed Winston’s approach to business management. Together, they tackled his financial planning head-on. Winston learned to think monthly rather than week-to-week, identified and eliminated unnecessary business subscriptions, and most importantly, developed a strategy for managing seasonal cash flow.

“I finally got those numbers nailed down and how much I need to have,” he says. Now, during his busy summer season, Winston makes sure to book enough events and save money for the leaner months ahead.

The mentorship paid off in tangible ways. Winston has been able to upgrade his equipment and grow his business significantly. His natural charisma continues to drive word-of-mouth referrals, and he's mastered the art of converting satisfied clients into Google reviews. He reaches out to clients after events and provides a link to his Google Business Profile. “Seven out of 10 times, they'll give me a good review.”

Winston's advice to other entrepreneurs? Don't overlook SCORE's value. “You could pay a business coach thousands of dollars to learn half of what you can learn from a mentor at SCORE for free.” He regularly checks SCORE's website for new resources and webinars, and he tells everyone he knows about the organization.

“I'm a huge believer in everybody should be able to do what they have a passion for, and the world will be a better place,” Winston reflects. Thanks to SCORE, he's found the perfect harmony between his passion and profit.