SCORE

What SCORE does

SCORE is a U.S. nonprofit organization founded in 1964 and headquartered in Washington, DC, that delivers free business mentoring and educational resources to aspiring entrepreneurs and existing small business owners nationwide. Its core offering is one-on-one confidential mentoring delivered through a decentralized network of 300+ local chapters spanning all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, staffed by an experienced volunteer mentor corps. The organization supplements mentoring with expert-led webinars, in-person workshops, online courses, downloadable templates and guides, and a structured Startup Roadmap program, organized across three lifecycle stages: Plan + Start, Manage + Grow, and Transition & Exit. SCORE Academy (academy.score.org) serves as the premium online learning platform with advanced courses and partner offers, and the organization supports real-time mentor chat via a LiveChat integration on score.org.

The underlying technology is a conventional web platform delivering self-serve content, mentor matching, event registration, and learning modules, augmented by LiveChat and HelpDesk for support; the organization does not operate a mobile app, public API, or SDK. Content is structured into topical resource hubs (e.g., digital marketing, cash flow, HR compliance) and stage-based journey pages, with distribution channels spanning content marketing, email newsletters, social media, SEO, and live/recorded webinars.

SCORE operates a nonprofit business model funded by corporate sponsorships and a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. Named sponsors include Experian, Thryv, FranNet, Progressive, Visa, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Grow with Google, Amazon Small Business Academy, GS1 US, Pilot, OpenAI Academy, Piermont Bank, Verizon, Aetna, and others. All mentoring and most educational content are provided at no cost to entrepreneurs for the life of the business, with SCORE Academy introducing a freemium mix of free and premium content. Scale indicators reported for 2024 include 59,447 new businesses launched and 143,623 jobs created through SCORE's programs.

Name

SCORE

Legal name

SCORE Association

Website

https://score.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SCORE is a U.S. nonprofit, founded in 1964, that provides free one-on-one business mentoring, workshops, and online courses to aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners through a 300+ chapter nationwide volunteer network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Mentoring and Entrepreneurship Education

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Coaching, Feedback & Mentoring Skills (EDABAMAM)

Keywords

• Business mentoring services
• Small business education
• Entrepreneurship resources
• Startup mentorship
• Nonprofit business advising

Headquarters

HQ city

Montgomery

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorships: SCORE is funded through corporate sponsorships that support the development of SCORE programs, projects, and resources. Major sponsors include Experian, Thryv, FranNet, Progressive, Visa, Microsoft 365 Copilot, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SCORE is a nonprofit organization that provides free, confidential one-on-one business mentoring from experienced volunteer business leaders, along with expert-led webinars, workshops, online courses, and a library of business templates and resources. Services are delivered through 300+ local chapters nationwide and online via score.org and academy.score.org, serving entrepreneurs and small business owners across the start, growth, and exit phases of their businesses.

Product overview

SCORE is a nonprofit organization providing free business mentoring and educational resources for small businesses, serving entrepreneurs nationwide since 1964. The organization offers a unified platform combining free mentorship services, business education programs, and resource libraries. The core offerings include one-on-one mentoring with experienced business leaders, expert-led webinars and workshops through Business Education, and a comprehensive Resources & Templates library. SCORE Academy serves as the premium learning platform with advanced courses, while the Startup Roadmap provides a structured 12-step online course for entrepreneurs. The service is organized into three main phases—Plan + Start, Manage + Grow, and Transition & Exit—each with targeted resources and tools. SCORE is funded, in part, through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SCORE Academy: Premium learning platform offering advanced business courses and webinars for entrepreneurs seeking deeper, specialized training.
• SCORE Startup Roadmap

Products and services

• Free Mentorship Free, confidential one-on-one mentoring from experienced business leaders to help entrepreneurs start, grow, and succeed in their businesses. Available for the life of the business through local chapters and online.
• Business Education Expert-led webinars, workshops, courses, CEO forums, roundtables, and pitch events delivered online and in person to help entrepreneurs start, grow, and scale their businesses.
• Resources & Templates Expert articles, guides, checklists, ebooks, and downloadable business templates covering business planning, finance, sales, marketing, and management for entrepreneurs and small business owners.
• Startup Roadmap A step-by-step online course that guides aspiring entrepreneurs through 12 steps from idea validation to business launch, powered by Progressive Commercial Insurance.
• SCORE Academy Premium learning platform offering exclusive access to live and on-demand courses, advanced business courses, webinars, and partner offers for serious growth.
• Plan + Start Comprehensive resource hub providing tools, resources, and expert guidance for validating business ideas, building plans, and launching businesses.
• Manage + Grow Resource hub offering strategies, templates, and expert insights to strengthen operations, increase revenue, and grow businesses with confidence.
• Transition & Exit Resources and guidance for business succession planning, selling a company, or transitioning ownership to the next stage.

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• ExperianminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExperian sponsors SCORE events and content, including webinars on business lender readiness and funding topics. Sponsorship supports development of financial education resources.
• ThryvminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThryv sponsors SCORE educational content and events focused on digital marketing, SEO, and business visibility strategies.
• Progressive Commercial InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProgressive sponsors the Startup Roadmap course and provides customized business insurance resources including commercial vehicles, liability, and workers' compensation coverage.
• FranNetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFranNet partners with SCORE on franchise-related educational content and events, helping entrepreneurs evaluate franchise opportunities.
• VisaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVisa sponsors SCORE content related to payment solutions, mobile payments, and cashless commerce for small businesses.
• Microsoft 365 CopilotminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMicrosoft partners with SCORE on content related to AI tools, productivity software, and technology adoption for small businesses.
• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small BusinessesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGoldman Sachs partners with SCORE to provide resources and support for small business education and growth programs.
• Grow with GoogleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGoogle partners with SCORE on digital skills, technology, and online business growth educational content.
• Amazon Small Business AcademyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazon partners with SCORE to provide e-commerce and small business growth resources through the Amazon Small Business Academy.
• GS1 USminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGS1 US partners with SCORE on supply chain, inventory management, and data standardization content for small retailers.
• PilotminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPilot sponsors SCORE content on financial management, bookkeeping, and business accounting solutions.
• Ignite DigitalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDigital marketing agency partner supporting SCORE's online presence and marketing resources.
• MeridiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnology partner supporting SCORE's digital platform and resources.
• NutshellminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCRM software partner providing sales and customer relationship management resources.
• OpenAI AcademyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAI education partner providing resources on artificial intelligence applications for small businesses.
• Piermont BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanking partner supporting SCORE content on business financing and banking solutions.
• SwoopminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTravel and expense management partner supporting SCORE resources.
• Tailor BrandsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness formation and branding partner providing resources on legal structure and brand development.
• VerizonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnology and connectivity partner supporting digital transformation resources for small businesses.
• AetnaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealth insurance partner providing employee benefits and HR compliance resources.
• BELAY Financial SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial services partner providing bookkeeping and accounting resources.
• BitdefenderminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCybersecurity partner providing digital security resources for small businesses.
• Block Advisors by H&R BlockminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTax and accounting partner providing tax preparation and financial compliance resources.
• Constant ContactminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmail marketing partner providing digital marketing and communication tools resources.
• Consulting IQminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConsulting partner providing business consulting and advisory resources.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses: Goldman Sachs' 10,000 Small Businesses program provides free business education, mentoring, and networking for growth-oriented small business owners in the U.S. — directly comparable to SCORE's cohort, mission, and delivery model. Notably, Goldman Sachs is also an active SCORE partner.
• Small Business Development Centers (SBDC): SBDCs are SBA-funded resource partners providing free one-on-one business advising, training, and research to entrepreneurs — operating through a similar local-chapter, advisor-driven model and serving the same target customer as SCORE.
• Women's Business Centers (WBC): WBCs are SBA-funded centers offering free mentoring, training, and resources specifically to women entrepreneurs. They share SCORE's nonprofit, free-advisory, SBA-aligned model but with a narrower demographic focus.
• Startup Grind: Startup Grind is a global entrepreneur community running events, workshops, and mentoring programs in 600+ cities. It shares SCORE's community-driven, event-heavy, mentor-supported model targeted at founders and small business operators.
• EO (Entrepreneurs' Organization): EO is a global peer-to-peer network of entrepreneurs offering member-driven learning events, mentoring, and forums. It overlaps SCORE's existing-small-business segment but operates on a paid membership model rather than free.
• Veteran Business Outreach Centers (VBOC): VBOCs are SBA-funded centers providing free business advising, training, and mentoring to veteran entrepreneurs. Same SBA-aligned nonprofit resource-partner model as SCORE, with a narrower demographic focus on veterans.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): The SBA is the federal agency that funds SCORE and provides overlapping small-business advisory, lending, and educational services (SBDCs, SBA Learning Platform). It is the broader incumbent from which SCORE's federal mandate partially derives.
• Coursera: Coursera is a large online learning platform offering entrepreneurship and business courses from universities. While commercial and broader in scope, it competes with SCORE Academy and SCORE's online courses for entrepreneur learning time and budget.
• LinkedIn Learning: LinkedIn Learning is a subscription-based professional development platform with extensive business, management, and entrepreneurship content. It competes for the same self-directed small-business-owner learning audience as SCORE Academy and webinars.

Others

• Fundera (an American Express company): Fundera is a small-business financial marketplace helping entrepreneurs find funding, with extensive educational content on business finance. It overlaps with SCORE's funding/financial readiness content but is a commercial lender-adjacent ecosystem participant.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SCOREMentors
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SCORESmallBusiness/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/scorementors
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/score-mentors
• Instagraminstagram.com/score_mentors

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SCORE