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Welcome to the Savannah Chapter of SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Business. Get free advice from local experts to help start or grow your small business.
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The Business Launchpad Workshop
Saturday, January 25, 2020 from 9:00am to 3:30 at the Score Savannah offices (111 East Liberty St., Savannah GA 31401)
Have a great idea for a business? Starting a business but not sure you know how to do it right? Want to learn the secrets that every successful businessperson knows?
Then you should attend Savannah SCORE's popular "Business Launchpad" workshop on January 25.
At this workshop, expert SCORE business mentors will teach you: How to tell if you have a viable business idea...The key elements of a successful business...How to create an effective business plan...How to manage finances and achieve profitability...How to find possible sources of funding...How to create effective sales, marketing and social media strategies
Register Now!
Access to Capital Forum - Grow & Expand Your Business
February 12, 2020, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM EST --The purpose of SBA’s excellent “Access To Capital Forum” is to educate current and aspiring members of Savannah’s small business community about the various types of lenders and sources of funding that are available to them. The program will feature a panel of nine experts comprised of lenders, an economic development expert, and representatives of SCORE and the SBA. By bringing this important information to the community, we not only want to make people aware of all the financial options available to them, we also want to instill in the members of the small business community the confidence to seek financial assistance to help them start and grow their businesses.
Please join us:
- When: Wednesday, February 12, 2020, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM EST
- Where: Savannah Technical College - Eckburg Auditorium - 5717 White Bluff Road, Savannah, GA 31405
Register Now
Congratulations to the BizPitch Savannah 2019 Winners!
Winners from 3 Savannah Start-ups won over $10,000 each in cash and professional services. Congratulations to Michael Wedum, Maria Vaughn, Carmen McCullum, Elbi Elm, and Charlene Dimond.
Thank you to all of the participants, finalists and judges for a great 2019 competition!
Savannah SCORE named SCORE’s national Mid-Market “CHAPTER of the year”
Local SCORE Chapter named “2019 Mid-Market Chapter of the Year” in recognition of its achievements and contributions to Savannah’s entrepreneurial and small business community
Savannah, GA/Herndon, VA, April 1, 2019– SCORE, the nation’s largest provider of free business mentoring services and educational programs to aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners, announced today that the Savannah Chapter has been named 2019 Mid-Market “Chapter of the Year”.
Steve Records, SCORE Vice President of Field Operations, said, "Excellence, consistency, and dedication to service ultimately describe this year's SCORE Mid-Market Chapter Of The Year – Savannah, Georgia. The Chapter’s dedication to serving the Savannah small business community resulted in the chapter’s improvement in virtually every measurable category, including receiving the national award for “Outstanding Client Education Program”. The chapter has become an integral part of the Savannah business community and is a model chapter for SCORE chapters everywhere."
Over the last three years, Savannah SCORE and its team of experienced business mentors helped establish 508 new local businesses and 528 new non-owner jobs. SCORE’s popular “BizPitch Savannah™” entrepreneurial competition, held in early September 2018, has already resulted in the launch of three new Savannah-based businesses.
Bonnie Rachael, Founder and President of Faith Equestrian Therapeutic Center and a long-time Savannah SCORE client said, “When my business began to expand and outgrew my knowledge, I called Savannah SCORE for help. My mentors gave me the tools and support I needed to succeed.”
In addition to receiving the “Mid-Market Chapter of the Year” and “Outstanding Client Education Program” awards, Savannah SCORE also was the only chapter in Georgia to achieve Platinum level scores on its annual operational review.
Barry Coates, Director of SCORE’s Georgia District, said “We are proud of the Savannah Chapter for having scored at the Platinum level in its FY2018 operational review which measures such key factors as expansion of mentoring and educational services, customer satisfaction, involvement in the community, and commitment to diversity and inclusivity.”
This is the first time Savannah SCORE has received these prestigious awards and recognition.
Michael Siegel, Chapter Chair of Savannah SCORE, said “We are honored and proud to receive recognition for our contributions to Savannah’s small business community. Our entire Savannah SCORE Mentoring Team looks forward to continuing our work in support of Savannah’s entrepreneurs and small businesses.”
SCORE is a nationwide non-profit organization with over 300 chapters and over 10,000 volunteer entrepreneurs, business owners and corporate executives dedicated to helping aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners start, manage and grow successful businesses.
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If you would like more information about this topic or would like to schedule a free mentoring session with a Savannah SCORE business mentor, please contact the SCORE office by phone at 912-652-4335, by email at scoresav70@gmail.com, or by visiting the Savannah SCORE website at https://savannah.score.org.
Savannah SCORE is proud to be a sponsor of Savannah's "2017 State of Small Business" event that took place on Friday, December 1, 2017. At this livestreaming event, eleven of Savannah's top business leaders presented their assessment of the current and future environment for small businesses in our community. View the presentations and benefit from the invaluable perspectives of the presenters.
State of Small Business Video on YouTube
Free Mentoring
SCORE's mentors, comprised of active and retired business men and women, provide clients with free and confidential business counseling. Counseling can be conducted at the client's place of business, at our chapter headquarters, by telephone or via email
Local Workshops
SCORE mentors and representatives from the local business community conduct a variety of regularly scheduled, low-cost educational workshops that provide valuable information and techniques necessary for establishing and managing a successful business.
Free Resources
With access to a wide variety of documents, templates and tools to assist you in starting or growing your business, the information provided here covers a wide range of subjects including initial business planning, capital sources, government agencies, and much more.
BARKS Dog Daycare
It took several years of research and a focused business plan to secure the funding required for the company to commence operations in late 2011.
Our Partners
Our partners make it possible for thousands of Savannah area entrepreneurs and small business owners to benefit from our various out-reach programs. Read more
Help Make Dreams Come True - Become a SCORE Volunteer
Every year, SCORE volunteers help thousands of entrepreneurs start small businesses and achieve new levels of success in their existing businesses. Volunteering at SCORE is a way for you to give back to your community, connect with fellow business owners, and pass on your knowledge and expertise to the next generation of entrepreneurs in your community.
Become A VolunteerSavannah SCORE, the nation’s largest provider of free business mentoring services and educational programs for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners presents the finalists for the September 7 “BizPitch Savannah™” entrepreneurial competition, PUBLIC INVITED –FREE ADMISSION
The Program:
These innovative, aspiring local entrepreneurs have been chosen as finalists in Savannah SCORE’s “BizPitch Savannah” ™, a kinder, gentler version of TV’s “Shark Tank” entrepreneurial competition. On Friday, September 7, from 4:00-6:30 PM, at the Creative Coast, 2222 Bull St, Savannah, the finalists will pitch their business ideas to a panel of five judges. Three winners will be selected and each will receive $2500 in cash and a package of professional business services worth an estimated $7,500 to help launch their new businesses.The finalists were selected from a large group of applicants by SCORE’s Application Review Committee based on the creativity and innovativeness of the idea, the quality and thoroughness of the proposal, and the financial viability of the proposed business. The finalists and their proposed businesses are, in alphabetical order:
The Finalists:
Mark Bruemmer – “XSCapacity.net” – Bringing businesses with underutilized resources together with potential buyers or renters via the Internet
Carrie Christian and Kristie Duncan – “Scribble Subscription Box” – Creative art play for children through innovative craft-projects-in-a-box offered by monthly subscription
Jennifer Farago – “Studio 53” – Community Sewing Center offering people at all levels of sewing skill and experience access to space, equipment, supplies, training and camaraderie
Jason King – “Heel!” – Veterinary Network App designed to foster cooperation and information sharing between veterinarians and pet owners to promote quality pet care and medication compliance.
Latora Bostic – "Geechee Grub” – A restaurant celebrating the unique cuisine, culture, and heritage of the Geechee people of the Low Country.
Michelle-Anne Mallebranche – “Brez-Soleil” Beach Sunshades – Customizable, artistic, easily portable beach sunshades supported by sturdy bamboo posts.
Leandro Perversi – “Mate’ Pods” – K-Cup®-style Yerba Mate Capsules for use in standard coffee machines or specially designed infusion units
Ian Reddick – “Mercury Modular Guitars” – Beautiful professional grade electric guitars that quickly disassemble to fit in carry-on luggage and/or easily convert to different models
Our Sponsors:
AWARDING SPONSORS
BB&T
MassMutual
SPONSORS
City of Savannah Office of Business Opportunity
Savannah Economic Development Authority
Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce
Small Business Assistance Corporation
Wells Fargo – The Private Bank
Yates-Astro
IN-KIND SPONSORS
Ad Specialty Services
ArcMedia Group
ATDC
Bouhan Falligant
Carriage Trade Public Relations® Inc.
Enmarket
Habersham Beverage
HunterMaclean
Kenkel Design
Podcast On The Go, LLC
Publix
Red Eye Film Productions
Salesdialers.com
Sand Dollar Accounting Services
Savannah Morning News / GateHouse Media
University of Georgia Small Business Development Center
The Creative Coast
The Detail Department
For more info please contact Savannah SCORE at bizpitchsavannah@gmail.com.
The purpose of SBA’s excellent “Access To Capital Forum” is to educate current and aspiring members of Savannah’s small business community about the various types of lenders and sources of funding that are available to them.