Ready to start your business? Find a FREE Mentor

Get Free Expert Help from SCORE Des Moines to Start & Grow Your Small Business.

As highly successful and experienced business professionals and entrepreneurs, SCORE Des Moines mentors deliver valuable, timely, and practical advice at no cost. Below you can browse through mentor profiles to find your ideal expert or fill out the mentoring request form, and we will pair you with the right mentor to help your small business thrive.

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Don't have the time to browse mentor profiles? — Fill out the mentoring request form, and we will pair you with a mentor and assist you in setting up a free mentoring appointment.

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Success Stories

SCORE Des Moines has helped thousands of business founders fulfill their dreams to start, build & grow thriving businesses. See what our clients have to say!

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THE NEXT SUCCESS COULD BE YOURS!

In 2020 across the U.S., SCORE mentors helped start 45,027 businesses, create 74,535 non-owner new jobs and 119,562 total new jobs.

3 hours of mentoring can help your business

MENTORING WORKS!

Small business owners who receive three or more hours of mentoring report higher revenues and increased growth. Get started on your small business journey, and find your mentor today!

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is SCORE Mentoring?

SCORE mentoring is a free service offered to any citizen or permanent resident that owns or wants to start a business. Partnering with you one-on-one, SCORE mentors support your success through offering experienced advice, consulting on best practices, and educating on small business topics.

How can a SCORE mentor help me?

SCORE mentors bring years of business experience, many of them successful small business owners themselves. Mentors volunteer through SCORE to help other entrepreneurs like you, by sharing their real-world experience and bona fide knowledge in running successful small businesses. SCORE mentors also provide practical tools and resources to make some owner tasks easier.

What can a SCORE mentor not do?

SCORE mentors will not make decisions for you or complete important ownership tasks on your behalf. They also cannot provide tax or legal advice. However, SCORE mentors can provide clear guidance on what your options are so you can confidently make decisions and take positive action toward your own success.

What should I expect in a SCORE mentoring session?

SCORE mentoring sessions are collaborative meetings between the small business owner and the SCORE mentor. During these sessions, you can share your business goals, progress, challenges and questions. SCORE mentors will offer advice, resources, and insights so you gain clarity on your next best steps.

What is a typical mentoring session like?

SCORE mentoring sessions are typically scheduled for an hour and held virtually, through online meetings, phone calls, and even through email exchanges. While mentoring sessions have goals and objectives, the partnership is informal and informational with your assigned mentor.

How long will a SCORE mentoring relationship last?

A SCORE mentoring relationship lasts as long as you need it. That can mean it is a few meaningful sessions to achieve a specific goal or overcome a particular challenge. Or, it can be a SCORE mentoring relationship lasts for years, when you always have a trusted advisor for the life of your small business.

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