Are you starting a small business? Do you have a small business that you are trying to grow? Just need some help with marketing plans or how to use social media? Why not request an appointment with one of our experienced counselors!
The ECI SCORE chapter service area covers six counties in east Central Illinois: Kankakee, Iroquois, Ford, Champaign, Vermillion and Douglas, including the cities of Champaign, Urbana, Kankakee, Watseka, Paxton, Rantoul, Mahomet, St. Joseph, Danville, and Tuscola.
ECI SCORE provides free business counseling to help you start up and grow your small business. Our experienced counselors can help you with one-on-one counseling regarding business basics, marketing, business planning, and financing your business. Hands-on workshops are offered regularly on topics including Starting a Small Business, Writing a Business Plan, and Financing a Small Business.
SCORE is a national volunteer organization supported by the US Small Business Administration. The East Central Illinois Chapter (ECI-SCORE) is headquartered at the Chamber of Commerce in Champaign, IL, and its volunteers include experienced business owners and managers who volunteer their expertise and knowledge to help small business owners and potential business owners achieve success through workshops and free confidential counseling.
ECI-SCORE was opened for business in 1981 as a branch of the Decatur, IL SCORE chapter. It began with 12 volunteers serving 3 counties. Over the years, the chapter has grown to over 30 volunteers with a service area covering 6 counties. The most common types of businesses served by ECI-SCORE are in the service and retail sectors, followed by manufacturing and consulting, healthcare, and wholesale and construction.
ECI-SCORE helps you learn what you need to know, when you need to know it. Counselors are experienced and have access to numerous resources from which to gather business information necessary to help you make good business decisions. Counseling is:
- Confidential — Counselors abide by a code of ethics and honor confidentiality.
- Fast — Ask questions 24/7; get answers in 48 hours.
- Free — Offered free-of-charge, as a public service.
- Convenient — Receive advice by email or arrange a meeting with a Counselor.
Own a small business? Starting a small business? Call us at (217) 359-1791 or contact us online if you have a question or if you would like to request a counseling appointment.