Small Business Counseling

The Small Business Administration oversees the SCORE program and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) network.  Both offer free one-on-one counseling to business owners and those who want to start a business, along with a variety of workshops focused on starting and operating a small business in Florida.  

The local SBDC office is hosted by Indian River State College. Please call the SBDC office at 772-226-2541 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

WeVenture,  based at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, is also funded through the Small Business Administration. They, too, offer counseling and workshops for small business owners and start-ups, focusing on women-owned businesses.  The Melbourne office works with business owners in Brevard, Indian River and St. Lucie counties.  Programs include:  IGNITE 360® Mentoring Program, Peer Groups, and leadership development opportunities for professional women.   Call or email them at 321-674-7007 or weVENTURE@fit.edu. 

SCORE is a national non-profit organization staffed by volunteers - retired business executives with decades of business expertise. The local SCORE executives counsel clients at the Indian River Chamber building by appointment only.  Please call the Treasure Coast SCORE office to schedule an appointment, 772-489-0548.

All three organizations conduct a variety of free business workshops on topics such as: Marketing; Writing a Business Plan; Hiring the Right Employees; Budgeting and more.  There may be a nominal fee to attend the workshops, and reservations are required as seating is limited.