Terms & Conditions

I understand that SCORE services, including but not limited to online counseling and workshops, are provided as services only to citizens of the United States and its territories.

I understand that when I submit a request to participate in online counseling, and when I participate in online counseling, I am signifying that I agree to the terms and conditions of SCORE counseling outlined as follows. I request business management counseling from the Small Business Administration (SBA). I agree to cooperate should I be selected to participate in surveys designed to evaluate SBA assistance services. I authorize SBA to furnish relevant information to the assigned management counselor(s) although I expect that information to be held in strictest confidence by him/her. I further understand that any counselor has agreed not to: (1) recommend goods or services from sources in which he/she has an interest and (2) accept fees or commissions developing from this counseling relationship. In consideration of SBA's furnishing management or technical assistance, I waive all claims against SBA personnel, SCORE, SBDC and its host organizations, and other SBA resource counselors arising from this assistance.

I understand that SCORE counselors are not providing advice pursuant to the authority of professional certifications or licenses that they may hold and I will not treat information provided by SCORE counselors as such. I further understand that I am not entering into a relationship with SCORE counselors that entitles me to client privileges that may be associated with any professional certifications or licenses that SCORE counselors may hold.

If you are participating in social networks on behalf of SCORE through SCORE’s Web properties, blogs, social media sites, forums, etc., you must protect and respect confidential and proprietary information. Do not share your user name and password with anyone outside of SCORE. Use your voice and personality, but do so without reference to politics, religion, defamatory or inflammatory remarks.

Transparent.  At SCORE we do participate in social media sites and networks. When using social media from blogging, twittering, commenting or using Flickr, YouTube or other sites, let people know you work for or volunteer for SCORE.

Judicious. SCORE’s interaction in social media sites is judicious. We follow the SCORE privacy policy and copyright and fair use guidelines. Statements are true and not misleading. We protect confidential information.

Be Conversational and Have Fun. Join the conversation and engage with clients and entrepreneurs just learning about SCORE. Share information. Engage in conversation. Create excitement. Be helpful.

Employees and volunteers be honest, ethical, factual and clear in any online, social networks representing SCORE. Follow copyright and fair use laws. Cite sources. For example, cite sources when referencing a quote or excerpt.

Share useful and relevant information. Be personally responsible for the content you publish on blogs, wikis or other forms of user-generated content. Reply with courteous and respectful comments. Reply to comments in a timely manner. If a dialogue looks like it may be lengthy, you can reply privately via email.

If you post on social networks representing SCORE identify your SCORE affiliation. Be sure that content you post is professional and represents you and the organization accurately. If you post about subjects related to SCORE, but not at SCORE’s request, on a SCORE Web property or SCORE’s social media presence on other sites, disclose that you are representing your own views and opinions and not necessarily the views of SCORE.

Do not advocate that small businesses buy a product or service. You may suggest good resources and information, which sometimes as in the case of a book is for sale and is accepted as sharing information about knowledge in the marketplace.

If you choose to participate in blogs, forums and social networks personally, do not defame or slander SCORE, any of its staff, volunteers, alliances, the government or other community contacts. Do not post negative accounts of interactions at SCORE or negative comments about the organization. Make sure that your activities online do not interfere with your job during the workday.