SCORE Mentors

10/02/2026

Manufacturing takes more than engineering. It takes vision, problem-solving, and the business know-how to turn an idea into a thriving company. 🏭

For National Manufacturing Day, meet Brad, founder of AMS Galaxy USA, a manufacturer of precision dairy equipment helping farmers reclaim something invaluable: time with their families.

Growing up on a dairy farm, Brad saw firsthand how demanding the work could be. He wanted to help other farmers change that story through robotic milking technology. But when it came to running a business, he quickly realized that engineering expertise was only part of the equation.

That’s where SCORE came in. Through mentorship, Brad gained guidance in sales, marketing, accounting, finance, and strategy, the essential business skills that help manufacturers grow beyond the production floor.

“We wouldn't be where we are without SCORE,” Brad shared.

This National Manufacturing Day, we're celebrating the manufacturers who turn innovation into impact, and the mentors who help them build stronger businesses.

10/01/2026

New month, new opportunities to grow your business! 💡

Our October webinar lineup covers practical topics to help you work smarter, make informed financial decisions, and plan for what’s next.

👉 Swipe through to see what’s coming up, choose the sessions that interest you, and register for free!

We look forward to learning with you this month. 💙

10/01/2026

09/30/2026

09/29/2026

Real end-of-year SMB planning = no fluff.

What’s one unwritten rule you have for holiday prep? Drop it below 👇

09/28/2026

Pin it to the SCOREboard 📌

What's one skill Future You will thank you for learning?

We'll use the comment section as a sounding board to offer resources and support.

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Have something YOU want to ask other entrepreneurs? DM us to submit your prompts. 📩

09/24/2026

“Starting Mothership Coffee Roasters was personal for me.”

For Juanny Romero, coffee became a vehicle for creating the kind of connection and community she wished she had growing up. A child of immigrants from the rough side of Queens, she built Mothership Coffee Roasters around a simple mission: create meaningful connections through great coffee.

Fifteen years later, that mission has grown into six cafes, regional retail partnerships, and coffee sourced from women-owned farming cooperatives.

Along the way, SCORE has been part of Juanny’s journey, providing mentorship, encouragement, and the perspective she needed to grow from a passionate entrepreneur into the CEO of a multi-chain, multi-vertical business.

But for Juanny, success isn't just about how much the business has grown. It's about what that growth makes possible: supporting women coffee producers, investing in her community, and creating spaces where people can connect.

Her advice to other entrepreneurs? Embrace mentorship. The right guidance can help you break through limiting beliefs and see what's possible.

09/24/2026

Join SCORE Mentors on September 29 at 1 PM for their 'Beyond the Barcode: Manage Inventory, Navigate Retail Channels and Prepare to Scale' webinar! 🛍️

Discover how barcodes can support inventory management, prepare your business for wholesale distribution, and MORE!

Register here ➡️: https://f.mtr.cool/hpli68wfej

09/13/2026

WHAT TYPES OF INSURANCE DOES YOUR SMALL BUSINESS NEED?

There is no single insurance policy that protects a business against every possible risk.

The coverage you need depends on what your company does, where it operates, whether you have employees, and the types of risks you face.

Here are six important types of coverage to consider:

GENERAL LIABILITY
May help if a customer is injured, you damage someone’s property, or your business faces certain advertising-related claims.

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
May cover damage to your building, equipment, furniture, inventory, and other business property.

PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY
May protect consultants, accountants, architects, and other professionals against claims involving negligence, inaccurate advice, or professional mistakes.

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
May cover medical care and lost wages when an employee is injured or becomes ill because of work.

COMMERCIAL AUTO
May cover accidents involving vehicles used for business purposes.

CYBER INSURANCE
May help with data recovery, forensic investigations, customer notifications, legal expenses, and other costs resulting from a cyberattack or data breach.

Some businesses may be able to combine general liability, commercial property, and business-interruption coverage into a Business Owner’s Policy, commonly called a BOP.

Do not simply buy the cheapest policy. Work with a qualified insurance professional to identify your company’s actual risks and the coverage needed to address them.

Need FREE professional advice from a long-time business owner? Ask for a MENTOR at www.SCORE.org/FL/Tampa

09/11/2026

ONE ACCIDENT COULD THREATEN EVERYTHING YOU HAVE BUILT

Many small-business owners believe insurance is something they can purchase later—after the business becomes larger or more profitable.

Unfortunately, accidents do not wait until you are ready.

A customer could slip and get hurt at your business. A fire could damage your equipment. An employee could be injured at work. A company vehicle could be involved in an accident. A cybercriminal could steal your customers’ information.

Without the right insurance, your business may have to pay medical bills, legal expenses, property repairs, settlements, and lost operating income out of its own pocket.

That could be financially devastating—especially for a business without substantial cash reserves.

Small-business insurance may help protect you against:
• Customer injuries and property damage
• Lawsuits and legal-defense costs
• Damage to your building, equipment, or inventory
• Employee injuries
• Commercial vehicle accidents
• Professional mistakes
• Cyberattacks and data breaches
• Temporary interruptions to your operations

Insurance should not be viewed as just another expense. It's your safety net and a life-saver for your business.

Want No Cost assistance for your business? Get a FREE SCORE small business Mentor at www.SCORE.org/FL/Tampa

09/09/2026

Is Your Small Business Properly Insured—or Just Paying for a Policy?

Choosing the right business insurance is not simply about finding the lowest premium. It is about protecting everything you have worked so hard to build.

Before purchasing or renewing a policy:
✅ Determine which coverages are required by state law, your landlord, lenders, or client contracts.
✅ Identify your greatest risks. Consider property damage, lawsuits, employee injuries, cyberattacks, professional mistakes, theft, and business interruptions.
✅ Decide what your business could realistically afford to lose—and what could put you out of business.
✅ Establish a budget and compare premiums, deductibles, coverage limits, and exclusions.
✅ Research each insurer’s reputation, customer satisfaction, claims service, and financial strength.

Many small businesses begin with a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP), which generally combines:
• General liability insurance
• Commercial property insurance
• Business interruption coverage

Depending on your business, you may also need workers’ compensation, commercial auto, professional liability, cyber liability, commercial crime, directors and officers liability, or umbrella coverage.

Most importantly, shop around. Insurance companies evaluate risk differently, so prices and coverage can vary considerably. Obtain quotes from at least three to five insurers and compare what each policy actually covers—not just what it costs.

The cheapest policy may become the most expensive one if it does not protect you when you need it most.

When did you last review your business insurance coverage?

Need advice for FREE? www.SCORE.org/FL/Tampa

09/04/2026

Thinking of starting up your own small business in the Tampa Bay area? Consider taking the three hour below course on Saturday, Sept 12.

09/04/2026

Build a Business That Is Resilient by Design - Women's Conference

Growing a successful business requires more than a great idea. It requires effective marketing, sound financial decisions, helpful resources, and strong professional relationships.

Join SCORE for the 2026 Central Florida Women’s Conference, a half-day event designed to help entrepreneurs build stronger, more stable, and more profitable businesses.

You’ll learn practical strategies to:
• Turn marketing visibility into revenue
• Strengthen cash flow and financial stability
• Attract new customers
• Find valuable resources for your business
• Connect with other Central Florida entrepreneurs

Featured speakers include:
• Casey Barile, National Marketing Director at Domino’s Pizza
• Suzanne Robinson, Store Manager at TD Bank
• Michael Riskin, President of CPS Investment Advisors
• Joey Ford, Assistant Vice President and Commercial Relationship Manager at SouthState Bank

The conference will also feature welcoming remarks from Lakeland Mayor Sara Roberts McCarley.

📅 Friday, September 25, 2026
⏰ 8:45 a.m.–Noon
📍 Catapult Lakeland, 502 E. Main Street, Lakeland
🎟️ Registration: $50

Whether you are starting a business or ready to take an established company to the next level, you’ll leave with actionable ideas and valuable new connections.

Men are also welcome to attend. Seating is limited, so register early!

Learn more and register:
https://www.score.org/fl/central-florida/business-education/2026-central-florida-womens-conference/

09/01/2026

Interested in starting up your own small business in the Tampa Bay area? Consider taking the below course:

08/26/2026

Find Your Best Customer: Look Beyond Demographics

Age, income, location and job title can help describe your target market—but they don’t always explain who will actually buy from you.

To find your best customer, focus on two things: need and behavior.

Need explains why someone wants your product or service:
• What problem are they trying to solve?
• How important or urgent is it?
• What outcome do they want?
• What would motivate them to pay for a solution?

Behavior reveals how they make purchasing decisions:
• Where do they look for information?
• What influences their decision?
• Do they prioritize price, convenience, quality or expertise?
• How quickly do they decide?
• Do they purchase once or repeatedly?
• Are they likely to recommend you to others?

Two customers may have the same age, income and location—but very different needs, priorities and buying habits. One may be your ideal customer. The other may never respond to your message.

Study your current customers. Look for the people who receive the greatest value, are profitable to serve, pay reliably, return frequently and refer others.

Your best customer isn’t simply someone who could buy from you. It’s someone with a meaningful need whose behavior makes them likely to choose—and value—your solution.

When you understand both need and behavior, you can create better offers, stronger messages and more effective marketing.

Need help identifying your ideal customer? Connect with a SCORE Tampa mentor for free, confidential business guidance.

www.score.org/FL
/tampa

08/23/2026

Find Your Best Customer: Define the Problem You Solve

Customers don’t buy products or services simply because they exist. They buy them because they want to solve a problem, satisfy a need or achieve a better result.

To identify your best customer, begin with one important question:
What specific problem does my business solve?

Avoid answers that are too broad. “We provide great service” describes how you operate—not the problem you solve.

Instead, think from the customer’s perspective:
• What challenge is frustrating them?
• What is costing them time or money?
• What result are they trying to achieve?
• Why haven’t their previous solutions worked?
• How urgent is the problem?
• What would success look like to them?

For example, an accountant doesn’t merely prepare financial reports. The accountant may help a growing business owner understand cash flow, avoid costly surprises and make better financial decisions.

Once you clearly define the problem, ask: Who experiences it most often, feels it most strongly and is willing to pay for a solution?

That person—or business—is likely to be your best customer.

Clear problem. Clear customer. Clear message.

When you understand the real problem you solve, your marketing becomes more focused, your value becomes easier to explain and the right customers are more likely to recognize that you can help them.

Need help defining your ideal customer and value proposition? Connect with a SCORE Tampa mentor for free, confidential business guidance.

www.score.org/FL/tampa

08/21/2026

“EVERYONE” Is Not Your Customer

When business owners are asked, “Who is your ideal customer?” one of the most common answers is: “Everyone.”

It sounds ambitious—but it isn’t a useful target market.

Trying to reach everyone usually leads to broad advertising, generic messaging and wasted marketing dollars. The more precisely you define your best customer, the easier it becomes to:
• Create messages that speak directly to their needs
• Choose the right advertising channels
• Spend marketing dollars more effectively
• Develop products and services they truly value
• Attract more profitable, loyal customers

Start by studying your current customers. Who buys most often? Who is most profitable? Who values what you provide—and refers others?

Then go deeper. Consider their location, age, industry, income, challenges, priorities, buying habits and the specific problem they need solved.

Your target market might be “small businesses.” But a better target could be “Tampa-area service businesses with 5 to 25 employees that need help managing cash flow.”

You are not excluding everyone else. You are focusing your message on the people most likely to respond.

When you try to speak to everyone, your message connects with no one. Find your best customer—and make that person feel like your business was created specifically for them.
Need help identifying your ideal customer? Connect with a SCORE Tampa mentor for free, confidential business guidance.

www.score.org/FL/Tampa

08/18/2026

Entrepreneurs Don’t Just Build Businesses. They Build America.

When most people hear the word entrepreneur, they may picture someone starting a company, taking a financial risk, or trying to become successful.

But entrepreneurship is about much more than the entrepreneur.

Think about your everyday life.

The restaurant where your family celebrates a birthday.
The plumber who answers when a pipe bursts.
The contractor who repairs your home.
The local manufacturer employing 40 people.
The technology company developing something that didn’t exist five years ago.
The young woman turning an idea at her kitchen table into her first business.

Behind each of them is someone who once said:

“I think I can build something better.”

Entrepreneurs take risks before they know whether anyone will reward them.

They invest their savings. They sign leases. They hire people. They solve problems. They make mistakes, get knocked down, and often get back up and try again.

And when they succeed, the benefits spread far beyond them.

They create jobs.

They give young people their first opportunity.

They support families and communities.

They buy products and services from other businesses.

They sponsor Little League teams, school programs, churches, charities, and community events.

They turn empty storefronts into businesses and ideas into products.

And perhaps most importantly, entrepreneurs remind us of something deeply American:

Your future does not have to be limited by where you started.

You can see a problem and solve it.

You can learn a skill and sell it.

You can create something people value.

You can take responsibility for your future—and, in the process, create opportunities for other people.

Not every entrepreneur becomes wealthy.

Not every business survives.

But every person willing to take the risk of creating something new deserves our respect.

Because entrepreneurs don’t simply ask, “What opportunities are available to me?”

They ask:

“What opportunity can I create?”

And millions of ordinary Americans live better lives because someone had the courage to ask that question.

Here’s to the builders, the risk-takers, the problem-solvers, and the people willing to bet on an idea.

America needs them.