SCORE mentors outline no-cost help for Farmington Hills small businesses

SCORE certified mentor Mick Shimamura, vice chair of SCORE Southeast Michigan, told a Farmington Hills business summit that SCORE offers free one-on-one mentoring, workshops and downloadable business templates to help entrepreneurs at every stage. “These are how we offer 3 services. The first, our flagship service that is a confidential 1 on 1 mentoring with the business owners. And this is provided at no cost to you,” Shimamura said.

Shimamura and fellow mentor Jerry Singh described common mentoring topics—business planning, financial projections, marketing and sales—and said SCORE’s volunteers include retired corporate executives and former bankers who help with loan and grant applications. “If you are going for, external investors, please keep it in mind. You are giving up part of your ownership, and some control,” Shimamura said, urging entrepreneurs to weigh investor trade-offs.

The mentors emphasized the limited role of grants for many brick-and-mortar businesses and outlined financing options. “Grants are rare and highly competitive,” Shimamura said, adding that SBA-backed loan programs such as 7(a), 504 and microloans are common routes for startups and small businesses. He recommended using mentors to prepare business plans and loan applications.

SCORE also warned businesses to vet tax and accounting advisers. Sarah Russell of the Michigan Department of Treasury later told the event there is no state requirement for a person to call themselves a “tax professional,” and SCORE described interviewing prospective advisers as part of due diligence.

Organizers left contact information and QR links to SCORE resources; mentors said templates and many downloads remain free even where workshop registration fees are now nominal due to federal funding changes.