Businesses experience problems at all phases and the mentors at Senior Core of Retired Executives, or SCORE, are there to help.

Whether the problem is funding, developing a business plan or anything in between, SCORE mentors such as Russ Hearn have been there to offer free help since 1964.

“I help clients that are in search of business advice,” Hearn said. “I get assigned clients based on geographic location. If they’re in Butler County I get them or if they match my area of expertise.”

Hearn has been a mentor for six years and has a background in medical devices direct to consumer from his time with Hearing Life where he was a co-founder.

SCORE has a pool of 10,000 volunteers across the country and has provided education and mentorship to more than 11 million entrepreneurs, according to its website.

To make the process simpler for his clients, Hearn has comprised a checklist of 10 items every new business owner should run through.

At the top of the list would be to develop a business idea. Hearn said the amount of people who come to him without any business idea at all is a much higher number than what people would think.

“You got to have a passion for something and see a need for it,” Hearn said. “Typically there is a problem that needs solved.”

Next would be to outline a business plan, such as goals, target market, marketing strategies and financial projections.

After that, business owners then need to develop their business structure, which is the legal structure that will be given to the business.

“Are you going to be a sole proprietor, corporation, partnership with others or are you going to have an (limited liability company),” Hearn said.

A strong and unique business name is also on Hearn’s list, which can help you stand out in a crowd, while also keeping you out of legal trouble.

“You want to go unique so you are not stepping on someone’s toes and they are not stepping on yours,” Hearn said.

After a name is established, Hearn recommends entrepreneurs obtain the necessary permits and licenses for the business, which is something he personally has been known to help with for his clients.

“This includes a food business for example,” Hearn said. “I have some food truck clients and I helped them go through that process. It’s to protect the consumer.”

Next on the list would be for business owners to obtain an Employer Identification Number through the Internal Revenue Service which in turn allows the legal hiring of employees.

“That essentially helps the government get the tax money that you collect such as income tax,” Hearn said.

Setting up financial and accounting systems are two of the more important items on the list, Hearn said, but they cannot be established until some of the other elements on the list are finished.

“It goes back to the very beginning with a business plan,” Hearn said. “The financial system is going to be based off income and expenses. We recommend getting a certified public accountant to help launch the business. Overall you need to have a good lawyer, accountant and insurance agent.”

Funding is another item on the checklist, Hearn said, which could vary for each business based on the its plan.

“Anywhere you go to get money from, such as investors or grants, they are going to want to know how you are going to pay them back and what are you going to use the money for,” Hearn said. “A good business plan will show you how you’re going to spend the money and repay the money.”

Finding a suitable location for a business can be tricky, Hearn said, but again that goes back to the business plan — as some businesses don’t need a brick-and-mortar location.

Last on Hearn’s list would be marketing, which cannot be done until everything else is set in place he said.

“Early to bed, early to rise and advertise, advertise, advertise,” Hearn said.

Hearn said for everything he mention in his checklist, SCORE has free online resources to match with those topics. Budding entrepreneurs can visit score.org and type the topic in the search bar.

However, online resources at SCORE are only free now if you are registered with a SCORE mentor.

“If you have a mentor, the mentor has a code to access those resources for free,” Hearn said. “It’s just to encourage people to have a mentor.”

Hearn said those interested in finding a mentor or becoming a mentor can visit score.org and follow the instructions on the top of the main page.

Meetings with the mentors usually start weekly, Hearn said. As the business develops, the meetings shift to monthly and then once a year depending on each business owner’s progress, he said.

“I get to learn something new everyday and it's very rewarding to help someone's dreams come true,” Hearn said.