On Saturday, May 17, the local Sandhills Chapter of SCORE (Counselors to America's Small Business) kicks off its free spring seminar series with its popular Great Beginnings Seminar.

Registration starts at 8:30 a.m., and the seminar begins at 9 a.m. SCORE and the Small Business Center of Sandhills Community College jointly sponsor a "Business Basics" series of five seminars that offers something for every entrepreneur.

Great Beginnings (How to Start Your Business in the Right Direction) is designed to make entrepreneurs knowledgeable about the issues of starting a small business so that those first steps allow them to "move out smartly."

Subjects to be covered include SBA resources available to you, business plan essentials, accounting, record keeping, tax issues, legal structure options, financing options and risk mitigation (such as insurance). Pre-registration is encouraged by calling 695-3938.

The seminars are conducted in Room 203 Van Dusen Hall, Sandhills Community College, in coordination with the college's Small Business Center. They will be presented on five consecutive Saturday mornings to accommodate current and prospective small business owners.

The other seminars are entitled, Your Business Plan, Marketing, Accounting For You and Me, and How to Get a Business Loan. Participants attending all five seminars receive a certificate entitling them to a $75 credit from SCORE for their first business advertising expense.

The local SCORE Chapter has 20 active members and is dedicated to assisting small business through free and confidential counseling, as well as offering free professional seminars. The chapter is currently expanding these activities and is seeking motivated volunteers.

More information on SCORE's counseling activity and a complete description of each seminar can be found at the Sandhills SCORE Web site, www.sandhills score.org.