The local Sandhills Chapter of SCORE (Counselors to America's Small Business) continues its spring series of free seminars for small businesses Tuesday with its popular "How To Write A Business Plan" seminar.

The seminar will be held in Room 103 of Van Dusen Hall at Sandhills Community College beginning at 6 p.m.

Registration is required and can be done by calling (910) 695-3938 or sending an e-mail to neelym@sandhills.edu. Participants can also register beginning at 5:30 p.m. on the day of the seminar.

The business plan seminar is a key element of the six-part "Business Basics" series jointly sponsored by SCORE and the Small Business Center of Sandhills Community College.

"A business plan is essential for a lender to make an informed judgment about the potential for success of the business," a SCORE news release said. "Excitement and optimism about the potential for success will not take the place of a carefully constructed business plan when a business owner is seeking financing. Furthermore, a good plan is essential to the business owner because it provides a road map for making the business successful."

This seminar includes real-world examples and take-home handouts.

"Failing to plan is planning to fail," SCORE said. "Improve the chances of success of your business by attending this seminar and using the concepts presented as well as the wealth of experience available from SCORE counselors."

SCORE is a nationwide nonprofit association of experienced business people who provide free confidential business counseling to small business owners. The Sandhills chapter is active in counseling, mentoring and presenting free business seminars.

Anyone wanting to speak to a SCORE counselor must first register as a client at www.edmis score.org/0364, and then a counselor will contact you.

In addition to counseling by appointment, the Sandhills chapter has drop-in service for those who have registered from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Fridays at the Moore County Chamber of Commerce building on U.S. 15-501 in Southern Pines and on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon at the SCORE office in the Workforce Development Center on the campus of Robeson Community College in Lumberton. The phone number in Southern Pines is (910) 692-3936 and (910) 272-3690 in Lumberton.

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