The Sandhills chapter of SCORE continues its fall "Business Basics" series for small businesses Tuesday, Sept. 20, with its popular "How to Write a Business Plan" seminar.

The seminar begins at 6 p.m. in room 103 of Van Dusen Hall at Sandhills Community College. Registration is required and can be done by calling (910) 695-3938 or sending an email to neelym@sandhills.edu. There will also be an opportunity for registration beginning at 5:30 p.m. on the day of the seminar.

This 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.

Business owners who attend all of the seminars will be eligible to receive a $75 cash award from SCORE to apply to advertising expenses for their business.

"A business plan is crucial to building a solid business," a SCORE news release said. "It provides the road map to keep the business on the road to success. It is also a requirement if the business will want to talk to a lender about financing. Excitement and optimism about the potential for success will not take the place of a carefully constructed business plan."

This seminar is filled with real-world examples, including handouts, and provides the equipment to make a good plan a winner.

"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 (Counselors to America's Small Business) is a nationwide nonprofit association of experienced business people who provide free, confidential counseling to small business owners. The Sandhills chapter is active in counseling, mentoring and presenting free business seminars.

Anyone wishing to speak to SCORE must register as a client at www.edmis-score.org/0364, and 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. The phone number is (910) 692-3926.

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