How can your small business serve companies developing or using clean technology? Join Dr. David K. Ewen from SCORE for a practical lesson for entrepreneurs in Central and Western Massachusetts. Learn how to connect your existing skills to customer needs, speak with potential buyers, test a small first project, and measure whether the opportunity fits your business. A hypothetical Holyoke print shop illustrates how to start with the equipment and experience you already have.

Not every business financing product solves the same problem.

A term loan may fit a planned equipment purchase. A line of credit may help with a temporary timing gap. Equipment financing and business credit cards have their own uses, costs, and risks.

In this SCORE learning episode, Dr. David K. Ewen explains how to prepare for a conversation with a lender, compare offers, and choose financing based on the business need.

Start today by writing down the exact amount you need, how you will use it, and how the business expects to repay it.

#BusinessFinancing #SmallBusinessLoans #BusinessCredit #LoanReadiness #MassachusettsBusiness #CentralMassachusetts #WesternMassachusetts #Entrepreneurship #SCORE

Finding nonprofit funding begins with a good match between your mission, the people you serve, and a funder’s goals. In this SCORE small-business learning episode, we explain how nonprofit leaders can define a specific funding need, identify suitable opportunities, prepare essential documents, and evaluate the true requirements of an award. The lesson includes a practical example for a locally operated nonprofit in Central or Western Massachusetts and one action you can take today.

Learn how to define your need, screen opportunities, prepare your documents, and avoid changing your work simply to chase an award.

Start today by writing a clear four-sentence funding statement for one program.

- Dr. David K. Ewen

Business taxes do not follow one simple formula. Your responsibilities may depend on how your business is organized, what you sell, whether you employ workers, and where you operate.

In this SCORE small-business learning episode, SCORE explains the major tax categories and shares a practical way to organize your records and deadlines.

Listen to learn one action you can take today to improve your business tax readiness.

Which taxes might your business need to pay? SCORE explains the main tax categories that entrepreneurs and small-business owners should understand. Learn how business structure, employees, sales, and location can affect tax responsibilities. You will also hear practical steps for organizing records, separating collected taxes, tracking deadlines, and preparing better questions for a qualified tax professional. This episode is designed for locally operated businesses in Central and Western Massachusetts.

- Dr. David K. Ewen

This SCORE small-business learning episode shares a practical process for finding reliable employees. Learn how to define the behaviors you need, ask better interview questions, check job-related references, and use a simple scorecard to evaluate progress. A better hiring decision begins with clear expectations.

Dr. David K. Ewen

AI can help small-business owners save time, but only when it is used thoughtfully. SCORE explains five practical steps for using AI effectively, from choosing a low-risk task and writing clearer prompts to reviewing results and protecting confidential information. Created for entrepreneurs and small-business owners in Central and Western Massachusetts.Dr. David K. Ewen

SCORE explains how small-business owners can manage the timing of money coming in and going out. Learn how to prepare a 13-week cash-flow forecast, encourage timely customer payments, schedule expenses carefully, build a cash reserve, and measure progress each week. The lesson includes a realistic example for a locally operated business in Central or Western Massachusetts. Dr. David K. Ewen

From family-owned restaurants and local shops to farms, tourism companies, healthcare offices, and manufacturers, AI can help businesses save time, understand customers, improve marketing, manage inventory, and provide faster service.

Small businesses do not need a large technology department to get started. The best approach is to choose one clear problem, test an affordable tool, and measure the results.

AI should support people—not replace the trust, creativity, and personal service that make local businesses special. Owners must also protect customer information, check AI-generated work, and use human judgment when making important decisions.

How could AI help your business grow? Share your ideas in the comments.

#ArtificialIntelligence #SmallBusiness #WorcesterMA #WesternMassachusetts #MassachusettsBusiness #SmallBusinessGrowth #BusinessTechnology #DigitalTransformation #Entrepreneurship #LocalBusiness #AIForsmallBusiness #BusinessInnovation #SCOREMentors #SCORE