If you've been thinking about starting up a business or you have the ball rolling and don't know what to do next, an inexpensive program could be a huge benefit.

A non-profit group titled SCORE, or Service Corps of Retired Executives, has ten week program to help you as you try to take on opening your own business. Bob Luther with the Decatur Score Chapter indicates later this month they will be starting their next ten week session.

Luther says the ten week course is a great opportunity for a potential business owner to get an idea of what their business will need to do to get off the ground with guest speakers. He says one of the most important discussions they have is about finances.

The cost of the ten week session is $275. Luther says not all of that has to be paid up front, but he feels if a potential business owner goes the course, doesn't feel they are ready to start up a business, it is better than that person or group starting something and failing and being out exponentially more money.

Luther feels the ten week course is a great opportunity for networking opportunity but as a part of the cost of the course, there is a free one year membership to the Micro Business Network. Luther explains this group is essentially a support network of small business who host various events aimed at better small businesses.

February 10 is the first class and Luther encourages anyone interested to contact SCORE in Decatur at 217-424-6296 for more information or more details.