Many home business "EXPERTS" are adding the service of mentoring or coaching to their line of services. Some entrepreneurs will offer this service as a bonus if you purchase their home business study course, or wealth building system, or anything that has to do with starting and operating a home based business. Others will offer mentoring as a high priced back end offer.

This service can be offered through e-mail, tele-conferencing or even one-on-one. Now, let's consider how a mentor can add value to or help you build your business...

WHAT DOES A MENTOR DO?

First we need to consider what a mentor is and what are the qualifications that allow a person to use this title.

A mentor is considered to be a wise and trusted counselor and teacher - one who is an expert in a particular field. However, a person doesn't need a license or degree to qualify as a mentor. So, this leaves the door wide open for any one who wants to apply the title to themselves.

So, what should you look for in choosing a mentor? First you consider a person who has experience in your business area of interest, and has a sincere desire to help you succeed. Not some one who just wants to charge you extra money for their wealth building course. They just collect your monthly fee and allow you to e-mail them your questions.

You want a mentor who you can meet with face to face or at least be able to contact by phone. Sending e-mail messages is fine, but a face-to-face meeting or phone conversation should always be a part of any mentoring service.

This will eliminate most people who call themselves mentors, especially those who offer this service as a bonus to get you to purchase their money making plan.

A person who is serious about being a Mentor should always be willing to allow their students to have personal contact with them.

A real mentor understands that he will only be able to work with a limited number of people, because to my way of thinking a Mentor must be willing to teach, guide, assist and council the people who seek their services.

Now, unless you have very deep pockets and can afford to pay from $50.00 to $500.00 an hour, you will have a hard time finding some one who has the experience that you may be looking for to sacrifice their time to give you the attention that you will need to build a successful business. So, what are your options?? Where do you find some one to help you when you can't afford the large fees that an experienced Mentor will charge for their services?

Here's one place you can start - and the service is free. SCORE is an organization started to help people who are interested in starting a small business. SCORE is made up of retired business executives who donate their time and expertise in their business area of interest You can contact SCORE online by going to: http://www.score.org. Or you can contact them by phone by calling your local Small Business Administration office in your city or town.

Another source that may provide you with free business advice is the College or University in your area. Many of these institutions have small business development centers. To get information on these centers just call your main local Library in the business section and ask if they have contact information for the centers in your area.

One of the biggest mistakes most home business entrepreneurs make is thinking they can go it alone. This is a fatal mistake for those who are just getting started. A final word of advice, Ben Franklin once said: "An Investment in Knowledge Pays The Best Interest." Don't make the mistake of thinking you can do it all by yourself. GET SOME HELP!