The Ventura County chapter of SCORE, small business counselors, is experiencing increased demand this year as more residents are seeking counseling to start their own business.

SCORE provided free faceto-face and Internet counseling and low-cost workshops in Simi Valley and at Oxnard College. Counseling is provided to emerging businesses as well as established small businesses that have issues.

Individual counseling is available on select days in Westlake/Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Camarillo, Moorpark and Oxnard.

SCORE invites business owners and executives of all ages, active or retired, Englishand Spanish-speaking, to attend the annual membership breakfast 7 a.m. Mon., July 14 at Bakers Square, Oxnard.

Free transportation is available from Simi and Conejo valleys.

To make an appointment for counseling or a reservation for the breakfast, call (805) 2046022 or visit the website at www.scoreventura.org.

SCORE is a volunteer organization sponsored by the Small Business Bureau.