In the Your Biz column for MSNBC, Eve Tahmincloglu says she has heard a number of stories of small business owners who received bad advice from counselors earlier in their careers with some successful business owners being told not to even start their own business.

But it would appear that not all counselors are made the same as Tahmincloglu says one service small business owners and potential entrepreneurs should take advantage of is the programs offered by SCORE and its "speed coaching" sessions being held around the country.

These "speed" sessions are actually 30-minute one-on-one meetings with a retired executive, which can help a small business owner perfect their approach.

Alicia Ingram, owner of a marketing solutions company in Atlanta, told Tahmincloglu the session helped her prioritize her goals.

"For me, what I got most out of the half-hour session was I had someone to help me think through where to start," she said. "I solidified my elevator pitch."

According to its website, SCORE is a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration and has more than 11,200 volunteers around the country who donate time and expertise to small business owners.