Below are online discussions, edited for clarity andlength, from the Ask a Mentor page of the Free Enterprise website. Ask your own question or answer one at www.uschambermagazine.com/ask-a-mentor.

(Q) We’d like to start an e-mail list and would love some ideas on how to start asking customers for their e-mail addresses without putting them off. We’re a small retailer.

(A) Don’t be afraid to ask your customers for their e-mail addresses at the end of a sale. Most will be pleased that you asked and that they can stay up to date with all of the happenings at your store. For browsers, you can keep a journal out that has headings like name, e-mail address, and birthday. Before they leave, ask if they would like to add their information. You can also offer a giveaway and have customers enter their information for a drawing of a product or service that you offer. Just make sure you actually have a drawing.
—Sarah Skinner, SCORE mentor

(Q) I have a 20-year-old photography business and a solar installation business more than a year old in need of working capital. Do I borrow money or pull from my retirement account?

(A) Try to obtain a small business loan first before tapping your retirement funds. The taxes and 10% penalty incurred if you pull funds out early can be substantial and will eat into the amount you pull out. If you do have to go this route, look into setting up a self-directed IRA/401(k) for your business. Just Google self-directed IRAs. You may be allowed to borrow funds from a self-directed IRA/401(k) for your business without having to pay IRS taxes and penalties. In addition, if you borrow from this type of retirement fund, you will be paying interest to yourself. Again, just be very cautious about using your retirement funds. Exhaust all other means first.
—Adrian Davis, SCORE mentor

(A) I would recommend that you conduct research and prepare a business plan before you seek a loan or put money into the solar business. Research the industry and the potential market in your area. If you can demonstrate that the business is viable and that you could make good money, you can then use your business plan to seek funding. You may want to contact the local SCORE chapter near you for some help with your business plan. Visit the SCORE website at www.score.org and enter your ZIP code.
—Alan Wonsowski, SCORE mentor

(Q) I am inheriting a lifetime collection of original art work. I would like to do something to honor this work, possibly devoting a percentage of the works that I sell to an art scholarship. I do not have any background in art. I don’t know where to begin.

(A) Stop everything and start with forming roundtables with people in this industry and gather data before proceeding to a business model you are not familiar with.
—Gina McGee, SCORE mentor

(A) The first thing I would recommend would be to have all of the works appraised and valued by a certified art appraiser. This way you would be able to determine the fair market value of each work. Once this is done, you can decide how you want to dispose of the property. You may want to consider eBay.
—Alan Wonsowski, SCORE mentor