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By Johanna S. Billings

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

When John Ringwald and his son, Mike, of Coopersburg,Pennsylvania, decided to buy a Postal Annex franchise, theyweren't much different than most entrepreneurs.

They didn't know how to write a business plan. Theydidn't really comprehend the cost of carrying inventory such asenvelopes, stationery and packing materials. Nor did they know howto plan for seasonal changes in business volume.

A one-day seminar, "The Keys to Business Success,"offered by the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), wasjust what these entrepreneurs needed.