YOU'VE GOT YOUR start-up. Now you need a sounding board.

Finding a business mentor who can help you shepherd an early-stage company to success is an important — and often overlooked — strategic decision. First-time entrepreneurs in particular can benefit from the smart advice of someone who's been there, done that and is willing to share lessons learned.

"Mentors can provide a one-of-a-kind development opportunity," says Elizabeth Ingrassia, who three years ago helped create the mentoring program at New York University's Berkeley Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, which pairs business executives with students in the school's business-plan competition. "We all need some form of insight that's outside of our everyday life and educational experience."

The best mentors offer feedback, constructive criticism and even a boost of confidence when needed. You don't have to find one through a formal mentoring program, but it's helpful to narrow down what you're looking for. "Entrepreneurs typically are going to want people who have industry experience," Ingrassia says. Or, an entrepreneur might seek a mentor who understands the process of starting a small business and can provide advice on everything from hiring employees to raising capital. "That person may not necessarily be an industry insider, but may have been on a similar journey," she says.

Here's where to find a mentor:

The government

Free counseling is available through the Small Business Administration's Small Business Development Centers and its affiliated organization Score, both of which have chapters throughout the country. At the New York City chapter of Score, people often stop in for advice because they have a great idea but no clue how to start or run a business, says Herb Winkler, the chapter's chairman. Volunteer counselors, many of whom are retired business executives, will explain the ropes. "Everything that goes on in business — good and bad — we've been though," he says, ticking off common concerns such as managing cash flow, making payroll and getting a loan. "We tell them what's involved and some of them never come back."

The chapter advises about 9,000 clients a year — and many times, those first meetings turn into long-term mentorings. Winkler, a veteran of the apparel industry, has spent the last six months counseling the owner of a start-up sportswear company. He's met with her about a dozen times, and brought in another Score counselor with accounting experience to help her write a business plan and apply for a $200,000 bank loan. What's in it for the mentors? "There is a great satisfaction of taking someone who is not in business, and doesn't know what to do, and see them open a business," he says. "You can't even put it into words." 

Industry and trade associations

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, plus it's a really smart idea. When Stacy Francis, a New York financial planner, started her own practice in 2002, she turned to the local chapter of the Financial Planning Association to connect with seasoned professionals in the field. At one of the committee meetings, she met her mentor, Nick D'Ambrosio, who was already years into running a similar fee-only financial-planning firm. "He really had the ideal firm that I wanted to build," says Francis, who met with D'Ambrosio numerous times for advice. "It was really wonderful, because I was able to understand how to get from Point A to Point Z. I was able to leapfrog a lot of the mistakes that new business owners make."

For instance, she asked D'Ambrosio for help on what fees to charge her new customers. Figuring out prices is tricky for business owners. Many are so desperate for clients that they'll offer too deep a discount. "I learned I would be doing a disservice to my clients if I didn't charge appropriately, because I'd go out of business," she says.

Business groups, alumni networks and nonprofits

A professional association where members meet for networking and support, whether it's the National Association of the Self-Employed, the National Association of Women Business Owners or the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, is an excellent place to find a mentor. Your alma mater may prove useful, especially if you attended a business school that pushes alumni connections. Some nonprofits have sprung up to help entrepreneurs.

Elissa Bloom, an accessories designer in New York, found her mentor, Meryl Waitz, through a volunteer mentoring organization called Women As Mentors. For the past year and a half, the two have spoken weekly and meet once a month, usually at a Starbucks at the end of the business day. Bloom, who started her business five years ago, will talk about the goals she's set while Waitz, who has run a home-products and jewelry-design business for close to 15 years, will offer feedback and advice. "She's very good at playing devil's advocate," Bloom explains. "It's very easy to get caught up when you're by yourself in a small business. It's nice to have the voice of reason."