St. Louis business owners, as far as keeping up with life longer, learning and change, I really think the best way to do it is for them to build this little circle of consultants around them because it’s changing so fast and it’s so technical on all these sub areas that I don’t think anybody can really keep up with it. In all areas, my mom is technical as they come. And I have that circle of consultants on my insurance broker. I have a health insurance broker. I have several lawyers that are part of my team. I have digital marketing team, public relations team. So it’s just too much for one person to be good enough and anything or keep up with it enough.
Really. I think the key tool is to build that team of consultants around you. It doesn’t cost them. A lot of these consultants, they just get their. They get paid from the regular services they provide anyway. The insurance broker is going to get paying the extra. You just pay for the same with the health insurance broker. You’ll have to pay for the digital marketing or pay for public relations or the lawyers. But you can often get them on retainer. And one of the services we have very affordable retainers a bit you can connect with them.
To take your questions that you get from your own research and your own exposure, get to that, let them help you hone it, and come up with the best solutions for you.
How St. Louis Entrepreneurs Can Keep Up with Lifelong Learning
Keeping up with change isn’t optional for entrepreneurs. The pace of change today, especially in technical and regulatory areas, makes it nearly impossible to stay on top of everything alone. At Dunn CPA Firm, we’ve seen that the most effective small business owners aren’t just trying to keep up by themselves, and are instead building a circle of experts around them to help.
You Don’t Need to Know Everything
As industries evolve and rules shift, even the most experienced business owners can find it hard to stay current. And trying to do it all yourself—insurance, legal, marketing, HR, technology—can be a fast track to burnout.
Instead of trying to be an expert in every area, we recommend building a support team that includes trusted consultants who bring focused knowledge to your business when you need it.
What a Strong Consultant Circle Might Include
Every business is different, but many of our clients benefit from surrounding themselves with professionals like:
- Insurance brokers (business and health)
- Attorneys (corporate, employment and industry-specific)
- Digital marketing or PR teams
- CPAs or fractional CFOs
In many cases, these professionals don’t require large retainers or hourly fees just to be available. Brokers, for example, are often compensated through the services they already provide. And many service providers offer flexible retainers to allow for regular check-ins or strategic advice as needed.
How to Work With the Team You Build
A strong advisory team should strengthen your leadership. Knowing how to partner with them is what makes the biggest difference.
- Ask questions early – Don’t wait until something becomes a major issue to seek advice.
- Bring them in on planning – Consultants can often spot blind spots or offer insights you hadn’t considered.
- Let them help you evaluate what you’re learning – If you’ve done your own research, a quick conversation with a specialist can validate (or challenge) your thinking and lead to better decisions.
Need Help Building Your Team?
At Dunn CPA Firm, we don’t just manage numbers—we help business owners build systems and relationships that support long-term growth. Whether you’re looking to expand your network of experts or want guidance on what kind of support your business needs, we’re here to help you stay grounded while staying current.
