Join Scott Hess (Tax & Business Consultant) and John Barton (Small Business Owner) as they explore why 27% of small businesses lack professional advisors and how isolation costs entrepreneurs time, money, and growth.

Episode Highlights:

[0:00] Introduction & episode overview

[1:33] The cost of doing it all yourself - why isolation is hurting small businesses

[3:43] Defining small business: What revenue range are we really talking about?

[6:06] Why most businesses lack professional advisors (and how many actually do)

[9:29] The fractional C-suite strategy: Getting CFO-level advice without the CFO salary

[11:05] Why business owners remain optimistic despite complexity and challenges

[14:46] The "empire is far away" principle: What actually affects your business vs. what doesn't

[19:37] John's story: Losing a major deal and the lesson learned about contracts

[23:35] Three pillars of your advisory board: Financial, Legal, and Growth Strategy

[29:00] ROI on professional advice: How one good tip pays for an entire year

[30:44] Thinking long-term: The $10K wardrobe that costs $1,250/year

[31:17] How to know if your advisor is actually good

[32:08] Actionable steps: The blind spot audit and finding your advisors

[34:00] The accidental discovery: How John found Scott (and what makes a great advisor)

[37:20] The abundance mentality in business networking

[38:23] SBA SCORE program: Free help from retired executives

[38:40] Budgeting for expertise: Treating professional fees as growth insurance

[39:29] Recap: From optimism to action

[41:20] Learning to delegate and let go

[42:23] Closing quote and final thoughts

Connect with us: All socials: @turtlesmithok Website: www.turtlesmith.com

Key Takeaway: You can't do it all alone. Building a network of professional advisors (fractional CFO, legal counsel, growth strategist) isn't an expense—it's growth insurance. Start by identifying what keeps you up at night, then find one or two professionals to fill those gaps.