Entrepreneurs feel great pressure to meet ambitious goals and deliver to their customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders. The good news is that you don't have to go it alone.

It is imperative to have a strong and strategically placed network trusted partners, experts and advisors to support you as you overcome challenges and reach new milestones. While there are many examples of outside experts that business owners can benefit from and learn from, three stand out in my experience.

1. A banker

Bankers are at the heart of the business ecosystem and are well positioned to provide strategic guidance, facilitate connections and suggest comprehensive solutions to help you achieve your goals.

Over time, a BANKER can help provide:

• Expertise in capital structures and solutions: Your banker should be your primary resource for evaluating and optimizing your capital structure. They can provide deep insight into the types of solutions available to you – from something as simple as a line of credit to more complex debt and equity offerings and access to public and private markets. As you get up and running, you need to create a plan for cash flow management and liquidity. They can help. Critically, a banker can also provide guidance on the best financial solutions to meet your operational needs today and achieve your long-term goals in the years ahead.
• Strategic direction and guidance: Beyond traditional financial matters, a banker can provide insight into your general affairs business strategy and help set goals. This can include reviewing your long-term plan, talking to your product team to determine if there are any gaps, and helping you consider domestic and global expansion.
• Expert Network Links: Based on those strategic decisions, bankers can make introductions to essential partners, investors and other industry experts to help you identify your next abundant opportunity. In practice, this vital network can help you when seeking advice on more dynamic financial situations such as navigating the supply chain, raising capital, entering new markets, structuring a board of directors, implementing DEI practices, and much more.

In short, your banker should help you open doors and see around corners. They can help you tackle difficult issues and solve urgent challenges and will be there to support you in the moments that matter.

Connected: If you want your clients to truly value you, you need to be their trusted advisor. Here's how.

2. A lawyer

Like a banker, a lawyer can advise your strategy and growth plans through a different but equally important lens. In my experience, in addition to legal advice, attorneys bring tremendous industry knowledge and sound judgment and challenge you to think critically about your business.

A lawyer will focus on determining your business structure and may weigh in on the following:

• We are evaluating contracts and agreements: Assistance in drafting and negotiating documents such as contracts and non-disclosure agreements.
• Protecting what's yours: This includes protecting your intellectual property through patents, trademark registration and copyright protection.
• We are implementing risk mitigation strategies: Identifying and navigating relevant industry laws, rules and regulations.
• Providing strategic advice: Navigating complex legal landscapes, anticipating specific potential challenges and helping to protect your interests while promoting the long-term visibility of your business.

When choosing a lawyer, consider someone who specialized in your industry and relevant area of ​​law, has experience with your specific legal needs and has guided businesses through various stages of growth. If you get it right, your attorney can bring a unique perspective to your company and raise questions you may not have considered.

Connected: How to find a good franchise attorney

3. An accountant

An accountant is an essential member of your core team. They have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure reporting, accounting and controls about you financial statements are reliable, timely and accurate. They can also provide significant value by implementing processes to prepare your business for key moments.

Working closely with the banking team, accountants can help:

• Simplify the statements: An accountant will prepare and review the statements to ensure accuracy and provide a clear picture of the financial health of your business. They may perform internal audits to ensure efficient financial processes or external audits for larger enterprises seeking external funding.
• Maintain financial compliance: An accountant will work with you to ensure that your financial records are up-to-date, including tracking income, expenses and other financial transactions.
• Optimize administrative processes: Your internal accounting team is likely responsible for all forms of process management, including, but not limited to, financial planning and forecasting, employee benefits, real estate and facilities, and physical and operational security . Hiring an external accountant can provide expertise around these tasks and help improve processes and workflow.

Connected: 5 tips to find a great advisor for your startup

A strong team for a long time

Throughout your entrepreneurial career, you will be supported and learn from many different experts. These three are just the beginning. Be methodical and diligent when searching for your trusted advisors, and don't be afraid to tap your network for referrals, seek out individuals at industry conferences, or reach out to other business owners you admire.

Each person on your team has an integral role to play, and the success of your business depends on your ability to fully trust them and their unique expertise. It takes time to build a team of trusted advisors, but if done right, I'm sure this investment will pay off