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Running a business isn’t a solo job; you need the help of not just your internal team but also your external network system and promoters. While you may appreciate the role your team plays in shaping your business, whether it is ideating on new projects, helping with research and development, or financial planning.
An external network is essential for your business to thrive and progress. The importance of networking cannot be overstated. It can help you access valuable resources and new opportunities and create a supportive community. Whether it is a B2B or B2C business, strategic alliances with other business owners help you gain investors and potential clients and stakeholders while staying updated with the latest trends and market shifts.
While most businesses should network within the same industry, connecting with complementary and associated businesses helps you move ahead successfully. Here are some professionals every business owner should network with:
1. Door Repair and Maintenance
Do you run your business out of a commercial space? Just like your stocks need to be upgraded, your commercial building also needs regular maintenance. Doorway Services is a professional door and shutter repair and maintenance service provider that helps your retail space remain in top shape, avoiding safety and non-compliance issues.
Fire doors and sliding doors of commercial buildings must undergo proactive and regular maintenance. By networking with door repair professionals, you will get timely notification for regular maintenance while also being notified of any new improvements or upgrades.
2. Garage Owners
As a business owner, do you own commercial vehicles, whether it is for transporting goods or people? A professional you need on speed dial is a trusted garage owner in your area. The best MOT garage will help you stay compliant with the annual legal check that ensures your vehicles meet road safety and sustainability standards.
By networking with professional garage owners in your area, you can find the ones offering the most extensive services and the best rates. Get in touch with them and build a strong relationship for the long run.
3. Legal Counsel
No business, whether it is an IT startup or a skincare clinic, can function without having proper legal counsel. By networking with a reputed attorney specialising in corporate law, you can get the required legal help without the fear of non-compliance.
Running a business is no easy feat; you must adhere to different governmental and industry-specific regulations, and alongside that, you must stay abreast with all the paperwork to prove it. As an entrepreneur, it can be difficult to understand the legal jargon or all the minor bylaws, and this is where a legal advisor comes in.
Are you expanding your business, adding or removing a new partner? Networking with an equity release advisor will give you access to their professional advice and access to their network of tax counsels or insurance advisors.
4. Banner and Bunting Provider
Marketing, advertising and branding have changed drastically over the years. However, one thing that has remained constant is the use of flags, banners, buntings and displays for marketing and branding purposes. Working with a custom flags online provider will allow you to create tailored signage for your business, which you can use for sponsorships and indoor and outdoor decorations.
For instance, as a construction company, you can use banners and flags around your site to notify people about the features of your upcoming building, open houses and more. You can also allocate the space for other companies to place their advertisements, helping you earn a few extra pounds and goodwill with the companies.
5. Insurance Adjusters
Every business needs insurance, from public liability to professional indemnity, employee insurance, cyber theft and commercial building insurance, among others. Networking with professional adjusters will allow you to choose the right insurance cover for your business.
Many organisations often end up with inadequate coverage or the wrong ones, and this can be avoided when you are friendly with your adjusters. They can guide you through the process of claims, finding the right coverage and amount.
6. Accountants and Tax Advisors
Taxes need to be handled with precision, whether it’s filing for Gift Aid returns, Value Added Tax (VAT) or capital gains tax. As an entrepreneur, you might struggle to keep pace with filing deadlines and ever-changing tax laws. Accountants and tax advisors are the people to advise you on it.
Smaller businesses may struggle to retain an in-house accountant, but outsourcing it to a more experienced professional can be highly beneficial. And how do you find the best accountant in your area, specialising in your line of work? Through networking, you can find the right accountant within your industry, location, and budget range.
7. Marketing Expert (including Public Relations Professional)
Unless you are in the marketing industry yourself, it can be tough to stay updated about the latest algorithm changes, social media trends and strategy. The wrong marketing can cost your organisation in different ways: economic setback, losing market share and reputation damage.
Marketing and advertising allow you to drive your brand’s narrative. In the current cluttered economy, to really stand out from the competition and create a loyal customer base, brands need to rely on marketing gurus.
PR experts can help with branding and opinion building. They will help build your reputation, brand image and public perception, while enabling strategic communication with key stakeholders and the media.
Networking events are often the perfect place to find the right expert for your brand. It’s even better if you get a referral from a fellow entrepreneur or mentor, someone they have worked with and trust enough.
8. Venture Capitalists and Investors
Every business, big or small, and even giants like Amazon and Unilever, has investors. If you are raising your first round of funds, reaching out to angel investors is a good idea. For a more established business, working with VCs can be worth your while.
The best place to get introduced to potential investors or even swap cards is at networking events. You can ask your mentor or peer to make the introductions, which helps you get a foot in the door. A quick elevator pitch while they are relaxed and in a more social setting may have a better chance of getting a meeting and the much-needed funds.
9. Mentors
These are key professionals that every entrepreneur needs on their speed dial. Usually, a mentor will be an established professional, executive or fellow businessman from your industry. They can be your sounding board, helping you differentiate between good and bad ideas, offering guidance and introducing you to new promoters and sponsors, helping you move your business ahead.
Forbes has offered an alternative title to mentors, “guardian angels”, as they look out for you. They can greatly influence your organisation’s outcome; hence, finding the ideal mentor is a key networking strategy. They can help you offer strategies when you are facing a lull in business and also connect you to the right people, who can help you get ahead.
10. Competitors
Sometimes networking isn’t just with people who can help you with something, but with those who are in the same boat as you. As the popular saying from The Godfather II goes, “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.” In this case, it is your competitor.
The people you will meet most at networking events are those from your industry. They can be your direct competitors, with the same business size, offering similar services/products or targeting the same audiences.
Rather than being hostile to your competitors, be friendly. Spend time chatting, learning about common struggles and creating a healthy, professional relationship.
Peers face the same challenges and can share effective insights; they can also introduce you to suppliers and vendors. Running a business can be isolating, but having someone with the same challenges can help you brainstorm solutions and get constructive feedback.
In Conclusion
Networking is crucial for business success. While it might be your name on the board, many people work relentlessly in the background to ensure it stays there. Choose strategic networking over convenience networking: meeting the right people deliberately over hoping to meet someone who can be beneficial.
To achieve that, you can join local business forums, be active on platforms like LinkedIn and X, and follow the right people there. Signing up for industry-specific newsletters also helps you learn about the next conference or networking event and the people in attendance.
Being in the right place at the right time gives you a unique opportunity to meet the people you should have in your network.
Also read: Industry Shift at Royal Ascot 2025 Turns Hospitality into Serious Networking Ground
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