SMB Owner Operator Business Groups or Mentors

Hello everyone! As I approach my one-year acquisition anniversary of a small event staffing business, I’m looking to connect with other owner-operators who are open to swapping ideas, sharing lessons learned, or possibly mentoring/coaching. I’d especially love to connect with others in the event staffing industry, but I’m also open to adjacent service-based businesses. I operate in three metro areas across three states, so I’m not a major competitor for most companies. One area I’m especially struggling with is insurance. There is absolutely not enough emphasis on the craziness of Insurance. Between varying client requirements, high limits, umbrellas, additional insureds, and cost, it feels overwhelming—and honestly discouraging at times. I don’t know if this is unique to event staffing or working in multiple states or just part of being newer to the industry, but it has been rough to navigate. More broadly, I’m curious if anyone knows of mastermind groups, peer networks, or networking events that aren’t prohibitively expensive. The overwhelm is very real—I have no shortage of ideas, but I struggle with prioritization, execution, funds and simply finding the time while managing day-to-day operations. Cash flow is tight (I’ve barely been able to pay myself), so I’m trying to be thoughtful about what actually makes sense at this stage while also growing the business. When I acquired the business, I planned to overhaul outdated processes right away. What I quickly learned is that it’s nearly impossible to redesign systems while simultaneously learning a new industry, managing sales, payroll, HR, and surviving peak season. Turns out the advice about not making major changes in the first six months -even when changes are badly needed - is very real. If you’ve been through this stage, have insurance insight, know of good communities, or are open to connecting, I’d really appreciate it.