Rip the Bandaid Off

On this week’s episode of the Service Based Business Society, we’re ripping the bandaid off and mapping the small circle that quietly decides whether you scale or stall. Tiffany-Ann breaks down the six relationships every service-based founder needs: a truth-teller who cuts through the noise, a clean finance stack (bookkeeper → management accounting/CFO → tax strategist), a banker who believes in your vision, the right lawyer at the right time, an insurance pro who matches coverage to real risk, and a mentor plus personal believer to keep you moving when it’s hard. You’ll walk away with a one-page audit to find your gaps, a simple email script to re-engage your banker, and prompts to pressure-test your legal and insurance exposures—so you can make faster, smarter decisions and get to the good part sooner. Click here to watch a video of this episode. Creators & Guests Tiffany-Ann Bottcher - Host What You’ll LearnWhy a single truth-teller can collapse weeks of indecision—and how to invite unvarnished feedback you’ll actually use.The finance stack demystified: bookkeeping vs. management accounting/CFO vs. tax—and when each role pays for itself.How to sell your vision to your banker so you get better products, higher limits, and a real human who advocates for you.When to stick with a generalist lawyer and when risk demands a specialist (plus a simple triage lens).The overlooked value of an insurance pro who maps coverage to your actual exposures (not generic checklists).The mentor + personal believer combo: one sharpens your strategy, the other protects your stamina. The Short List: Your Circle of ScaleTruth-Teller — cuts through nice-sounding noiseBookkeeper → Mgmt Accounting/CFO → Tax — three roles, three outcomesBanker — a person, not a 1-800 queueLawyer — generalist for routine, specialist for riskInsurance Pro — coverage matched to realityMentor + Personal Believer — tactics + resilience Apply It This Week ✔️ Name your truth-teller: DM one peer/vendor and ask for “the unvarnished version” on your top decision. ✔️ Map your finance stack: Who owns bookkeeping? Who interprets numbers (CFO/analyst)? Who handles tax strategy? Circle gaps. ✔️ Email your banker: Share a 12-month vision + ask, “What would we need in place to qualify for X?” Book a call. ✔️ Legal triage: List your next 3 initiatives; mark which deserve a specialist review and schedule it. ✔️ Insurance pulse check: Write your top 5 exposures (advice liability, subcontractors, vehicles, in-suite work, data). Book a coverage review. ✔️ Mentor & believer: Identify each by name. If missing, shortlist 3 mentors to approach and choose your personal believer (spouse/friend/coach). Click here to view the episode transcript.