The Support Team Every Independent Professional Needs

As an independent contractor, you will spend part (or, in some cases, all) of your career as a solopreneur. With autonomy, flexibility, and full control over your work, being your own boss brings many rewards. You decide which projects to take on, how your time is spent, and the direction your business grows over time.

Admittedly, the choice to go solo does have its share of challenges as well. Respondents to our 2025 State of Independence survey cited unpredictable income, uncertainty about future projects, and low job security as top concerns of independent professionals. While these challenges are part of the solopreneur experience, there are strategies to reduce their impact.

One of the smartest moves you can make is to build a support team. Think of your support team as the key departments of any company—functions like accounting, HR, and marketing are just as vital to a solo business as they are to a large corporation.

What are the essential roles on a support team for independent professionals?

As a solo entrepreneur (solopreneur) or independent contractor, building a support team is essential to managing key functions efficiently. While you may not have the resources for full-time employees, there are cost-effective ways to access expert help. These team members help ensure your business operates smoothly and stays organized.

Mentor or coach

One challenge of going solo is the lack of human interaction in your daily work. A mentor or coach can fill this gap in valuable ways. Their expertise can help you navigate the learning curve faster, offer insights into the strategies you’re considering, and highlight areas where you may have blind spots.

Discover: Benefits of Having a Mentor for Independent Contractors

Mastermind or peer advisor group

Peer advisor groups provide a valuable opportunity to connect with other solo business owners. You can exchange expertise, collaborate on brainstorming ideas, and gain a fresh perspective from the group on challenges you’re facing on a regular basis.

Legal advisor

Your legal advisor can guide you in choosing the best structure for your business—whether that’s an LLC, corporation, or sole proprietorship—based on your goals and risk factors. They can assist with filing necessary paperwork, ensuring compliance with local laws, and navigating legal challenges, while also providing ongoing consultation on contracts, intellectual property, and other matters, offering peace of mind as you grow your business.

Tax advisor or CPA

Taxes are a constant concern to manage, and with ongoing changes to tax codes, having a reliable tax advisor or CPA on your team is crucial. They can help prepare your annual tax documents and provide guidance on tax-related business strategies.

Learn More: Filing Self-Employed Taxes: What You Need

Bookkeeper

You’ll collaborate with your tax advisor periodically and rely on your bookkeeper on a monthly or even weekly basis. A bookkeeper can ensure your finances stay organized, prepare financial statements, and, in some cases, manage customer billing and handle your bill payments.

Personal assistant

Your personal assistant, at your service! This key team member handles administrative tasks and communications that don’t require your direct involvement. From managing your schedule and making phone calls to organizing your email, they free up your time so you can focus on more important priorities.

Marketer(s)

Depending on your business needs, your marketing team may require multiple members to cover various roles. For example, you may need one person to manage your website and oversee SEO, another to handle your social media strategy, and someone else to create and manage email campaigns. Meanwhile, a content manager can help generate copy for your site, social media, and email communications.

Client or business development support

This role focuses on keeping work coming in on a consistent basis. Client or business development support can help identify new opportunities, manage outreach, track leads, and follow up with prospects—tasks that often fall to the bottom of the list when you’re busy delivering client work.

Check Out: Effective Marketing Strategies for Independent Contractors and Self-Employed Professionals

Tips on Finding Support Team Members for Your Small Business

Many functions of your support team can be handled with a mix of digital tools and on-demand human support. This setup works especially well for independent contractors and solopreneurs who want expert help without taking on the cost or commitment of full-time staff. The key is choosing tools and partners that fit how you actually work, not how a larger company might operate.

Start with the areas that take the most time or cause the most friction—often bookkeeping, scheduling, or marketing tasks that pull your attention away from client work.

As your business grows, you can add specialized support where it makes sense. Some professionals work with the same advisor year after year, while others bring in help for short-term needs or specific projects.

Here are some tips to help you get started:

• Find human support through online job or talent marketplaces. These platforms make it easy to connect with personal assistants, marketing specialists, bookkeepers, and even legal or tax professionals on a contract basis.
• Pair bookkeeping and accounting software, such as QuickBooks or TurboTax, with a bookkeeper who already knows the platform. This keeps your records clean and makes tax prep far less stressful. Many tools also offer live access to tax professionals when questions come up.
• Use cloud-based storage tools like Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive to organize contracts, invoices, and client documents so everything is easy to find and share.
• If your business requires a lot of meetings, use scheduling software to manage availability and reduce back-and-forth emails.
• Rely on content and marketing platforms that let you plan ahead, schedule posts, and manage email campaigns so promotion doesn’t become a daily task.

Another thing to remember: Technology plays an important role here, but it works best when paired with people who know how to use it well. The right combination can help you stay organized and focused on building a steady, sustainable independent business.

More Resources Available for Independent Contractors

If you’re seeking more resources to support your journey as an independent contractor, visit MBO’s blog for expert analysis and valuable information for job seekers. Our insights hub covers a wide range of topics, from financial planning to client management, to help you succeed in the world of self-employment. Plus, if you’re looking for opportunities in your field, join our talent marketplace to connect with top clients and exciting projects.