In our business of auto repair and service we have found a huge benefit in belonging to an association of like businesses, ASCCA.  The Automotive Service Councils of California lobby the state legislature regarding issues affecting our industry, have a seat at the table with our regulating agency,the California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR), sponsor legislative visits and maintain a chat room.

The chat room alone is worth the membership fees in that it allows us to post questions which typically result in an array of responses from other shops all over that state that may have confronted the same issue.  The questions range from "where can I find this part?" to "what do I have to do to comply with this new state law?"

There all also local chapters and we have always benefited from attending the San Diego Chapter meetings both for the meeting content and discussions with other shop owners.

This is a long answer, but many businesses have similar associations.  If there is an association for your business type join it.  If there isn't, consider trying to start one or find out if there are business coaches out there for your type of business.  If you know other people in the same business, contact them and get together for monthly lunches to kick around common problems.  Help takes many forms.