The best 56 Small Businesses books

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1
Small Businesses Books: ReWork by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson

ReWork

Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson
4.6 (228 ratings)

What's ReWork about?

Rework (2010) throws out the traditional notions of what it takes to run a business and offers a collection of unorthodox advice, ranging from productivity to communication and product development.

These lessons are based on the authors’ own experiences in building, running and growing their company to a point where it generates millions of dollars in profits annually.

Who should read ReWork?

  • Anyone who has ever considered starting their own company
  • Anyone interested in what work should be like in the 21st century
  • Anyone trying to create an environment of productivity

2
Small Businesses Books: The Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki

The Art of the Start

Guy Kawasaki
The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything
4.4 (77 ratings)

What's The Art of the Start about?

The Art of the Start offers a brief overview of some of the key aspects of starting and running a business. It covers topics such as pitching for funding, recruiting the right people, and building a successful brand.

Who should read The Art of the Start?

  • Entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs
  • Anyone who works for a start-up or small company

3
Small Businesses Books: The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau

The $100 Startup

Chris Guillebeau
Fire Your Boss, Do What You Love and Work Better to Live More
4.4 (254 ratings)

What's The $100 Startup about?

The $100 Startup is a guide for people who want to leave their nine-to-five jobs to start their own business. Drawing from case studies of 50 entrepreneurs who have started microbusinesses with $100 or less, Guillebeau gives advice and tools on how to successfully define and sell a product, as well as how to grow your business from there.

Who should read The $100 Startup?

  • Anyone who has ever thought of starting their own company
  • Anyone interested in successful small-business ideas
  • Anyone who wants to grow their microbusiness and increase their income

4
Small Businesses Books: One Simple Idea by Stephen Key

One Simple Idea

Stephen Key
Turn Your Dreams into a Licensing Goldmine While Letting Others Do the Work
4.1 (40 ratings)

What's One Simple Idea about?

One Simple Idea (2015) argues that it takes only passion and one simple, marketable idea to start your own business. The book shows how building long-term partnerships with your manufacturers and vendors can help your business run smoothly, and how catering to your customers' needs and desires helps you sell your product on the market. In short, One Simple Idea gives concrete, firsthand advice for anyone who wants to get their one simple idea off the page and out into the world.

Who should read One Simple Idea?

  • Anyone who has a simple idea for a new product and wants to bring it to market                       
  • Entrepreneurs who want to start a small product-based business    
  • Anyone interested in entrepreneurship and creating their own business

5
Small Businesses Books: Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk

Crush It!

Gary Vaynerchuk
Why Now is the Time to Cash in on Your Passion
4.1 (83 ratings)

What's Crush It! about?

CRUSH IT! is a motivational text, a blueprint and guide for those who want to translate their passion into a business. Using the author’s life as an example, this book details how everyone can “crush it,” i.e., realize the possibility of living their passion, determining their livelihood and making a living off of what they love to do.

Who should read Crush It!?

  • Anyone working at a small company or startup
  • Entrepreneurs looking to invest in small businesses or startups
  • Business owners wondering how to adapt and market themselves in the age of social media

6
Small Businesses Books: The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber

The E-Myth Revisited

Michael E. Gerber
Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It
4.5 (348 ratings)

What's The E-Myth Revisited about?

In a revised and updated version of his famous book The E-Myth, author Michael Gerber cuts through various myths about what’s involved in starting a small business and how to make a business successful. Walking you through every stage of how to build a business, The E-Myth Revisited highlights the important difference between working in your business and working on your business.

Who should read The E-Myth Revisited?

  • Anyone who owns or wants to own a small business
  • Business owners trying to turn their struggling business into a successful one
  • Anyone who thinks entrepreneurship is easy

7
Small Businesses Books: Smart People Should Build Things by Andrew Yang

Smart People Should Build Things

Andrew Yang
How to Restore Our Culture of Achievement, Build a Path for Entrepreneurs, and Create New Jobs in America
4.3 (43 ratings)

What's Smart People Should Build Things about?

Smart People Should Build Things explores the dangerous consequences of top students’ career choices in the United States, and offers practical solutions to reset the country’s course toward prosperity by encouraging students to adopt an entrepreneurial attitude. Along the way, the author provides solid advice for budding entrepreneurs on their first adventure into business.

Who should read Smart People Should Build Things?

  • Anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit
  • Anyone who wants to initiate positive change in the US economy
  • Anyone with no idea about which career path to choose

8
Small Businesses Books: Zero to One (Old Version) by Peter Thiel with Blake Masters

Zero to One (Old Version)

Peter Thiel with Blake Masters
Notes on Startups, or How to Build The Future
4.4 (920 ratings)

What's Zero to One (Old Version) about?

Zero to One explores how companies can better predict the future and take action to ensure that their startup is a success. The author enlivens the book’s key takeaways with his own personal experiences.

Who should read Zero to One (Old Version)?

  • Current and potential startup founders
  • Investors
  • Anyone interested in why certain startups succeed and others fail

9
Small Businesses Books: Traction by Gabriel Weinberg and Justin Mares

Traction

Gabriel Weinberg and Justin Mares
A Start-Up Guide to Getting Customers
4.0 (67 ratings)

What's Traction about?

Traction (2014) explains why the success of every start-up depends not only on its products, but on the customer base it builds. Weinberg and Mares present proven methods for gaining customers, and help you choose the best for each growth phase of your company. With a bit of Traction, you’ll win – and develop – the audience your product deserves.

Who should read Traction?

  • Founders and business owners
  • Anyone thinking about launching a start-up
  • Marketers and public relations professionals

10
Small Businesses Books: Make Your Mark by Jocelyn K. Glei

Make Your Mark

Jocelyn K. Glei
The Creative’s Guide to Building a Business with Impact
4.3 (42 ratings)

What's Make Your Mark about?

Make Your Mark features the wisdom and tips of 21 of the most successful entrepreneurs and creatives of the last few years. These artists, coders, developers and writers share the secrets and ideas that have helped them take their respective markets by storm.

Who should read Make Your Mark?

  • People working in the creative industry
  • Anyone looking to turn their creative skills into a business
  • Leaders, managers and CEOs

11
Small Businesses Books: Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits! by Greg Crabtree and Beverly Blair Harzog

Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits!

Greg Crabtree and Beverly Blair Harzog
Four Keys to Unlock Your Business Potential
4.2 (27 ratings)

What's Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits! about?

Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits! (2011) outlines the essential, interconnected elements you need to know that affect your company’s longevity and growth. Through a series of simple steps, you can create a more productive workplace to ultimately boost performance and build greater wealth.

Who should read Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits!?

  • Entrepreneurs thinking about starting a new business
  • Business leaders working for companies in an early growth phase
  • Start-up founders

12
Small Businesses Books: The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman

The Personal MBA

Josh Kaufman
Master the Art of Business
3.9 (164 ratings)

What's The Personal MBA about?

The Personal MBA contains everything you need to know in business. Today, true business leaders are forged through their own experience and personal research, not in universities. From developing your idea to sealing a deal, these blinks guide you through the entire process of becoming a self-made business success story.

Who should read The Personal MBA?

  • Anyone starting their own business
  • Anyone interested in how businesses function
  • Anyone running a business and seeking a refresher on the basics

13
Small Businesses Books: Cradle to Cradle by William McDonough and Michael Braungart

Cradle to Cradle

William McDonough and Michael Braungart
Remaking the Way We Make Things
4.3 (107 ratings)

What's Cradle to Cradle about?

Cradle to Cradle (2009) exposes the fundamental flaws of manufacturing and the damage it inflicts upon our environment, even as we attempt to be eco-friendly. These blinks also introduce you to ways in which you can make a positive impact on the planet, and guide you through the process of rethinking your business in order to become eco-efficient.

Who should read Cradle to Cradle?

  • Businesses looking to become more environmentally friendly
  • People interested in the impact of industry today
  • Anyone curious about alternative approaches to doing business

14
Small Businesses Books: Evergreen by Noah Fleming

Evergreen

Noah Fleming
Cultivate the Enduring Customer Loyalty That Keeps Your Business Thriving
4.4 (27 ratings)

What's Evergreen about?

Evergreen (2015) is about keeping your business fresh and staving off stagnation that threatens its survival. Fleming outlines a philosophy that puts customers at the center of a company’s strategy, challenges conventional business wisdom and offers concrete advice for building long-term profitability.

Who should read Evergreen?

  • CEOs and marketing executives at small- and medium-sized businesses who want to rethink their customer relationships
  • Sales directors seeking new ideas
  • Start-up founders who want to build their business right

15
Small Businesses Books: The Automatic Customer by John Warrillow

The Automatic Customer

John Warrillow
Creating a Subscription Business in Any Industry
4.3 (31 ratings)

What's The Automatic Customer about?

From groceries to ski-slope access to MP3s – today all kinds of businesses operate by subscription, and everyone from giants like Amazon to small local firms are benefitting. The Automatic Customer breaks down the multiple models you can use to tap into the power of subscriptions, explains how to measure your new success, and gives you tips on keeping up the good work.

Who should read The Automatic Customer?

  • Entrepreneurs and anyone interested in business
  • Anyone interested in implementing a subscription service
  • Anyone who wants to understand the subscription economy

16
Small Businesses Books: Accounting Made Simple by Mike Piper

Accounting Made Simple

Mike Piper
Accounting Explained in 100 Pages or Less
4.5 (116 ratings)

What's Accounting Made Simple about?

Accounting Made Simple (2013) provides a brief introduction to the fundamentals of accounting, illustrating how to read the most important financial statements and draw a conclusion about the numbers. It also outlines the double-entry ledger system, a hallmark of accounting best practices.

Who should read Accounting Made Simple?

  • Small business owners curious about the fundamentals of accounting
  • People who want to be able to read and understand a financial statement
  • Anyone who wants to know about the basic aspects of accounting

17
Small Businesses Books: Don't Make Me Think, Revisited by Steve Krug

Don't Make Me Think, Revisited

Steve Krug
A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability
4.3 (108 ratings)

What's Don't Make Me Think, Revisited about?

Don’t Make Me Think, Revisited (2014) describes the basic principles governing behavior online and explains how you can build a website that delivers a great user experience. Also included is a simple guide to help you test a website at each stage of its development.

Who should read Don't Make Me Think, Revisited?

  • Anyone working at a small company with a web presence
  • Web designers, developers and web project managers
  • Anyone who wants to persuade their boss to take usability seriously

18
Small Businesses Books: Build For Change by Alan Trefler

Build For Change

Alan Trefler
Revolutionizing Customer Engagement through Continuous Digital Innovation
4.0 (24 ratings)

What's Build For Change about?

Build for Change (2014) sheds light on the changing relationships between customers and businesses. By explaining the inner workings of customer loyalty and highlighting the importance of new technological developments, these blinks equip businesses with the tools they need to create a powerful and sustainable customer base.

Who should read Build For Change?

  • Anyone working in a company with direct customer contact
  • Businesspeople or CEOs who work together with IT specialists
  • Anyone interested in the symbiosis between digitization and customer services

19
Small Businesses Books: Clients First by Joseph Callaway and JoAnn Callaway

Clients First

Joseph Callaway and JoAnn Callaway
The Two Word Miracle
4.3 (27 ratings)

What's Clients First about?

Clients First (2013) reveals how honesty, competence and compassion can become the keys to great success in your company by creating strong and trusting relationships with clients. The authors offer some excellent insights drawn from their own experience, having gone from flat broke to wildly successful real estate agents in just a few years.

Who should read Clients First?

  • Anyone working in real estate
  • Any salesperson who wants to maximize their sales
  • Entrepreneurs hoping to implement a more people-centred approach to their business

20
Small Businesses Books: The Startup Playbook by David S. Kidder

The Startup Playbook

David S. Kidder
Secrets of the Fastest-Growing Startups from Their Founding Entrepreneurs
3.8 (224 ratings)

What's The Startup Playbook about?

The Startup-Playbook (2012) gives you business-building tips straight from the founders of some of the world’s biggest start-ups. By conducting interviews with the founders of companies like LinkedIn and Spanx, the author uncovers what you need to do to make it big.

Who should read The Startup Playbook?

  • Current and aspiring start-up founders
  • People interested in running a successful business

21
Small Businesses Books: Anything You Want by Derek Sivers

Anything You Want

Derek Sivers
40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur
4.1 (106 ratings)

What's Anything You Want about?

Anything You Want (2011) is a guide to realizing your dream business, which is easier than you might think. These blinks will teach you why the conventional ideas of amassing tons of money, consultants and technology are all wrong, and that the real key to success is you and your stellar ideas.

Who should read Anything You Want?

  • All entrepreneurs
  • Anybody with a great idea they don’t know how to realize

22
Small Businesses Books: Rocket by Michael J. Silverstein, Dylan Bolden, Rune Jacobsen and Rohan Sajdeh

Rocket

Michael J. Silverstein, Dylan Bolden, Rune Jacobsen and Rohan Sajdeh
Eight Lessons to Secure Infinite Growth
4.1 (16 ratings)

What's Rocket about?

Rocket (2015) is an inside look at the success of brands like Starbucks and Victoria’s Secret, whose rapid rise had nothing to do with luck. These blinks share the proven science of brand building that propelled companies like these to such impressive growth and immense success.

Who should read Rocket?

  • Founders and CEOs looking to grow their small business or start-up
  • Young entrepreneurs
  • Brand developers and marketers

23
Small Businesses Books: How to Start a Start-up by ThinkApps

How to Start a Start-up

ThinkApps
The Silicon Valley Playbook for Entrepreneurs
3.8 (89 ratings)

What's How to Start a Start-up about?

How to Start a Start-up (2015) is a practical guide to founding your own company. From pitching for funding to hiring employees, these blinks offer tips, strategies and insights about the first steps a start-up should take to forge a path toward solid, sustainable growth.

Who should read How to Start a Start-up?

  • Budding entrepreneurs
  • Business students thinking about their options after completing their degree
  • Anyone interested in what goes on behind the scenes at start-ups

24
Small Businesses Books: Do More Faster by David Cohen and Brad Feld

Do More Faster

David Cohen and Brad Feld
Techstars Lessons to Accelerate Your Startup
4.1 (60 ratings)

What's Do More Faster about?

Do More Faster (2011) presents a step-by-step guide to launching your start-up. It’s crucial to stay on track as you move toward success, from honing your ideas to finding the right team and getting investors. The author also stresses the importance of the work-life balance while showing you how to do more faster.

Who should read Do More Faster?

  • Aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners
  • Anyone interested in start-up culture

25
Small Businesses Books: SEO 2016 by Adam Clarke

SEO 2016

Adam Clarke
Learn Search Engine Optimization with Smart Internet Marketing Strategies
4.1 (32 ratings)

What's SEO 2016 about?

SEO 2016 (2015) is your definitive guide to mastering search engine optimization. These blinks will explain the essential workings of Google’s ranking algorithm and outline strategies to increase your website’s visibility and help you climb higher in search engine rankings.

Who should read SEO 2016?

  • Business owners who want to boost their company’s online visibility
  • People interested in digital strategy and marketing
  • Anyone who wants to appear on the first page of a Google search

26
Small Businesses Books: The Power of Broke by Daymond John with Daniel Paisner

The Power of Broke

Daymond John with Daniel Paisner
How Empty Pockets, a Tight Budget, and a Hunger for Success Can Become Your Greatest Competitive Advantage
4.3 (74 ratings)

What's The Power of Broke about?

The Power of Broke (2016) reveals how starting a business with a limited budget doesn’t have to be a disadvantage. With the right perspective, one can harness the Power of Broke to produce astounding creativity. With this fresh look at the business world, you’ll stop seeing money – or a lack thereof – as a barrier to entrepreneurship, because the truth is, anyone with the right idea and a can-do attitude can start a business. So what are you waiting for?

Who should read The Power of Broke?

  • Entrepreneurs and small business managers
  • Executives and CEOs of large corporations
  • Readers who have an innovative idea for the marketplace

27
Small Businesses Books: Managing Online Reputation by Charlie Pownall

Managing Online Reputation

Charlie Pownall
How To Protect Your Company On Social Media
4.3 (6 ratings)

What's Managing Online Reputation about?

Managing Online Reputation (2015) offers insight into how companies and CEOs who don’t know how to manage social media and the internet can damage their reputations. Find out how one small incident with an unhappy customer can spiral into a tornado of negative posts and angry tweets. More importantly, find out how you can prevent this from happening to you.

 

Who should read Managing Online Reputation?

  • Anyone using social media to market their company
  • Marketing professionals
  • Students of public relations

28
Small Businesses Books: 80/20 Internet Lead Generation by Scott A. Dennison

80/20 Internet Lead Generation

Scott A. Dennison
How A Few Simple, Profitable Strategies Can Lead to Marketplace Domination
4.0 (84 ratings)

What's 80/20 Internet Lead Generation about?

80/20 Internet Lead Generation (2015) reveals how your business can take advantage of the internet’s lead generation potential. From SEO to pay-per-click advertising to content creation, simple and actionable strategies are what you’ll need to get your business ahead in the information age.

Who should read 80/20 Internet Lead Generation?

  • Small business owners looking to improve their marketing efforts
  • Readers who don’t get how Adwords and Google Analytics work
  • Marketers looking for online tools to complement traditional advertising strategies

29
Small Businesses Books: Business Model Generation by Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur

Business Model Generation

Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur
A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers
4.3 (92 ratings)

What's Business Model Generation about?

Business Model Generation (2010) is a comprehensive guide to building innovative business models. From empathizing and connecting with customers to finding inspiration for products and learning from some of today’s most game-changing platforms, these blinks will help you kick-start your business thinking.

Who should read Business Model Generation?

  • Aspiring entrepreneurs
  • Business people seeking an introduction to business models
  • Readers curious about the core elements of businesses

30
Small Businesses Books: Nail It then Scale It by Nathan Furr and Paul Ahlstrom

Nail It then Scale It

Nathan Furr and Paul Ahlstrom
The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Creating and Managing Breakthrough Innovation
4.2 (67 ratings)

What's Nail It then Scale It about?

Nail It then Scale It (2011) is your guide to perfecting your business plan and expanding your company. These blinks outline the process of creating innovative products that solve problems, targeting and communicating with the right markets and refining your strategy before scaling your business.

Who should read Nail It then Scale It?

  • Entrepreneurs and anyone who wants to start a business
  • Business owners fed up with traditional economic models

31
Small Businesses Books: Business Execution for Results by Stephen Lynch

Business Execution for Results

Stephen Lynch
A Practical Guide for Leaders of Small to Mid-Sized Firms
4.4 (57 ratings)

What's Business Execution for Results about?

Business Execution for Results (2013) is a guide to building a better business. These blinks offer a practical plan for setting appropriate goals and performing the necessary analyses to create a winning business strategy that will lead your company straight to the top.

Who should read Business Execution for Results?

  • Business owners and new entrepreneurs
  • Leaders and executives in small to mid-sized companies

32
Small Businesses Books: Blue Ocean Shift by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne

Blue Ocean Shift

W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne
Beyond Competing – Proven Steps to Inspire Confidence and Seize New Growth
4.4 (186 ratings)

What's Blue Ocean Shift about?

Blue Ocean Shift (2017) is a step-by-step guide to moving past competition in an overcrowded industry. These blinks, based on decades of the authors’ practical experience, explain why you should endeavor to make competition obsolete and how you can open up whole new worlds of opportunity.

Who should read Blue Ocean Shift?

  • Entrepreneurs, managers, CEOs and business leaders
  • Small business owners
  • Business scholars and theorists of competition and market strategy

33
Small Businesses Books: Company of One by Paul Jarvis

Company of One

Paul Jarvis
Why Staying Small Is the Next Big Thing for Business
4.5 (280 ratings)

What's Company of One about?

Company of One (2019) presents an alternative philosophy of business success – one that turns conventional wisdom on its head by prizing less over more, small over large and niche over mass. In the course of laying out this philosophy, it also provides practical strategies for developing your own small-scale business enterprise – one that can provide you with enough free time, independence and income to live the life you want to live.

Who should read Company of One?

  • Workers seeking to escape the daily grind
  • Freelancers seeking to pivot into entrepreneurship
  • Businesspeople seeking to live a simpler life

34
Small Businesses Books: Growth IQ by Tiffani Bova

Growth IQ

Tiffani Bova
Get Smarter About the Choices that Will Make or Break Your Business
4.3 (102 ratings)

What's Growth IQ about?

Growth IQ (2018) answers the million-dollar question of how to make your business grow. Full of practical advice, tips and strategies gleaned from today’s top entrepreneurs and their firms, this is the ultimate guide to making smart decisions that’ll help early-stage firms get off the ground or rejuvenate stagnating giants.

Who should read Growth IQ?

  • Start-up owners
  • Business strategists
  • Aspiring entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs in a rut

35
Small Businesses Books: Lost and Founder by Rand Fishkin

Lost and Founder

Rand Fishkin
A Painfully Honest Field Guide to the Startup World
4.2 (64 ratings)

What's Lost and Founder about?

Lost and Founder (2018) is a hands-on guide to getting your startup off the ground. Written by the founder of a company that’s already made it and packed with cheat codes and hacks, this is the ultimate insider’s playbook of strategies and tactics for struggling founders and would-be innovators.

Who should read Lost and Founder?

  • Aspiring startup founders
  • Entrepreneurs looking for insider tips
  • Anyone fascinated by the world of business

36
Small Businesses Books: The Loop Approach by Sebastian Klein, Ben Hughes

The Loop Approach

Sebastian Klein, Ben Hughes
How to Transform Your Organization from the Inside Out
3.9 (89 ratings)

What's The Loop Approach about?

The Loop Approach (2019) presents a systematic approach to the transformation of organizations. Its toolkit of ideas and methods is designed to help even the largest organization change its bad habits, thus enabling it to adapt to the challenges of the future. 

Who should read The Loop Approach?

  • Business leaders looking for ways to update their company structures
  • Teams aiming to work more effectively as a group
  • Entrepreneurs wishing to establish organizations that are forward-looking

37
Small Businesses Books: New to Big by David Kidder, Christina Wallace

New to Big

David Kidder, Christina Wallace
How Companies Can Create Like Entrepreneurs, Invest Like VCs, and Install a Permanent Operating System for Growth
4.5 (73 ratings)

What's New to Big about?

New to Big (2019) maps out how established companies can install a supercharged growth model at the heart of their enterprise. By adopting the structure of new start-ups or first-time entrepreneurs, they can fend off stagnation, reignite their creative flair and innovate to solve the problems of the future.

Who should read New to Big?

  • CEOs of big organizations facing stagnation
  • Budding innovators looking to save their companies
  • Business journalists seeking to understand the corporate world

38
Small Businesses Books: User Research by Stephanie Marsh

User Research

Stephanie Marsh
A Practical Guide to Designing Better Products and Services
3.8 (67 ratings)

What's User Research about?

User Research (2018) is a practical how-to guide for entrepreneurs, researchers and managers interested in answering the most important question in business – does your product meet your customers’ needs? Drawing on author Stephanie Marsh’s years of experience in user research, these blinks present the most commonly used methods, clearly describing the advantages and disadvantages of each. 

Who should read User Research?

  • Entrepreneurs working on the next big thing
  • Managers looking to optimize their business strategy
  • Researchers investigating user experience testing

39
Small Businesses Books: Founded After 40 by Glenda Shawley

Founded After 40

Glenda Shawley
How to Start a Business When You Haven't Got Time to Waste
3.7 (102 ratings)

What's Founded After 40 about?

Founded After 40 (2017) examines the opportunities and challenges that present themselves to the later-life entrepreneur. Packed with practical advice and illuminating examples, these blinks are an essential guide to starting a thriving business at any age. 

Who should read Founded After 40?

  • Mid-lifers seeking new horizons
  • New entrepreneurs looking for advice
  • Small-business owners wanting a fresh perspective

40
Small Businesses Books: Simple Tips, Smart Ideas by Erica Wolfe-Murray

Simple Tips, Smart Ideas

Erica Wolfe-Murray
Build a bigger, better business
4.3 (146 ratings)

What's Simple Tips, Smart Ideas about?

Simple Tips, Smart Ideas (2019) is a guide for small businesses that delivers on the promise of its title. Erica Wolfe-Murray distills cutting-edge industry knowledge on business growth, savvy marketing, and sustainable innovation into a range of easy-to-follow tips and ideas, all geared toward businesses that skew more boutique than behemoth. 

Who should read Simple Tips, Smart Ideas?

  • Small business owners in need of a boost
  • Employees dreaming of creating their own start-up
  • Anyone who wants to turn a profit from their side-hustle

41
Small Businesses Books: How to Have a Happy Hustle by Bec Evans

How to Have a Happy Hustle

Bec Evans
The Complete Guide to Making Your Ideas Happen
4.5 (127 ratings)

What's How to Have a Happy Hustle about?

How to Have a Happy Hustle (2019) is an empowering guide to making ideas happen. Puncturing the mystique surrounding successful startups, Bec Evans reveals how anyone can grow an idea into a business by starting small, thinking creatively and getting feedback from their target market. Most importantly, by focusing on the process of testing and building an idea, connecting with people, and learning from mistakes a happy hustle redefines success to include personal growth, fulfilment as well as financial gain.

How to Have a Happy Hustle won the Startup Inspiration category at the Business Book Awards 2020.

Who should read How to Have a Happy Hustle?

  • Women who’d love to get into tech but have been put off by the macho culture
  • Aspiring startup founders who lack the confidence, time and money to get started
  • Innovative thinkers itching to introduce their ideas to the world
  • Busy professionals keen to build their entrepreneurial skill set

42
Small Businesses Books: Fix This Next by Mike Michalowicz

Fix This Next

Mike Michalowicz
Make the Vital Change That Will Level Up Your Business
4.4 (132 ratings)

What's Fix This Next about?

Fix This Next (2020) provides business owners with a simple system to address the key issues preventing their companies from flourishing. Instead of trying to fix every issue at once, it reveals how different components of a business affect each other. It also provides a tool, the Business Hierarchy of Needs, that can help owners identify which issue to tackle first to ensure continual growth and profitability.

Who should read Fix This Next?

  • Entrepreneurs struggling to move their businesses forward
  • Managers trying to make a company profitable
  • Overworked business owners hoping to reduce stress

43
Small Businesses Books: See You on the Internet by Avery Swartz

See You on the Internet

Avery Swartz
Building Your Small Business with Digital Marketing
4.0 (133 ratings)

What's See You on the Internet about?

See You on the Internet (2020) is a simple guide to navigating the world of digital marketing. If you’ve ever felt intimidated by the thought of building a website or running an email marketing campaign, See You on the Internet will walk you through planning, implementing, and measuring your digital marketing efforts.

Who should read See You on the Internet?

  • Small business owners interested in digital marketing
  • Digital and social media managers
  • People interested in marketing strategy

44
Small Businesses Books: Resilient by Sevetri Wilson

Resilient

Sevetri Wilson
How to Overcome Anything and Build a Million Dollar Business With or Without Capital
4.2 (76 ratings)

What's Resilient about?

Resilient (2021) is an intimate account of entrepreneur Sevetri Wilson’s journey from self-funding her first company to securing ongoing capital for her second. It provides early-stage founders insight into every step of building a business – from initial concept to securing the finances needed to scale.

Who should read Resilient?

  • Aspiring entrepreneurs
  • Innovators looking to turn their ideas into marketable solutions
  • Startup founders who need to raise capital

45
Small Businesses Books: Clockwork by Mike Michalowicz

Clockwork

Mike Michalowicz
Design Your Business to Run Itself
4.7 (142 ratings)

What's Clockwork about?

Clockwork (2018) explains how entrepreneurs can grow their enterprises without sacrificing their sanity. The trick is implementing smart systems and standard operating procedures that allow your business to run like clockwork without your constant input, freeing you up to tackle the challenges or embrace the opportunities that come your way.

Who should read Clockwork?

  • Anyone dreaming of starting a small business
  • Solopreneurs who are ready to scale in an intelligent way
  • Entrepreneurs who can’t exactly remember the last time they took a vacation

46
Small Businesses Books: Scale for Success by Jan Cavelle

Scale for Success

Jan Cavelle
Expert Insights into Growing Your Business
4.2 (173 ratings)

What's Scale for Success about?

Scale for Success (2021) is a guide to turning your small business into a far bigger and more successful enterprise than it is today. From crowdfunding to job descriptions, it covers the ins and outs – and highs and lows – of scaling up any firm.

Who should read Scale for Success?

  • Entrepreneurs trying to break into the big league
  • Anyone working at a small business or early-stage start-up
  • Veteran businesspeople interested in mentoring small business owners

47
Small Businesses Books: Testing Business Ideas by David J. Bland and Alexander Osterwalder

Testing Business Ideas

David J. Bland and Alexander Osterwalder
A Field Guide for Rapid Experimentation
4.4 (95 ratings)

What's Testing Business Ideas about?

Testing Business Ideas (2021) explores how entrepreneurs can use experimentation to give their new venture the best chance of success. It outlines the rationale behind testing, and describes a framework for deciding how to proceed. 

Who should read Testing Business Ideas?

  • Anyone working at a small company or start-up
  • Entrepreneurs hoping to turn their big idea into a profitable venture 
  • Business students looking for fresh insights

48
Small Businesses Books: Self-Made Boss by Jackie Reses and Lauren Weinberg

Self-Made Boss

Jackie Reses and Lauren Weinberg
Advice, Hacks, and Lessons from Small Business Owners
4.4 (159 ratings)

What's Self-Made Boss about?

Self-Made Boss (2022) is a practical starter kit for anyone looking to start a small business. It’s packed with advice and case studies looking at small businesses from across the United States, with step-by-step instructions for turning your great idea into a successful business. 

Who should read Self-Made Boss?

  • Small business owners
  • Aspiring entrepreneurs
  • Anyone curious about how brands are built from the ground up

49
Small Businesses Books: New Sales. Simplified. by Mike Weinberg

New Sales. Simplified.

Mike Weinberg
The Essential Handbook for Prospecting and New Business Development
4.3 (162 ratings)

What's New Sales. Simplified. about?

New Sales. Simplified. (2012) is a guide for those charged with finding new business. It takes a look at the fundamentals and offers actionable advice and techniques to the aspiring new business salesperson.

Who should read New Sales. Simplified.?

  • New business sales executives
  • Sales managers
  • Account managers and veteran salespeople looking to refresh their skills

50
Small Businesses Books: Zero to One by Peter Thiel with Blake Masters

Zero to One

Peter Thiel with Blake Masters
Notes on Startups, or How to Build The Future
4.6 (953 ratings)

What's Zero to One about?

Zero to One (2014) offers advice to start-up founders. It shows how to establish a monopoly by creating proprietary technology, a strong brand, scalable products, and by using network effects.

Who should read Zero to One?

  • Current and potential start-up founders
  • Anyone interested in why certain start-ups succeed and others fail
  • Investors

51
Small Businesses Books: The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Michalowicz

The Pumpkin Plan

Mike Michalowicz
A Simple Strategy to Grow a Remarkable Business in Any Field
4.4 (203 ratings)

What's The Pumpkin Plan about?

The Pumpkin Plan (2012) presents a simple yet powerful strategy to help you grow your business and stand out in any industry. Through real-life examples and practical tips, you’ll learn how to identify and focus on your most profitable clients, streamline your operations, and create a company culture that fuels growth.

Who should read The Pumpkin Plan?

  • Owners of small businesses looking to grow
  • Entrepreneurs seeking sustainable success
  • Startup founders needing a roadmap

52
Small Businesses Books: How to Grow Your Small Business by Donald Miller

How to Grow Your Small Business

Donald Miller
A 6-Part Strategy to Help Your Business Take Off
4.7 (121 ratings)

What's How to Grow Your Small Business about?

How to Grow Your Small Business (2023) is your six-step flight plan to guide your business as it takes off. When Don Miller started to take his business to the next level, he realized no-one had written a reliable, step-by-step playbook for growth. Since then, his small home content business has expanded into a $20 million dollar company, so he wrote the book he wished he’d had. 

Who should read How to Grow Your Small Business?

  • Small Business Owners
  • Entrepreneurs 
  • Anyone who spends too much time putting out fires in their business

53
Small Businesses Books: Two Weeks Notice by Amy Porterfield

Two Weeks Notice

Amy Porterfield
Find the Courage to Quit Your Job, Make More Money, Work Where You Want, and Change the World
4.2 (207 ratings)

What's Two Weeks Notice about?

Two Weeks Notice (2023) is your step-by-step guide to launching a successful online business. It provides you with the tools and tricks you need to become your own boss – and gain the creative and financial freedom to live your best life. 

Who should read Two Weeks Notice?

  • Newly minted online entrepreneurs and established business owners
  • Courageous women who are ready to be their own boss
  • Anyone fantasizing about ditching their 9-to-5 

54
Small Businesses Books: Third Shift Entrepreneur by Todd Connor

Third Shift Entrepreneur

Todd Connor
Keep Your Day Job, Build Your Dream Job
3.8 (12 ratings)

What's Third Shift Entrepreneur about?

Third Shift Entrepreneur (2021) offers an effective mindset and strategies for starting or growing your business – without having to quit your day job. It weaves key observations throughout a fictional narrative about a group of entrepreneurs, then breaks out these points for closer examination with examples from real-world startup scenarios.

Who should read Third Shift Entrepreneur?

  • Anyone interested in starting a side hustle
  • People struggling to launch their business 
  • Small business owners looking to take their company to the next level

55
Small Businesses Books: Marketing Strategy by Jenna Tiffany

Marketing Strategy

Jenna Tiffany
Overcome Common Pitfalls and Create Effective Marketing
4.1 (128 ratings)

What's Marketing Strategy about?

Marketing Strategy (2021) is a comprehensive guide that decodes the intricacies of crafting and implementing effective marketing strategies. It introduces the reader to a practical framework known as STRATEGY, exploring each component through real-world examples and actionable insights. From setting smart objectives and understanding target audiences, to measuring performance and conducting post-mortem analyses, it provides a roadmap to marketing success. 

Who should read Marketing Strategy?

  • Marketing professionals and students
  • Entrepreneurs and owners of small businesses or nonprofits
  • Career switchers considering marketing

56
Small Businesses Books: Financial Intelligence for Entrepreneurs by Karen Berman & Joe Knight with John Case

Financial Intelligence for Entrepreneurs

Karen Berman & Joe Knight with John Case
What You Really Need to Know about the Numbers
3.2 (234 ratings)

What's Financial Intelligence for Entrepreneurs about?

Financial Intelligence for Entrepreneurs (2008) provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and utilizing financial information effectively, specifically tailored for entrepreneurs, business owners, and managers without a financial background. Through practical insights and real-world examples, it demystifies complex financial terms and empowers nonfinancial professionals to leverage financial intelligence for business success.

Who should read Financial Intelligence for Entrepreneurs?

  • Entrepreneurs seeking to navigate the financial landscape of business 
  • Small business owners looking to optimize financial performance and management
  • Investors wanting to understand the ins and outs of financial health

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