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13 Best Books on Starting a Business

05/04/2022 15:29:55 +0000
Everybody wants to be an entrepreneur due to the freedom it affords. However, starting a physical or online business can be challenging. There are dozens of factors to consider.

Even creating a solid business plan can be a massive challenge. However, this is not to say that there are no educational sources to help you along the way.
 
Many books are written by highly successful people, many of whom you might be familiar with. This article looks at the very best books on starting a business. In addition, we want to give you suggestions on books you might want to read to help you start your own business.
13 Best Books on Starting a Business
1. Zero to One | Peter Thiel
Peter Thiel Is a world-famous venture capitalist, billionaire entrepreneur, and founder of various online businesses. In fact, he is the co-founder of PayPal, one of the most successful online transaction businesses out there.

His book, "Zero to One," features essays taken directly from talks Thiel gave on startup companies in 2012.

It focuses on how entrepreneurs can think outside the box and develop new ideas for successful businesses. If you are looking to create your own successful niche for an online business, this is one of the best books to read.
Best Books on Starting a Business
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2. Crushing It! | Gary Vaynerchuck
This is a fantastic book if you don't know how to engage in product or business branding.
 
Of course, having a recognizable and popular brand will make the difference between failure and a great business. A brand needs to be built before a business is launched. It concerns enabling you to connect with your target audience.

This is something Vaynerchuck understands well. He explains why having a clearly defined brand is essential. Moreover, it is a how-to guide to building a brand from the ground up. This book is relevant for people who want to engage in social media marketing and branding.
3. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap ... and Others Don't | Jim Collings
Jim Collins is a world-famous business management consultant. His book, "Good to Great," discusses how companies go from good to great. In addition, you will have access to various case studies on businesses that have failed and succeeded. And, you will get detailed information on why these businesses either failed or succeeded.

This book will explain what provides a business with an inside edge that will lead to success. This is a top-rated book; the Wall Street Journal CEO Council have said that it is one of the best management books that they have read.
4. Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine | Mike Michalowicz
The financial aspect is critical in starting any business. In fact, new entrepreneurs not well versed in economics may have massive problems managing their finances.

Financial failure, or the failure to manage finances, is why many startup businesses go under. This book is about understanding the mechanics of investing for growth, in addition to making money. It is a great guide that tells you what to do with your profits.

It will guide you in reinvesting your profits to keep your business growing exponentially. This book will help you maintain a positive cash flow to avoid financial struggles. In addition, you will get a simple formula you can closely follow to help manage your finances.
5. The Ten-Day MBA: A Step-by-Step Guide to Mastering the Skills Taught In America's Top Business Schools | Steven A. Silbiger
If you want a master's in business administration and management but don't have the time to spend on campus, this is a fantastic book. Silbiger is a world-famous business and economics teacher who knows his finances. This book teaches you various business skills.

Each chapter focuses on a specific aspect—marketing strategy, finance, accounting, operations, economics, ethics, organizational behavior, quantitative analysis, and more. In fact, this is an internationally acclaimed guide that has received worldwide praise.
Best Books on Starting a Business
6. Women Who Launch | Marlene Wagman-Geller
It's no secret that women in business face challenges that men don't. Women often have to work harder to achieve the same results as men. One of the biggest challenges is getting funding or investments. Being a woman in business can often be highly discouraging.

However, this book details how various women have overcome these business challenges.
 
Each chapter focuses on a successful woman, their business, and how they overcame these obstacles. For instance, Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts, is discussed in this book.
7. The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It | Michael E. Gerber
Michael Gerber is the founder of Michael Gerber Companies, which trains people in business skills. His book explores why up to 80% of small businesses fail.

Moreover, it details various steps and tips to overcome these obstacles and prevent failure. One thing Gerber discusses in this book is that people often believe that technical knowledge automatically translates into business knowledge and success, which, of course, isn't always true.

He also talks about setting up a business that relies on various systems rather than individual skills. This fantastic book will teach budding entrepreneurs how to prevent themselves from sabotaging themselves. Many new entrepreneurs self-sabotage, and this book helps to overcome this issue.
8. The $100 Startup | Chris Guillebeau
To get a business off the ground, you first need to determine how much it will cost. Of course, if you have a big budget to work with, this isn't an issue. However, being an entrepreneur can be challenging if your budget is limited.

Author Chris Guillebeau writes about how to start a business with limited funds. Specifically, this book discusses 50 case studies of entrepreneurs who started successful businesses with minimal funding.

Each case study is dissected in detail. As a result, you will be able to identify the most critical factors to achieve success, all without great amounts of funding. In addition, this book teaches how to leverage expertise and skills and your passions to create a successful business.
9. Rework | Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson
"Rework" book was written by the CEO of Basecamp and the man who invented the Ruby on Rails web development framework. Both men are highly successful entrepreneurs who started off with nothing more than tech backgrounds.

They have the experience required to teach people how to go from being purely tech-based to being an entrepreneur. This book will teach you how to become entrepreneurs with only a technological background. It offers straightforward, concise, and concrete advice.

There's no technical business jargon to further confuse you. This book is a great way to learn about increasing productivity, not being consumed by too much planning, and how to grow a business through various low-cost ways.
10. Best for Productivity: Atomic Habits | James Clear
This is more of a self-improvement book than for business skills. However, this closely relates to business because it concerns developing good habits and routines to succeed. It provides tips on how to change your practices, so you can become more productive.

This directly translates to growth because business is about organization and productivity. Therefore, one of the central tenets of this book is that business owners should make changes in small, incremental steps, which then result in significant benefits over the long run.
Best Books on Starting a Business
11. The Intelligent Investor| Benjamin Graham
Benjamin Graham is often referred to as the "father of value investing." He is a world-famous investor, professor, and economist. This book was written in 1949, although it still has its merits in today's world.
 
Moreover, this is one of the only old business books still relevant today.
You will learn about making economic investments without suffering much risk. This book discusses how to create long-term investments that are risk-averse.
 
Moreover, it will teach you how to research risk rather than just speculate about it. If you don't know how to make sound financial decisions, this is a book to check out.
12. Leaders Eat Last | Simon Sinek
Although this book is not relevant for starting a business solo, it is written for those who need to hire a team. Starting a business is challenging, but being a good leader and managing your employees is one of the most challenging tasks.

Moreover, it can be difficult to get employees to trust you. This book will help business leaders gain the trust of their employees. This book offers advice on being a great leader on a broader scale. A good business starts with outstanding leadership.
13. Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It | Chris Voss
Chris Voss is a former FBI hostage negotiator and an expert in the psychology of persuasion. He is also the CEO of Black Swan Group.

This book provides information on strategies Voss used when approaching high-stakes negotiation situations. You will learn how to build trust, overcome emotional obstacles, and use empathy as a tool rather than seeing it as an obstacle.
You will receive information on using language to clearly communicate in effective ways.
 
As a first-time entrepreneur, you will negotiate with various contractors, investors, employees, and partners. From this book, you will learn how to engage in these negotiations.
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About the Host
Sophie Howard is the founder of Aspiring Entrepreneurs, a community designed to help people develop the skills and confidence to build a business and a life that serves them. Sophie began online in 2013 with an Amazon firm, which she sold for more than $1 million in 2015.

Sophie has lectured on stages all around the world, encouraging and teaching other ambitious entrepreneurs. She has established instructional programs educating thousands of students how to sell online, in addition to releasing over 1000 products.

Sophie has also written a book titled "Aspiring Entrepreneurs: A Guide to Finding Your Best Path to Financial Freedom."
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