At A Glance: Our Top 5 Picks for Books for Starting a Business:
- âStart with Whyâ by Simon Sinek – Our Top Pick
- âZero to Oneâ by Peter Thiel
- âThe Lean Startupâ by Eric Ries
- âThe Millionaire Fastlaneâ by MJ DeMarco
- âThe E-Myth Revisitedâ by Michael Gerber
âThe best books about starting a business will teach you more about life than businessâ
Every day, about 1,000 people in the US will type in âHow to start a businessâ on Google. But how many of them will actually make it?
See, when I started my freelance writing business a few years ago I quickly realized that the available resources were lacking. I read 100s of blog posts and consumed hours of content on YouTube.
The results were underwhelming.
It wasnât until I focused on business books written by successful men and women that the needle started to move.
And that brings me to this post. What if I had to start from scratch TODAY?
What are the best books for starting a business everyone should include in the TBR list?
8 Books for Starting a Business Everyone Should Read in 2022
| PRODUCT | FEATURES | PRICE | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Start with Whyâ by Simon Sinek | âą Paperback: 256 pages âą Weight: 7.2 ounces | |
 | âZero to Oneâ by Peter Thiel | âą Paperback: 224 pages âą Weight: 7.4 ounces | |
 | âThe Lean Startupâ by Eric Ries | âą Paperback: 320 pages âą Weight: 6.9 ounces | |
 | âThe Millionaire Fastlaneâ by MJ DeMarco | âą Paperback: 322 pages âą Weight: 1 pounds | |
 | âThe E-Myth Revisitedâ by Michael Gerber | âą File Size: 1470 KB âą Print Length: 292 pages | |
 | âThe Adweek Copywriting Handbookâ by Joseph Sugarman | âą File Size: 4346 KB âą Print Length: 369 pages | |
 | âThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective Peopleâ by Stephen Covey | âą File Size: 83674 KB âą Print Length: 537 pages | |
 | âThe Hard Thing About Hard Thingsâ by Ben Horowitz | âą File Size: 1332 KB âą Print Length: 308 pages |
Before you start reading, there are a few rules Iâd like to mention:
- You donât have to finish every business book you pick up
- Even if you get one useful idea out of it, it was worth it
- Itâs better to read a handful of great business books than dozens of mediocre ones
- If itâs not useful to you, discard it
Keep in mind that in this case, youâre not reading for entertainment. What you consume should offer a solution to your specific problem.
Letâs begin!
1. âStart with Whyâ by Simon Sinek
Already the title of the book teaches you a very important lesson. Start with your why!
Everyone has a reason they want to start a business. Maybe youâve spotted a problem out there that needs solving. Maybe you have a vision you want to realize.
Or, you simply want to escape the 9-5 rat race!
Whatever the case may be, Sinek will show you the way using examples of influential organizations and successful businesses.
He makes the case that thereâs a roadmap, a blueprint these âGolden Circleâ companies have used to reach the top.
Learn how to inspire those around and most importantly, yourself.
2. âZero to Oneâ by Peter Thiel
I bet many of you have heard of this one.
The author holds no punches when it comes to making money. He presents things the way they are, without the idealism often associated with starting a business.
One of the most important ideas inside the book is âmonopolyâ.
There are a lot of negative connotations about this term, but Thiel shares a different perspective.
Essentially, every business should strive to have a monopoly in the sense that the value it brings is unique. Strive for innovation!
âThe next Mark Zuckerberg won’t create a social networkâ
3. âThe Lean Startupâ by Eric Ries
Startup companies have been all the rage during the last decade.
But itâs no secret that the majority of them have failed. Eric Ries believes that reason for that is that their founders donât account for the massive uncertainty in the market.
The book breaks down a method that allows you to test your vision continuously while mitigating the risk.
No vanity metrics, no hollow social media âsuccessâ.
Real metrics that represent real impact.
Itâs a great book for everyone looking to take the startup route and do it the right way!
4. âThe Millionaire Fastlaneâ by MJ DeMarco
All my life, I was taught that saving is the way towards financial success.
Get a good job, save 10%, and by the time youâre 60 years old, you’ll have enough money to enjoy your life without worries.
DeMarco destroys this persistent narrative. He proposes a new paradigm, the âFastlaneâ, where time is your enemy when it comes to getting wealthy.
In this book, youâll learn about the path of least resistance. It doesnât involve investing or getting a big bonus at the end of the year.
Itâs about ownership and extreme wealth production.
One of the most innovative books on this list.
(The author also runs a forum where like-minded individuals get to discuss these ideas)
5. âThe E-Myth Revisitedâ by Michael Gerber
I consider this book a more practical and concise version of the (in)famous â4-Hour Work Weekâ by Ferris.
The subtitle reads: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It
Itâs very accurate because it is exactly what youâre gonna learn in this book.
Many entrepreneurs fall into the trap of micromanaging and running themselves to the ground.
Instead, the author believes that each of us has to focus on what moves the needle and that usually has to do with our innate abilities.
That way, we get to be more productive, without worrying about every little thing.
Why are you trying to code your new website? Youâre not a website designer. Delegate!
6. âThe Adweek Copywriting Handbookâ by Joseph Sugarman
Have you ever considered what made you choose between two identical products?
In one word, itâs called copy!
See, people often forget that the true purpose of a business is to make sales. Sure, having a vision and striving to change the world is great.
But unless people buy what you create, whatâs the point?
This is where different marketing books come into play.
Sugarman focuses on the aspect of direct response copywriting, the nitty-gritty stuff that makes people hit that precious, red âBuy Nowâ button.
7. âThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective Peopleâ by Stephen Covey
âWhat this psychology book has to do with a businessâ, you might ask.
It has everything to do with business!
Without the right mindset or the right habits, every little hurdle might throw you off.
In fact, Iâd say that your mental resilience might determine the success of your business in the long-term.
Besides, Covey has conducted an informal meta-analysis and has figured out what highly effective people do. From CEOs to athletes to successful artists.
Itâs one of the best self-improvement books out there. One that can change your life.
8. âThe Hard Thing About Hard Thingsâ by Ben Horowitz
OK. Youâve found your great idea, youâve put in the work, and youâve made a few sales.
Now youâre experiencing the typical business growing pains. But thatâs a good problem to have!
Especially when Ben Horowitz tells you exactly what to do in order to manage your company and develop the âCEO mentalityâ.
Almost every business book claims that starting a business is super easy. You just have to be passionate and believe in yourself!
Ben punches you in the face from the very first chapter and outright says that starting a successful business is one of the most difficult things youâll do in your life.
Yet, itâs also one of the most rewarding things. So, buckle up!
BONUS: âJ.K. Lasser’s Small Business Taxes 2021â by Barbara Weltman
Congratulations, youâve made your first few dollars from your business. Not bad.
Wait! Itâs not all yours. About 50%-60% is for your taxes⊠if youâre not smart about it.
Donât get me wrong, everyone will pay taxes. But thereâs nothing more infuriating than paying more than what you owe. And thatâs what happens with many people who just started their business.
Fortunately, you can mitigate a bit of damage by simply taking advantage of the different laws!
Keep in mind that your situation is unique and depending on where you live, what you read might not apply to you.
Start Today!
Hereâs the thing.
Even the best books about starting a business wonât help you unless you take action today.
Iâve purposefully listed the most applicable, step-by-step, books you can find online. That way, you really wonât have any excuses.
My suggestion is to take one major idea from each book and apply it to your life for a few months.
Once youâve integrated them, go back and pick another batch. Repeat.
Lastly, let me just say that not every business is supposed to make you a millionaire. But even a side-hustle that makes you an extra $1000 per month can be life-changing for many people.
And Iâm confident these books provide you the tools you need to hit that goal!
What kind of business are you looking to start? Comment below!
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