The 8 Best Small Business Books of All Time (2024)

The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber is a crucial read for entrepreneurs, explaining why 80% of small businesses fail and offering invaluable strategies for success. It teaches how to get your business to run without you, using systems and processes, that reduce your work and stress. It shows how to work ON your business, not just IN it.

Why should you read it? Decades after it was published, this book continues to be a much-recommended bestseller for entrepreneurs worldwide. Its evergreen popularity is proof of the timeless business wisdom packed inside. If you’ve ever questioned why running your “dream business” feels more like working a nightmare 80-hour-per-week job, then this book is what you need! It’s like having a business coach in your pocket, telling you exactly HOW to work smarter rather than harder. (Hint: by building systems in your business.)

"The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries is about how to build new startup businesses smarter, using lean and agile methods. It emphasizes launching a Minimum Viable Product, gathering customer feedback with scientific tests, and pivoting based on insights. This approach helps quickly develop valuable products that truly benefit customers.

Why should you read it? If you're banging your head against the wall trying to make your startup work, "The Lean Startup" can give you a much-needed plan for success. Eric Ries flips traditional business launch strategies upside down, arguing for a smarter, not harder, approach. It's all about building a minimal product, getting it out there fast, "failing fast," and then tweaking it based on real feedback. (Rather than perfecting something in a vacuum and hoping it flies.) Think of it like playing a video game where you get a bunch of lives to keep trying. 🎮

Traction explains an 'operating system' that can help entrepreneurs achieve more control and organization in your business. Gino Wickman has assembled many practical management tools including: a 10-year vision, a people-grading chart, a data dashboard, a systems documentation method, and 90-day priorities called "Rocks."

Why should you read it? If you're burning out trying to push your small business beyond the startup phase and into real, sustainable growth, "Traction" by Gino Wickman may be right for you. Wickman cuts through the noise with the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), a clear framework that has helped many business owners stop spinning their wheels; and finally gain the grip to drive their business forward. 🛞

Zero to One is about the future of technology and a guide for startup business founders. Peter Thiel is a billionaire entrepreneur and investor that shares many unconventional ideas. He says entrepreneurs should avoid competition. Instead build a (legal) monopoly selling something completely new and incomparable.

Why should you read it? If you're trying to come up with an innovative new business idea, or if you're struggling to stay afloat in an overcrowded market, Peter Thiel's "Zero to One" may be your life jacket. Peter Thiel, the entrepreneur and investor behind major names like PayPal, Facebook and Palantir — challenges us to think about creating something so unique it goes from zero (nonexistent) to one (the first of its kind). This isn't about following trends; it's about setting them. This book urges you to look where others don't and think differently. 🏆

The 4-Hour Workweek is about building a passive income business so we can escape the usual 40-hour workweek, and design our ideal lifestyle. Tim Ferris also shows how we can improve our productivity by following the 80/20 rule and a 'low information diet.'

Why should you read it? This book is practically the bible of the "digital nomad" movement, where some people figured out how to work from their laptop anywhere in the world. To most people it sounds like a complete fantasy: Imagine traveling the world, indulging your curiosity, all while your business runs itself. But Tim Ferriss shares many inspirational case studies of people who have done it successfully. It's kind of like finding out that unicorns are real—and they know how to code websites! This book has opened the eyes of countless people that a radically different, unconventional type of lifestyle is possible.

The Millionaire Fastlane is about getting wealthy and retiring in 10 years rather than 40 years. At first the title may sound unrealistic, but MJ DeMarco offers hard-earned business wisdom based on his success making millions of dollars after building a limousine booking website.

Why should you read it? Reading 'The Millionaire Fastlane' is like having an exhilarating chat over coffee with a funny friend who also happens to be your millionaire mentor. Half the time, you'll be cracking up; the other half, you'll be scribbling down money-making ideas. It's a compact blast of inspiration for anyone ready to speed up their entrepreneurial journey.

$100M Leads by Alex Hormozi is a book about how to increase sales by getting more engaged leads. It teaches us how to create a valuable lead magnet, cold contact people you don't know, build a large audience of followers, scale advertising profitably, build an affiliate program, and much more.

Why should you read it? If you're on the hunt for a game-changer in the world of business and lead generation, look no further than "$100M Leads" by Alex Hormozi. Why listen to Hormozi? Because he's not just another self-proclaimed business expert; he's a doer who has built and sold businesses. This book is a deep dive into actionable strategies that Hormozi himself has used to skyrocket his companies' growth. With his straightforward style and real-world examples, Hormozi cuts through the noise, offering clear, direct instruction to up your sales game.

"Profit First" by Mike Michalowicz introduces a simple cash management system for small businesses. It says that by setting aside profit first—before paying expenses—you can build a business that is more consistently profitable and financially healthy.

Why should you read it? Profit first may be a game-changer for many small business owners. It offers a straightforward approach to managing business finances by prioritizing profit. If you're looking to improve your company's financial health without getting bogged down in complex accounting, I highly recommend giving it a read.