The Best Books for Small Business Owners

Are you an entrepreneur looking to thrive in the world of small business? If so, you know the journey to success can be tough at times. On the other hand, rising entrepreneurs find the experience rewarding once they discover what they can do when building a business.

But, entrepreneurs also know that there’s no easy way to sustain a profitable business. That’s why they stop to refresh their minds with a good read. Small business books are the best way to help make decisions and stay informed about the latest industry trends.

If you’re unsure about what to read next, below is a list of the best books for small business owners. 

The Best Books for Small Business Owners

1. How to Win Friends and Influence People

The best books for small business owners include How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. It was first published in 1936, sold more than 30 million copies—and is one of the best-selling books for businesses.

Carnegie left his career in sales for public speaking. The advice he gives in the book is a compilation of his seminars. 

How to Win Friends and Influence People discusses ways to convince others and change their perspectives without being overbearing.

Carnegie mentions two critical aspects in his book. The first is, to be honest, but avoid criticizing. Many people often belittle others without realizing it—only to worsen the situation. Then they’re less likely to listen. 

If you’re looking for a way to network with people and get them to like you, this book is for you. 

2. The E-Myth Revisited

Many small businesses fail within the first year of operations. One of the reasons for that is how people think in their business. You could be the top skilled person in your area of expertise. However, that doesn’t quite mean you have the building blocks to run a successful business yet.

If you feel like you’re missing the key to running your business at full potential, give The E-Myth Revisited a try. This entrepreneurial guide will help you discover why so many small businesses fail. Plus, it gives you tips on how to avoid the same pitfalls.

Gerber outlines three components of a successful business owner. He also gives you a step-by-step overview of the business building process and proven models. 

3. Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business

Traction by Gino Wickman is the small business owner’s guide to solving the big problems that can occur in your day-to-day operations. If you feel like you’re losing control of your business, you need this book. 

Essentially, the book will ask you one question. “Are you in control of your business, or is it controlling you?”

Wickman will offer a simplified solution, providing you with the EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System). He gives you three ways to implement the EOS and free tools and additional resources through his website. 

You’ll enjoy Traction because it’s a digestible read proposing the simplest solutions.

4. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

Do you feel like the kind of person set in their ways? Are you wondering if your business is doing what it’s supposed to—but believe if you tried something different, it would be impossible to succeed?

Maybe you need a change in perspective. Dr. Carol Dweck talks about the power of mindset in her book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. She states that mindset influences how we behave. The way you think can dictate how you act. Therefore, this factor plays a huge role in how we experience things.

Dr. Dweck dives into her mindset research and shows you the outlook of your capabilities with a growth mindset. A growth mindset can help you shift into a forward-thinking process when new changes occur.

You can make things possible by instilling optimism and believing in what you can do.

5. The 12 Week Year

Most small business owners pick up the habit of planning their business cycles annually. In The 12 Week Year, the book explains why you should compress your strategies within a 12-week process. 

It also discusses implementing the system and improving your results over four weeks. The book gives you a fundamental approach to changes in how you think and act. Ultimately, the 12-week window drives a more focused action so that you can get real results in a shorter amount of time.

This guidebook will give you the tips and tools you need to implement the 12 Week Year. You’ll also have templates and worksheets in hand so you can start putting the book’s methods to work.

6. Eat that Frog! 21 Great Ways To Stop Procrastinating And Get More Done In Less Time

Having one too many things on your to-do list can make you feel overwhelmed. In turn, you start to procrastinate and put off what you planned for that day.

Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy gives you 21 tips to help you stop procrastinating and get more done in less time. The book is packed with actionable time management tactics to help you plan, organize and prioritize your day to achieve better, faster results.

The analogy of eating a frog shows you how to tackle the thing you dread first thing in the morning. The frog is your most crucial task. By getting it done first, you build a better habit of completing tasks and creating a better impact on your outcomes.

7. Deep Work

Deep Work by Cal Newport focuses on the science of productivity. Newport argues that the best method to get more work done is working in a state of high concentration on one task. This book is perfect for you if you’re interested in learning how to get more work done in less time. 

Cal Newport explains that deep work is the kind of work you perform in a distraction-free, high-concentration environment. The process of deep work helps you to improve your skills and create valued work that is challenging to replicate.

The other term he mentions in his book is shallow work. It refers to the tasks you can perform that require little thinking while working in a distracting environment. This type of work is simple to replicate, such as checking emails and giving into distractions like social media while you work.

If you’re battling the war of procrastination, it’s time you make a difference in your life and read Deep Work.

8. The Compound Effect

The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy is a book about how tiny actions executed consistently can lead to high-impact results in your business. Hardy spent most of his career as the publisher, editor and founder of SUCCESS Magazine. He learned that our decisions could directly affect our experiences with success.

Daren Hardy offers three outward approaches that can help you achieve better results. If you feel you’re struggling to create new changes, The Compound Effect will give you the strategies to make the right choices.

Which Book Will Be Your Next Read?

We’ve compiled a list of the best books for small business owners. Now it’s your turn to decide which one you’ll give a try first. Remember, if you want to create a successful business, your mindset and productivity skills lead to the win.