12 Books You Must Read Before Starting a Business (2023)

1. “The Art of Starting 2.0: The Proven, Battle-Tested Guide for Anyone Starting Anything,” by Guy Kawasaki

Entrepreneur and venture capitalist Guy Kawasaki lays out important lessons for new entrepreneurs in an easy-to-understand, accessible guide.

He recognizes that with the democratizing power of the internet, once unassailable business lessons are now being challenged. But one key idea is timeless: the importance of focusing on important details early on, so mistakes don't slow you down as your business grows. The book features Kawasaki's hard-won practical advice on everything from marketing and social media to crowdfunding and cloud computing.

Amidst all this practical advice, Kawasaki helps readers internalize his advice that "entrepreneur is a mindset, not a job title."

2. “The Founder's Dilemmas: Anticipating and Avoiding the Pitfalls That Can Sail a Startup,” by Noam Wasserman

You can learn a lot by studying the experiences of founders who came before you. Noam Wasserman, Professor of Clinical Entrepreneurship at the University of Southern California, provides a comprehensive analysis of how founders succeed and fail.

Using real-life examples, Wasserman vividly illustrates why certain approaches to entrepreneurship are better than others. Throughout the process, he focuses his advice on figuring out when to stay in control and when to bring in outside resources.

3. "Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months: A Monthly Guide to Running a Business" by Melinda F. Emerson

Emerson, founder and CEO of Quintessence Multimedia, describes how to get a business off the ground in a series of monthly steps.

This handy guide outlines the tasks you need to do to get your business off the ground, from contacting venture capitalists and planning a year-long marketing strategy to sourcing the right software and investing in graphic design.

If you're going from 0 to 60 and want to know exactly how it works, this book is a great book to have on your bookshelf.

4. “The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses,” by Eric Ries

Entrepreneur, blogger and author Eric Ries wants entrepreneurs to think differently. Leave the complicated business plan behind and embrace agile management, increased efficiency and rapid prototyping.

The management approach associated with the book, Ries' Lean Startup methodology, has become something of a movement, spurring organizations to look at their usual practices with fresh eyes.

5. "Are you going to fly? How to Know If Your New Business Idea Has Wings...Before You Take the Leap' by Thomas K. McKnight

McKnight has helped hundreds of companies get started and draws on his experience to create a comprehensive checklist to determine if your idea has legs.

The 44-point score covers everything from your mindset to your exit strategy, touching on questions like whether you have proven customers and how tough your competition is.

Starting a business can be exciting, but also extremely stressful if you are not properly prepared. This book will help you prepare.

6. „You Entrepreneur: Monetarize Your Experience, Create Multiple Income Streams, and Thrive“ von Dorie Clark

It's one thing to dream of being an entrepreneur, but quite another to hone your skills, make a name for yourself, create multiple revenue streams, and keep bringing in new clients month after month.

Marketing and strategy expert Dorie Clark offers insightful advice and an effective blueprint to achieve your dreams, coupled with stories from successful entrepreneurs of all stripes. Like all his books, this one is clearly written and convincingly argued - a revelation for those who dream of self-employment.

7. "Jab, Jab, Jab, righter Haken", by Gary Vaynerchuk

marketer andNew York TimesBestselling author Gary Vee offers hard-hitting advice on how to make your voice heard online. The key isn't telling your customers what you want them to hear, but figuring out what they want and giving it to them.

It's not just about adding value through quality content, but targeting that content to specific people through specific social media platforms. To grab attention online, content needs to be constantly updated, but knowing how to tailor your message to each platform will put you ahead of the competition.

8. „32 Ways to Be a Champion in Business“ von Earvin „Magic“ Johnson

Former Los Angeles Laker Magic Johnson has accomplished a lot since retiring from basketball: he is CEO ofMagic Johnson Enterprises(MJE), a multi-billion dollar investment firm, and has become a force in entrepreneurship by empowering urban communities through economic development.

Her book shows practical steps to starting a successful business, how to create a business plan, build your brand, and hire the right people. The in-depth content includes best practices and common mistakes, anecdotes and case studies, and plenty of motivational rhetoric.

Johnson's positive, winning attitude shines through every page, making this book even more entertaining.

9. "Setting the Table" by Danny Meyer

Danny Meyer is a successful restaurateur and his book is in part a memoir of his life on the New York food scene, but his advice applies to any business owner.

Meyer lays out the most important hospitality lessons that are also management lessons. For example, hire employees not just for their skills, but also for their attitude and care. Be open and receptive to feedback from customers, critics, and your own team.

Meyer's advice applies especially to customer service: If you take the time to know your customers' data, you can serve them better.

10. "Big Numbers, Plain Words, Big Wins!: 4 Keys to Unlocking Your Business Potential" by Greg Crabtree

Crabtree makes small business financing easy with step-by-step guides and lots of real-world examples.

The book sheds light on key financial metrics, including human resource, tax and business growth issues. His guiding principle is that entrepreneurs should see the big picture when it comes to finance.

Business owners who are wary of bookkeeping should start in Crabtree's capable hands.

11. "One Page Business Plan for the Creative Entrepreneur" by Jim Horan

When you are at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey, massive and complex business plans could be overkill. But it can still be very helpful to outline the why and how of your business. Author Jim Horan guides readers through simple exercises in a concise document to clarify his approach to business.

Horan argues that writing a business plan -- big or small -- is especially important if you're doing business with other people and/or using other people's money to operate. Once you reach that level of complexity, don't leave things to chance or impulse.

12. "Think Big, Act Bigger: The Rewards of Being Relentless," by Jeffrey W. Hayzlett

Bloomberg Television host Jeffrey Hayzlett delivers a simple but powerful message that applies to startups and large corporations alike: Take action. There are so many obstacles to progress that the essential element of success is simply to keep moving toward your goals.

"The most dangerous move in business is never to move," he writes.

The most successful entrepreneurs break free from conventional thinking, find new ways to push their boundaries, and don't let obstacles stop them. Hayzlett's seasoned advice will help readers to join them.