19 Best Books for Starting a Business of All Time – Mageplaza

Have you ever, at least once, dreamed of having your own business?

If the answer is yes, what makes a company successful? some might think about money, a good initial plan or a dedicated mentor, etc.

You are reading: Best books for starting a business

they may be right. however, I believe that the only key to unlocking the door to success is nothing more than knowledge. A famous billionaire listed by Forbes that you must have heard of is Bill Gates. How many books do you invite that he has read?

50 books a year! that means about 4 books per month, or 1 book per week.

Reading is always the shortest way to gain knowledge from the best people. Especially if you want to be the CEO of your own business in the future, books are where you can find everything you need to know to take your first step.

So I’ve compiled a list of the 19 most inspiring books that cover all aspects of starting a business with fresh perspectives and prepare you to make your dreams come true.

table of contents

  • Books on Startup Ideas
    • Will It Fly?: How to Test Your Next Business Idea
    • The Art of Entrepreneurship
    • One’s Business
    • crushing it!
    • this is not a t-shirt
    • hooked
    • quick start guide to starting a business
    • side hustle
    • first profit
    • $100 start-up
    • atomic habits
    • digital minimalism
    • leaders eat last
    • start with why
    • that will never work
    • to be obsessed or to be normal
    • The Lean Startup
    • Tax Knowledge for Small Businesses
    • The Checklist Manifesto
    • Successful People Are Readers! !

    the collection of the best 19 books on starting a business for you

    books on startup ideas

    will it fly?: how to test your next business idea

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    How to Test Your Next Business Idea So You Don’t Waste Your Time and Money

    *Will It Fly? by Pat Flynn rating: 4.8/5 (961 ratings)*

    The first step is always considered the most difficult and takes a great deal of troubleshooting, especially for inexperienced employees. And failure is indispensable. But if it’s possible, no one will wish for that to happen.

    So how do you know if your startup idea will take off or fail?

    We couldn’t predict things in the future, but will it fly? is a book that helps you avoid the worst situations that could happen and choose the right path from the beginning.

    through 5 parts, will it fly teaches you ways to think critically, act deliberately and dare a lot. an honest book with straightforward advice as you begin to test your idea and build a business that can take off and thrive.

    so before you take a giant step and be able to boost your business from the first period of its development, be sure to ask yourself: will it fly?

    the art of the beginning

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    The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything

    The Art of the Start by Guy Kawasaki rating: 4.5 (445 ratings)

    What will you do after identifying the successful rate of your startup ideas? If you already have a potential business idea, then The Art of the Start is the next book on your reading list.

    Dive deep into the art of startup and you may find the answers to everything you’ve ever wondered about starting a business. One Kawasaki mindset that impresses me the most is that “entrepreneurship is a state of mind, not a job title.”

    To be successful, you must think about and assess issues from the perspective of an employer, not an employee. Kawasaki shows you the exact mindset in his book.

    Although this is not a new book, it is packed with information and most of the main things a new business needs to worry about. guy kawasaki covers all stages of the startup process from idea development, investor coaxing to launch and even team building.

    all come with real-life examples and practical skills drawn from history and their own experience with startups.

    company of one

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    Company of One: Why Staying Small Is the Next Big Thing for Business

    Company of Oneb by Paul Jarvis rating: 4.6/5 (318 ratings)

    Is scaling up and getting big are the real key to a fulfilling career?

    jarvis explains the hidden benefits of staying small to his readers and the benefits of working for yourself. his book brings back a refreshingly new approach to building a business that focuses on becoming a highly profitable “company of one.”

    enter this book and you will understand the reasons why an entrepreneur should avoid going up and getting big. Jarvis confirms that the idea of ​​scaling up quickly doesn’t make sense, and even advises entrepreneurs to keep it small and simple to reap unexpected benefits.

    why and how to find the right way to follow this crazy idea? try the company of one.

    books on business branding

    smash it!

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    How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence-and How You Can, Too

    Crushing It! by Gary Vaynerchuk rating: 4.7/5 (2.159 ratings)

    Whether being a recognizable and influential brand is the right path for startups to choose and make one stand out from the crowd?

    cruising it by gary vaynerchuck: a godfather of hustle will tell us what it takes to create a vibrant personal brand and why having a sustainable and growing business is essential.

    Like the name of the book: “how great entrepreneurs build their business”, it is filled with short stories and interviews with many people who experienced branding and startups.

    The great thing about crushing it is that this book gives readers a complete picture of social media, trends, branding, and personal marketing. the difficulties and ways to deal with those challenges from the stories of the people above.

    However, I don’t think Crush It is the right choice for savvy marketers or even newbies, as it’s not a step-by-step guide on what to do, but more of a narrative. despite that, this book is still a great resource with valuable information about branding and social media marketing.

    this is not a t-shirt

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    A Brand, a Culture, a Community – a Life in Streetwear

    This is not a T-shirt by Bobby Hundreds rating: 4.9/5 (535 ratings)

    This is another book of fascinating insights talking branding that you should not miss. If Crushing It is a collection of many businesses’ stories, Bobby Hundreds’ book only centers on one brand.

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    bobby hundreds is a fantastic storyteller. readers have the opportunity to follow the journey of a clothing brand when it was still a small company. if you think again that it is a boring autobiography of a clothing store, you are wrong.

    The book focuses on the idea of ​​building a lasting brand. Branding doesn’t stop at great design, but building a strong community of like-minded followers is what makes it so. calls and feeds it. to the end.

    How do you go from nothing to success and turn a passion into a brand and even a culture? this book is something you won’t regret if you take the time to read it.

    hooked

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    How to Build Habit-Forming Products

    Hooked by Nir Eyal rating: 4.6/5 (2.290 ratings)

    Nir Eyal – the author of the book Hooked, surveyed the most popular products, ranging from iPhone to Pinterest, to find out why people are engaged and love those products.

    what nir eyal found was clearly explained through the “hooked model” written in the book. is a four-step model a company must go through to create products that build habits. for easy understanding, this is how you create products that get people addicted.

    hooked presents a multifaceted picture of product creation, market creation, and customer psychology with its implications for product design.

    As a startup founder, those concepts are a good foundation for growing a company. nir eyal did an excellent job of explaining each idea in the book and then testing them through multiple practical examples.

    books on how to start a business guide

    quick start guide to starting a business

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    The Simplified Beginner’s Guide to Launching a Successful Small Business, Turning Your Vision into Reality, and Achieving Your Entrepreneurial Dream

    Starting a Business QuickStart Guide by Ken Colwell rating: 4.5/5 (809 ratings)

    Creating a business from nothing is a long process and involves several tasks: planning, making critical financial decisions to complete a series of legal documents, and many more.

    ken colwell outlines a roadmap for taking your business from idea to reality. is filled with numerous real-world examples of who has done it. an excellent reference to start your business now.

    The author will guide you through every step of starting your own business in a highly competitive world. This book is one of the most complete guides that you should not miss.

    hustle

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    Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 days

    Side Hustle by Chris Guillebeau rating: 4.5/5 (741 ratings)

    Have you ever thought of quitting your current job and becoming your own boss? But how many people are brave enough to exchange their steady life for an unseen future as startup owners.

    If you think you’re ready to deal with all the pitfalls of your trait, side hustle might be the right book for you. Based on detailed information from several case studies, the author illustrates the business building process with a step-by-step guide.

    The whole book can be summed up in 2 parts. first, the author will come up with an idea, then execute it. side hustle conveys both stages in the most understandable way that even those with no prior experience could put into practice – a great way to start optimizing.

    books on business financial management

    profit first

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    Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Marketing Machine

    Profit First by Mike Michalowicz rating: 4.8/5 (3.020 ratings)

    Financial management is considered one of the most essential concerns of any business. Most companies will at least once experience losses and negative cash flows, especially during their startup period.

    mike michalowicz, with his book: Profits First, covers everything like how to run a business when your budget is tight, some investment tips for growth, and steps to take with money earned once it starts rolling.

    The author focuses on things that could increase the profitability of a business, much like the meaning of the book’s title: profits first. he turns all financial aspects into a simple formula so that even if you’re not an accountant, you can understand how to manage your money when running a new business.

    the $100 start-up

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    Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Live, and Create a New Future

    The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau rating: 4.5/5 (2.860 ratings)

    Another inspiring book that can help you answer so many questions related to most startups’ most significant challenge: The cost.

    When you intend to launch a startup, cost is considered the strongest barrier that prevents you from taking off. In “The $100 Startup,” you’ll go through 50 case studies of entrepreneurs who successfully started a business on a very tight budget.

    The author dissects each story to identify the most determining factors that help the startup open the door to success.

    If you’re still hesitating to pursue your dreams of owning a successful startup, this book is where you can find your courage and motivation.

    books on habit formation for successful entrepreneurs

    atomic habits

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    An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones

    Atomic Habits by James Clear rating: 4.8/5 (14.025 ratings)

    If you think yourself are struggling with getting things done and moving forward in business, Atomic Habits is exactly what you need.

    jame clear shows us how we can form habits and why knowing about this process is important for self-improvement.

    This book builds a practical 4-point framework for building habits and then provides some helpful examples built around behavioral triggers that can help us reshape our lives. a small change is the starting point for a significant change over time.

    Although atomic hanit is ultimately more of a self-help book than one for business people, it may be the key determinant of your success by pushing you to rethink your daily routine and behavior patterns.

    digital minimalism

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    Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World

    Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport rating: 4.6/5 (1.018 ratings)

    Minimalism is the art of understanding how much is enough. You might wonder what minimalism is related to business operations.

    In reality, some people fail to prosper in their businesses because they cannot concentrate in a world full of so many distractions, especially under the impact of the internet. this even becomes a big hurdle with a lot of people.

    and if you’re one of them, digital minimalism shows you the ways digital minimalists find balance between the online and offline world. Plus, some helpful tips in this book can help you control your habits for better work results.

    books on teamwork and leadership

    leaders eat last

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    Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t

    Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek rating: 4.7/5 (4.282 ratings)

    If you decide to start your own business with a team or you have thought of building one at some point, it’s crucial to understand the qualities making for a great leader.

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    When you choose to scale your growth and hire employees, starting a business is no longer a one person show. this mentality can be found in this book. It’s not a self-help guide, but it gives a pretty explicit picture of the ways some leaders are more successful than others.

    leaders eat last focus on how a leader can instill trust among team members and why boosting motivation is necessary for better job performance.

    start with why

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    How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

    Start with Why by Simon Sinek rating: 4.6/5 (9.159 ratings)

    Another famous book of Sinek that you could not miss is Start with Why. A book with a fascinating approach to how successful leaders view the world and their businesses.

    those who don’t know sinek is a well-known leadership expert who analyzed the role of leadership in the success of a startup.

    As its title, start with why encourage leaders to ask why and develop an overview of the market. sinek’s thesis revolves around the need for a leader to accept a not for answer.

    In the book, you’ll see leaders who strive to understand everything that can benefit their business and don’t stop until they get the answers they want. this makes them the ones with a deeper understanding of the market and products than anyone else.

    books on business success stories

    that will never work

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    The Birth of Netflix and the Amazing Life of an Idea

    That Will Never Work by Marc Randolph rating: 4.7/5 (677 ratings)

    It’s great when we could learn from the previous entrepreneurs’ stories that ties in business and life lessons.

    And That Will Never Work is the kind of book that captures the grind, the challenges, and the adventure of building something from nothing. His entire story is fascinating and inspiring for any new venture you’re pursuing. your dreams.

    Like its title, the book looks at the birth of netflix and explains why it was able to be so successful. is packed with great startup advice from an early founder who made a significant impact in the early days.

    to be obsessed or to be normal

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    Be Obsessed or Be Average

    Be Obsessed or Be Average by Grant Cardone rating: 4.7/5 (1.160 ratings)

    Be obsessed or Be average is the book that explains how Grant – a broken and drug-addict can build five successful companies and become a multimillionaire. I believe that your first thought might be unbelievable.

    but it’s a true story of a person scrambling to become a successful business person. the book provides its readers with a wealth of knowledge and skills that anyone can use. use them right away as you set your own goals. .

    what I like the most about this book are 2 concepts and the relationships between them: obsession and purpose. the author instructs you on how to give yourself permission to obsess over success and turn it into the most effective motivation.

    Maybe the author’s perspective on “to be obsessed or to be normal” is not for anyone, but the author’s attitude towards his goals, life and achievements can make you rethink how to approach things in life.

    other books to undertake

    the lean startup

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    How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful businesses

    The Lean Startup by Eric Ries rating: 4.5/5 (5.841 ratings)

    No doubt that advanced technology has a massive influence on how modern businesses operate and compete.

    lean startup provides its readers with a fundamental understanding of using the scientific method to start a business through the build-measure-learn (bml) cycle and innovative metrics.

    You can find useful tips and practical experience in the lean startup. however, the book tends to get repetitive, which can make you a bit bored, especially if you already have some knowledge of the subject.

    whatever happens, for those who are new to this topic, the lean startup is genuinely engaging and a must-read for startup enthusiasts.

    tax knowledge for small businesses

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    A Complete Tax Strategy Guide For Businesses

    Tax Savvy for Small Business by Frederick W.Daily Amazon rating: 4.7/5 (112 ratings)

    Tax Savvy for Small Businesses is the book that I strongly recommend as a new business owner. And if you are not a tax-savvy but still want to have a thorough look at it, this book is for you.

    enter the book, daily points out that a crucial goal of a business owner is to maximize profits through deduction optimization. And the author did a fantastic job of getting ideas across about one of the most complicated factors in running a business: taxes.

    Admittedly, tax is a dry and less exciting subject, but the book is written at a high enough level that readers will explore almost all aspects of tax.

    Because this is a comprehensive tax book, some of the information will not apply to you. however, with its well-structured table of contents, you can quickly skim through the topics and dive into the areas that interest you.

    Explains the different business entities, along with the essential tax advantages: a sole proprietorship, a single and multi-member LLC, an S Corp, etc. tax knowledge for small businesses is a definitive tax reference to have on hand.

    the checklist manifest

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    The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right

    The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande rating: 4.6/5 (3.158 ratings)

    When you’re ready with your startup idea and budget is not your problem, it’s time to put your business into reality. However, starting a business involves lots of complicated tasks.

    and checklist manifesto gives your readers the easiest way to understand business planning methods that anyone can use.

    The author believes that intelligent people make avoidable mistakes such as the amount and complexity of current knowledge in order for us to remember them correctly. For Gawande, bugs and glitches are a must, but we can reduce them using the checklist method.

    is so powerful that it can solve countless problems and improve results in many domains. Please read the checklist manifest to learn about the ways that the checklist helps us overcome human error and make your startup process easier.

    successful people are readers!

    The road from an unknown business to a million dollar business is usually full of difficulties and challenges. it takes a lot of work, and it’s not something that happens overnight. Whether it’s an online or offline business, your first stage in the market is always a daunting task with a steep learning curve.

    If you are looking for some informed recommendations on which books to consider for starting and running a business, I hope this post can be a helpful reference for you.

    thanks for reading!

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