7 Books to Read Before You Build Your Next Business

Looking to push the “quick start” button at your next business? There’s no substitute for picking up a book that’s chock full of valuable lessons you might otherwise have to learn through months of experimentation.

That’s true whether you’re a veteran entrepreneur or brand new to business ownership. And it’s likely why leading entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates, Elon Musk and Mark Cuban are famous for being avid readers.

Not sure what book you should read next? Here are some entrepreneurship books that will help you get your next business off to a strong start.

The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss

Ten years after it was first published, this blockbuster remains a must-read for those looking to cut down their hours and increase their income. Most people can’t pare down to a workweek that is literally four hours long but any entrepreneur will come away from The 4-Hour Workweek with great ideas for working more efficiently and freeing time for fun.

The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau

Looking for a business to start that won’t put a big drain on your cash flow? Chris Guillebeau will get you fired up with ideas on how he, and 50 other entrepreneurs, started their business with minimal capital. Learn the details of how he managed to travel the world and give back by converting his ideas into a profit-making business.  

Work Less Make More by James Schramko

For many entrepreneurs who’ve left the corporate world to start a business, creating a great lifestyle is paramount. But overwork has a way of creeping up on us as deadlines loom, and many business owners find themselves working even more than they did at their last job.

If you’re looking to regain the balance in your life, Work Less Make More by James Schramko offers unique business strategies he used to scale his business to fit the life he always wanted within three years.

 Choose Yourself by James Altucher

With the digital revolution transforming our economy, many of us need to reinvent our thinking. Choose Yourself will give you ideas on how to realize the opportunities in this new environment.

In his signature, irreverent style, Altucher will force you to question the assumptions you have about business and work and remind you of why—despite all of the challenges you already know about as an entrepreneur—taking control of your own destiny offers a smart path forward.

Profit First by Mike Michalowicz

Many entrepreneurs focus on revenue so much that they neglect to pay attention to another critical key performance indicator in a business: profit. Profit First offers a system that, when implemented correctly, will keep you focused on the bottom line, and free you from the cash-flow nightmares that plague many entrepreneurs. Once you’re achieving high profits, scaling up your business will become lot more fun.

Start with Why by Simon Sinek

Looking at why some organizations are more innovative, influential and profitable than others, Sinek realized something important that great leaders around the world realize: People won’t buy into a product unless they get the “why” behind it. If you’re looking to raise your game as a leader as you start your next business, this book will be invaluable. (Sinek’s TED Talk based on Start with Why has been watched by more than 28 million people.)

The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod

Starting your day early to exercise, mediate, read and otherwise invest in your own personal development is a great way to ensure that your next business will be successful. Simply getting up one hour earlier can make all of the difference, as Elrod points out.

If you find you keep hitting the snooze when your chosen wakeup time rolls around, try Elrod’s battle-tested tips. In business, if you snooze, you lose—but fortunately, there are some easy solutions.