Many people have needed to deal with job insecurity in recent years and this means that there is increasing interest in creating small businesses. At least when you work for yourself it means that you are in control of your future. There is a real thirst for knowledge about this type of entrepreneurship. Here are just some of the best small business books you will find; this is not meant to be an inclusive list.
How to Succeed as a Small Business Owner … and Still Have a Life by Bill Collier (2006)
Most of us realise that starting a small business is a huge commitment. While we accept that it is going to take a lot of effort we still want to have a life outside of this as well. This is where Bill Collier’s book comes in, he shows that it isn’t all about the amount of effort you put in but how well you manage your efforts. He makes the valid point that many business fail even if the owner works themselves ragged; the problem was that their efforts were misguided. This book tells you the right way to build up your business and manage your time effectively. This is a great resource for anyone considering risking their future on their own enterprise.
The Big Book of Small Business: You Don’t Have to Run Your Business by the Seat of Your Pants by Tom Gegak and Phil Bolsta (2007)
The nice thing about this book is that all the advice comes from personal experience of successful small business people. This makes it all the more valid because anyone can just talk the talk. This book focuses on the importance of having the right mental attitude and how failure might be due o how we approach things. This text is not so much concerned with providing you with theories about how to succeed in business but more about practical advice for how to achieve your aims — all good stuff.
Start Your Own Business by Rieva Lesonsky (2007)
This bestselling business book claims to be the only text you will ever need to get your dreams off the ground. Everything is explained in simple terms; you could consider this as being like a road map to achieving what you want to achieve. There are also plenty of secrets of success that are discussed and you are shown how these can be put into practice. A lot of people claim to have been helped by this book so it is one to add to the collection.
Small Business Cash Flow: Strategies for Making Your Business a Financial Success by Denise O’Berry (2006)
This book is another practically written text for those interested in small business success — you won’t be hit with any theory because this is about doing. This book focuses specifically with cash flow but this is something that a most of us struggle with when we start a venture and then try to keep it going. This book explains how to keep the money flowing even when the economy seems to be falling apart.
The Playbook for Small Businesses by Steve Henry (2010)
This book reads like a biography but contains some real gems for people who are starting up their own small business. Steve Henry lets the reader see his mistakes and the lessons he learnt; more importantly he goes on to show the reader how he managed to make his own venture such a success. This is all useful information and his book is well worth a read.
Alpha Dogs: How Your Small Business Can Become a Leader of the Pack by Donna Fenn (2007)
This book motivates and provides information about how to really make it as an entrepreneur. It covers everything including how to motivate your staff and how to successfully promote your small business. Each chapter is packed full of information and then at the end of each there is a detailed explanation about how this knowledge can be used in real life. If you want to make it as a small business person you will need to be highly motivated and full of self-confidence — this book should help you achieve this.