Top 10 Business Books to Grow Your Small Business
Running a small business is incredibly rewarding but can also feel overwhelming. Many entrepreneurs juggle multiple roles, from sales and operations to finance and team management, often finding it hard to focus on strategic growth or build long-term stability.
The good news? There’s a wealth of knowledge from business experts and entrepreneurs who have walked this path before. In this list, we’ve curated the top 10 must-read books for small business owners looking to master the skills of scaling, team-building, financial management, and more. These books will help you work on your business, not just in it, so you can unlock its true potential.
1. The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber
Why Read It:
The E-Myth Revisited is essential reading for any entrepreneur who feels trapped by the day-to-day demands of running a business. Gerber challenges the “Entrepreneurial Myth”—the belief that technical skills alone lead to business success. Instead, he argues that sustainable growth comes from building systems, not relying solely on personal effort. This is especially impactful for business owners who feel they’re “stuck” doing everything themselves.
By focusing on creating repeatable processes, Gerber shows business owners how to transform their work from a never-ending job into a structured, self-sustaining enterprise. The shift from being the technician to being the visionary entrepreneur is the foundation for building a business that can truly scale.
Key Takeaways:
Work on your business, not in it. Transition from task-doer to strategic leader.
Develop repeatable systems. Create a business that can operate smoothly without constant oversight.
Create a clear vision for growth. A defined vision aligns your team’s efforts and keeps you focused.
Action Items:
Map out processes for daily tasks to reduce your workload and improve consistency.
Delegate operational tasks by creating step-by-step guides for employees to follow.
2. Traction by Gino Wickman
Why Read It:
Traction introduces the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), a comprehensive framework that simplifies goal setting, team management, and accountability. Wickman’s EOS approach is perfect for business owners who feel their company is outgrowing its initial structure and need a way to bring order and focus. EOS offers tools for setting clear, measurable goals and structuring teams for success, ensuring that everyone is aligned and working toward the same vision.
This book empowers leaders to get their teams rowing in the same direction, track progress through weekly check-ins, and establish a clear roadmap for growth. For business owners feeling like their business is running them, Traction provides a systematic way to regain control.
Key Takeaways:
Implement the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). EOS structures your operations, sets clear goals, and fosters accountability.
Set clear, measurable goals. Transparent goals drive growth and keep teams aligned.
Get the right people in the right seats. Build a team that’s committed to your business vision.
Action Items:
Use the Vision/Traction Organizer (V/TO) to map out short- and long-term business goals.
Hold weekly “Level 10” meetings with your team to keep everyone aligned and accountable.
3. Good to Great by Jim Collins
Why Read It:
In Good to Great, Jim Collins dives into what differentiates “great” companies from “good” ones. By studying real businesses, Collins reveals essential insights like the “Hedgehog Concept,” which encourages businesses to find the intersection of what they’re best at, what drives their economic engine, and what they’re passionate about. Another core principle, “Level 5 Leadership,” emphasizes humility-driven leadership over ego.
For small business owners, Good to Great provides a roadmap for cultivating focus, disciplined teams, and a sustainable culture of excellence. This book is a guide for entrepreneurs who aim to build a business that doesn’t just survive but thrives in its field.
Key Takeaways:
The “Hedgehog Concept.” Identify what you’re best at, what you’re passionate about, and what drives your business.
Focus on “Level 5 Leadership.” Lead with humility, discipline, and a long-term perspective.
Build a culture of discipline. Consistency and accountability fuel sustainable growth.
Action Items:
Define your Hedgehog Concept by exploring your business’s unique strengths.
Cultivate a culture of discipline by setting high standards and ensuring every team member is committed to excellence.
4. Who Not How by Dan Sullivan
Why Read It:
Who Not How is a game-changer for entrepreneurs stuck in a “do-it-all-yourself” mindset. Dan Sullivan challenges the notion that business owners need to figure out “how” to do everything. Instead, he advocates for asking “Who” can help achieve goals more efficiently. This book is especially useful for business owners trying to scale, as it emphasizes the value of building a team of experts to handle specific roles.
Sullivan’s approach helps business owners realize the power of delegation, freeing up their time to focus on strategic growth rather than being bogged down by operational tasks. Adopting this mindset shift is crucial for scaling, as it allows owners to tap into the strengths of others.
Key Takeaways:
Stop asking “How” and start asking “Who.” Seek people with the right skills to fill roles.
Leverage other people’s strengths. Delegating to experts drives better results and frees up your time.
Free up time for high-impact work. Focus on strategy and growth while others handle day-to-day tasks.
Action Items:
List your top tasks and identify areas where you can delegate.
Find a “Who” for each major project, whether that’s hiring a new team member or outsourcing to a contractor.
5. The Dream Manager by Matthew Kelly
Why Read It:
The Dream Manager by Matthew Kelly takes a unique approach to team building by focusing on helping employees achieve their personal dreams. Kelly argues that businesses can increase loyalty and productivity by supporting their team members’ goals, both personal and professional. This is a revolutionary concept for owners looking to create a positive workplace culture where employees feel valued.
By implementing the principles in The Dream Manager, business owners can reduce turnover and foster a culture of motivation and engagement. It’s a powerful reminder that happy, fulfilled employees are essential for sustainable growth.
Key Takeaways:
Align your team’s dreams with business goals. Motivated employees are more loyal and productive.
Invest in your employees. Valuing employees as individuals leads to a stronger, more committed team.
Build a long-term vision with your team. Creating shared goals encourages team buy-in and satisfaction.
Action Items:
Hold “Dream Sessions” with team members to understand their personal goals and find ways to support them.
Create a development plan for each employee, helping them achieve both personal and professional goals.
6. Cashflow Quadrant by Robert Kiyosaki
Why Read It:
In Cashflow Quadrant, Robert Kiyosaki introduces four income categories—employees, self-employed individuals, business owners, and investors—and explains how understanding these categories can transform your approach to wealth-building. Kiyosaki advocates for shifting from the self-employed category to the business owner and investor quadrants, which are more scalable and can generate passive income.
For small business owners aiming for financial independence, Cashflow Quadrant provides a roadmap to building a business that creates wealth beyond just a salary. The book is essential for owners who want to transition from working in their business to generating income through ownership and investments.
Key Takeaways:
Understand income types. Employees, self-employed, business owners, and investors earn in different ways.
Move from self-employed to business owner. Aim to create a business that can operate without you.
Shift to an investor mindset. Invest strategically to create passive income streams.
Action Items:
Evaluate your business structure to see if you’re working in the “self-employed” quadrant, and make a plan to transition to a true business owner.
Explore investment options that generate passive income as your business grows.
7. Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker
Why Read It:
In Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, T. Harv Eker delves into the psychological barriers that can prevent financial success. Eker explains that deeply ingrained beliefs, or “wealth files,” shape our financial outcomes, for better or worse. This book is perfect for business owners who want to develop a positive money mindset and overcome any internal barriers to achieving financial growth.
With Eker’s guidance, readers can replace limiting beliefs with empowering ones, creating a mindset that supports rather than sabotages financial success. This shift is invaluable for business owners who want to take their finances—and their business—to the next level.
Key Takeaways:
Develop a positive money mindset. Align your beliefs with financial success.
Understand “wealth files.” Identify core beliefs that impact your financial decisions.
Embrace financial responsibility. Taking ownership of financial habits leads to better outcomes.
Action Items:
Identify and replace negative beliefs around money by listing them and reframing them positively.
Set specific financial goals that align with a growth mindset, focusing on both income and profit.
8. Atomic Habits by James Clear
Why Read It:
Atomic Habits by James Clear is a practical guide on how small, consistent changes can lead to big results over time. Clear explains how habits form and provides actionable techniques for building positive habits and breaking negative ones. For small business owners, mastering productive habits is essential for managing growth and staying organized in the face of increasing demands.
By focusing on the power of incremental improvement, Atomic Habits helps business owners build discipline and improve efficiency. It’s ideal for anyone looking to become more productive and effective without drastic overhauls—just small, strategic adjustments.
Key Takeaways:
Small changes lead to big results. Minor adjustments compound over time to create significant progress.
Focus on systems, not goals. Systems help maintain consistency and long-term success.
Break bad habits effectively. Clear offers a straightforward system for replacing negative habits with positive ones.
Action Items:
Choose one high-impact habit you can build to improve productivity and make it part of your daily routine.
Use the “2-minute rule” to make tasks manageable and create momentum with small, easy wins.
9. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
Why Read It:
In The Lean Startup, Eric Ries introduces the “build, measure, learn” approach to developing new ideas with minimal waste. This methodology encourages entrepreneurs to launch a product or service quickly, collect feedback, and make adjustments based on real data. For small business owners, this approach is particularly valuable in fast-paced or highly competitive industries where being able to pivot is key.
The Lean Startup is ideal for entrepreneurs who want to innovate and refine their offerings without sinking resources into untested ideas. By adopting a “minimum viable product” mindset, business owners can stay agile, reduce risk, and focus only on what drives true value.
Key Takeaways:
Adopt a “build, measure, learn” approach. Test ideas quickly, gather insights, and adapt.
Reduce waste. Focus resources on what adds value and eliminate unnecessary spending or time.
Stay agile and adaptable. A flexible approach allows for quick adjustments to meet market demands.
Action Items:
Develop a “minimum viable product” (MVP) for a new product or service and get immediate feedback from customers.
Implement a feedback loop to continually improve your offerings based on customer insights.
10. Profit First by Mike Michalowicz
Why Read It:
Profit First challenges traditional accounting by flipping the traditional formula for profit: instead of revenue minus expenses equals profit, it’s revenue minus profit equals expenses. This approach helps business owners prioritize profit by setting it aside before anything else, ensuring financial health is at the core of business decisions. For small businesses struggling with cash flow, this method is a game-changer.
By applying Michalowicz’s Profit First method, business owners can create a financially sustainable model that doesn’t rely on constant reinvestment or debt. This book is particularly valuable for entrepreneurs looking to build a business that grows while remaining profitable.
Key Takeaways:
Prioritize profit from day one. Profit isn’t an afterthought; it’s a core component of financial health.
Improve cash flow management. The Profit First method ensures your business remains sustainable and financially healthy.
Build a sustainable financial model. Profitability becomes a guiding factor in business growth.
Action Items:
Set up separate accounts for profit, taxes, and expenses to ensure you’re always saving for essentials.
Calculate your “Real Revenue” by setting aside profit first and working within the remaining budget.
Conclusion
As a small business owner, you’re on a constant journey of learning and growth. These 10 books each bring powerful, proven strategies for transforming the way you approach your business. From mastering financial management with Profit First to building systems that scale with The E-Myth Revisited, these reads provide tools to grow sustainably, adapt to challenges, and achieve long-term success.
Start with the book that resonates most with where your business is today. If you’re struggling with cash flow, pick up Profit First. If you need structure, Traction offers a full framework. Implementing even one or two principles from each book will make a noticeable impact on your operations, mindset, and bottom line.
Remember, investing in self-education is one of the most valuable ways to fuel business growth. Whether you’re applying habit strategies from Atomic Habits or building a better team dynamic inspired by The Dream Manager, every insight adds to your success toolkit. And if you’re ready to take these lessons even further, consider booking a consultation with us. Together, we can create a tailored plan to bring these principles to life in your business and achieve explosive growth!
