Top 10 Must-Reads for Small Businesses

There are thousands of informative and inspiring business books out there that help guide small business owners to reach their goals. With so many options, it can be overwhelming to decide which are worth the read.

Here is our list of the top ten must-reads for small businesses to inspire creativity, productivity and help achieve business success.

1. Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose by Tony Hsieh

The Importance of Company Culture

In this book, Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh shares the unique lessons he has learned through running multiple businesses. One of the major lessons to be learned from this book is that businesses should focus on company culture as the #1 priority. The main message is that making money should never be the first priority of a business. Companies should be making customer service the responsibility of the entire company – not just a department. Delivering Happiness shows how establishing an engaging corporate culture can dramatically increase the success of a business.

2. The E-Myth: Why Small Businesses Don’t Work and What To Do About It, Revisited by Michael Gerber

Debunking common myths about starting your own business

This best seller walks entrepreneurs through the lifecycle of a business. Gerber uses his vast experience as a business consultant to dispel common myths about starting your own business. Most importantly, Gerber draws the vital distinction between working on your business versus working in your business.

3. Traction by Gino Wickman

How to resolve common issues that arise with company growth

Traction is the small business owner’s guide to resolving issues that commonly arise as a business grows. These problems include frustration, losing control of the business and employee burnout. Wickman stresses the idea that in order for a business to be successful, you must control your business rather than letting your business control you.

4. Influence by Robert B.Cialdini

The importance of Psychology in business

Influence takes a deep dive into the world of customer psychology. Dr Robert Cialdini uses his 35 years of research to demonstrate the importance of psychology in business. This book is all about understanding why people say yes instead of no and how entrepreneurs can use this knowledge to their advantage in order to succeed in business.

5. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

Creating a viral trend

The tipping point is the moment when an idea, trend or social behavior crosses a threshold and spreads like wildfire. Canadian journalist, Malcolm Gladwell explores this tipping point phenomenon and how this is changing the way that people think about selling products. In this book, you’ll learn the science behind viral trends in business, marketing and human behavior.

6. Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek

Building a brand from purpose

In this book, Simon Sinek emphasizes the importance of purpose when creating a business. He emphasizes that the most successful companies got to where they are because their businesses were created for a specific purpose. Sinek argues that startups should develop a sense of purpose for their business and then work backward to figure out how they will execute this purpose. Rather than developing a product and then establishing a company purpose, purpose should be the ultimate foundation for a business.

7. Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson

Start doing.

The main message of Rework is to stop talking and start doing. Rework provides raw and unfiltered advice on how to be more productive, how to get exposure without breaking the bank and how to reach your desired levels of business success. Rework is the perfect playbook for anyone who’s ever dreamed of doing it on their own.

8. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries

Creating a flexible business plan.

In this book, you’ll learn how to create a successful startup fast! The Lean Startup offers companies of all sizes an innovative way to test their vision, adjust and adapt. The main message is that rather than creating a very comprehensive and static one-time business plan, you should be creating a flexible business plan that is frequently edited and adjusted.

9. Crush it! Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion By Gary Vaynerchuk

Leveraging the internet to create a personal brand.

In this book, you’ll learn how to turn your web presence into a personal brand. Gary Vaynerchuck discovered the value of the internet as a sales channel earlier than most, when he grew his family’s wine business from a $4 million venture to a $60 million venture. This book shows entrepreneurs how to harness the power of the internet to turn real life interests and passions into businesses.

10. Hooked by Nir Eyal

Creating products that people love.

Hooked introduces readers to a four-step process that companies use to build customer habits called the “Hook Model”. The key is to building products that people can’t put down. This book gives readers actionable steps for building products that people love through using consecutive hook cycles to build high customer retention.