At the end of each year, I like to supply a list to the best small business book resources I have found on how to start a business. 2010 was a great year for entrepreneurship and next year will be even better. I have found some terrific authors whose books and e-books will help would-be and start-up entrepreneurs avoid having to learn so many expensive lessons. Enjoy!
The Wealthy Freelancer; 12 Secrets to a Great Income and an Enviable Lifestyle By Steve Slaunwhite, Pete Savage, Ed Gandia: This is one of the best business books I have read this year. Most small business start as a side hustle or freelance business, and these guys have nailed down what you need to do in order to build the kind of business where you make a profit and are not just skating by, barely able to pay bills. All three authors are super smart and they are relentless marketers–which is what you need to be to start a successful business.
Plan As You Go Business Plan by Tim Berry Tim Berry is the foremost expert on business plans among
small business thought leaders I know. Berry is a seasoned entrepreneur and adjunct professor who founded Palo Alto software, a business that is still in existence and annually grosses over $10 Million in revenue. One of their top products is Business Plan Pro software, which is an excellent resource for starting a business plan. I’ve included my affiliate link if you want to grab a download of the software.
In his book, the Plan As You Go Business Plan, Tim emphasizes that business plans are not a one shot deal. He also gives the reader options for pulling together their business plan in a way that is not too overwhelming. Tim also gives plenty of resources and practical advice to make your business plan a success.
Your Idea, Inc. 12 Steps to Building a Million Dollar Business — Starting Today! by Sandy Abrams Your Idea, Inc. by Sandy Abrams is for people with product ideas who want to create a small business. Sandy creatively provides step-by-step details and motivational stories from the inner rumblings of idea to seeing your product on store shelves or HSN or QVC. The book’s concrete examples will set anyone up for success. Use her million dollar tips and biz brainstorms to take yourself from inventor to business owner.
Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business that Works By Melinda F. Emerson This is my book which features a month-by-month countdown to starting your small business. If you always wanted to start a business and were not sure how to start, this is the book for you. It would be great to start my system in January. They say it’s also a great professional development course for existing business owners too.
Are You Ready To Become Your Own Boss Workbook by Melinda F. Emerson This is my brand new workbook which will walk you through to go/no go decision to start your small business. The takes the Emerson Planning System from my book Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months and breaks it down do that you can fill in the blanks about your business idea. You will finish this workbook with a clear life plan, financial plan, business concept, niche customer and marketing plan. You will understand whether or not you have a viable business idea.
The blog post is the debut of this new product and I am so excited to share it with you. You can down load it or order a hard copy workbook with at 8.5 x 11 in size so that you have plenty to room to write down your answers to all the thought provoking questions about your business idea.
Life Planning Journal By Melinda F. Emerson You have often read and heard me say that you need a life plan before your ever write a business plan. Well now we’ve taken the basic life planning tools in the book, Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months, and developed a 76-page, life planning journal, that you can use to get clear about what you want out of life. I have been using this dynamic PDF (which means you can type right in it and print) with my clients who need to get centered, reinvent, or want to start a business but are not sure what business to start.
We all need to spend quality time with ourselves so that we can plan a course of action. Use my life planning journal to help you figure out what you want out of life so that you can build a business around that. Do not be one of these people who start a business that is not a good business for them.
Do you have another start-up book that I left off the list? Let me know, I love to find new resources.
If you’re ready to start or grow your small business subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog at www.succeedasyourownboss.com
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE, E-NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You may, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:
Melinda F. Emerson, known to many as SmallBizLady is one of America’s leading small business experts. As a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, and small business coach, she develops audio, video and written content to fulfill her mission to end small business failure. As CEO of MFE Consulting LLC, Melinda educates entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies on subjects including small business start-up, business development and social media marketing. She has been featured on NBC Nightly News, the Tavis Smiley Radio Show, in the Wall Street Journal and Black Enterprise Magazine. She hosts #SmallBizChat weekly on Twitter for emerging entrepreneurs and publishes a resource blog www.succeedasyourownboss.com Melinda is also the author of the national bestseller Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works. (Adams Media 2010)
$27.00
This is RIGHT ON! I’d love to talk with you soon! My students use Business Plan Pro and I’m an affiliate, can’t wait to read some of your suggested resources!
HI Shanon—
Thank you for leaving a comment on this blog, I am so excited about working with start up entrepreneurs. Everyone has good ideas. It is the business of running a business that people need help with. I would be happy to speak with you after the holiday.
To your continued success,
Melinda
Melinda,
I’ve read some of these books and they are absolutely great for small business owners. Another tool that I’ve used extensively is the free consulting through my local Small Business Development Center (Denver Metro SBDC). The consulting is free and the accountability you have with the individual consultants has served as great impulse for all my projects.
Thank you for the information.
R