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SB

Small Business and Bootstrapping

Entrepreneurship and Startups

These books cover owner-run and self-funded businesses, including small-business systems, cash and profit management, freelancing, franchising and buying an existing company.

30 books on Small Business and Bootstrapping, recommended by 30 people including Nat Eliason and Mohnish Pabrai.

30 books · 32 experts

Start here

  1. The E-Myth RevisitedMichael E. Gerber, 1995
  2. Small GiantsBo Burlingham, 2005
  3. HBR Guide to Buying a Small BusinessRichard S. Ruback, Royce Yudkoff, 2017
  4. Million Dollar ConsultingAlan Weiss, 1992
  5. ReworkDavid Heinemeier Hansson, 2010

The best books on Small Business and Bootstrapping 30

The E-Myth RevisitedThe E-Myth Revisited
T2 The E-Myth Revisited
Michael E. Gerber · 1995
Build the business as a replicable prototype; the franchise mindset generalised.
Open Library
“Rated 10/10; Sivers repeatedly cites it as the book that shaped how he systematized CD Baby so the business could run without him.”Derek Sivers
Recommended byAlex LiebermanAli AbdaalAndrew WilkinsonDerek SiversJohn D SaundersNick HuberSimon SinekTim Ferriss+1 more
Small GiantsSmall Giants
T2 Small Giants
Bo Burlingham · 2005
Firms that deliberately chose to be great rather than big.
Open Library
Recommended byMohnish PabraiCatriona WallaceNoah KaganTom Peters
HBR Guide to Buying a Small BusinessHBR Guide to Buying a Small Business
T2 HBR Guide to Buying a Small Business
Richard S. Ruback, Royce Yudkoff · 2017
The search-fund method, from the professors who teach it.
Open Library
Million Dollar ConsultingMillion Dollar Consulting
T3 Million Dollar Consulting
Alan Weiss · 1992
Value pricing for solo and boutique consultancies.
Open Library
Recommended byNat EliasonNoah Kagan
ReworkRework
T3 Rework
David Heinemeier Hansson · 2010
Open Library
Recommended byAndrew WilkinsonJason FriedJeff BezosJohn MaedaMark CubanShane ParrishTim FerrissTom Peters+1 more
Start Small, Stay SmallStart Small, Stay Small
T3 Start Small, Stay Small
Rob Walling, Mike Taber · 2010
Deliberately niche software businesses and their unit economics.
Open Library
Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits!Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits!
T3 Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits!
Greg Crabtree, Beverly Herzog · 2011
Owner-operator economics: labour efficiency and the four keys.
Open Library
Recommended byNat Eliason
Franchise Your BusinessFranchise Your Business
T3 Franchise Your Business
Mark Siebert · 2016
The practitioner manual on franchising an existing operation.
Open Library
Buy Then BuildBuy Then Build
T3 Buy Then Build
Walker Deibel · 2018
Acquisition entrepreneurship as an alternative to founding.
Open Library
The SaaS PlaybookThe SaaS Playbook
T3 The SaaS Playbook
Rob Walling, Jason Cohen · 2022
Bootstrapped SaaS economics: pricing, churn, plateau.
Open Library
301 Great Management Ideas from America's Mo
T4 301 Great Management Ideas from America's Most Innovative Small Companies. Edited
Sarah P. Noble · 1991
Open Library
Recommended byMohnish Pabrai
What I Learned Before I Sold to Warren BuffeWhat I Learned Before I Sold to Warren Buffett: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Developing a Highly Successful Company
T4 What I Learned Before I Sold to Warren Buffett: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Developing a Highly Successful Company
Barnett C. Helzberg Jr. Barnett Helzberg · 2003
Open Library
Recommended byMohnish Pabrai
You Need to Be a Little Crazy: The Truth aboYou Need to Be a Little Crazy: The Truth about Starting and Growing Your Business
T4 You Need to Be a Little Crazy: The Truth about Starting and Growing Your Business
Barry Moltz · 2003
Open Library
Recommended byMohnish Pabrai
Start a Successful Mutual Fund: The Step-by-Start a Successful Mutual Fund: The Step-by-Step Reference Guide to Make It Happen
T4 Start a Successful Mutual Fund: The Step-by-Step Reference Guide to Make It Happen
Melinda Gerber · 2004
Open Library
Recommended byMohnish Pabrai
Built To Sell: Creating a Business that Can Built To Sell: Creating a Business that Can Thrive Without You
T4 Built To Sell: Creating a Business that Can Thrive Without You
John Warrillow · 2010
Open Library
Recommended byMohnish PabraiNat EliasonNick Huber
The Educated FranchiseeThe Educated Franchisee
T4 The Educated Franchisee
Rick Bisio · 2011
Buyer's-side guide to picking and vetting a franchise.
Open Library
Design Is a JobDesign Is a Job
T4 Design Is a Job
Mike Monteiro · 2012
Open Library
Recommended byJordan Hughes
The $100 StartupThe $100 Startup
T4 The $100 Startup
Chris Guillebeau · 2012
Open Library
Recommended byNat EliasonMatej LatinTony Hsieh
The Pumpkin PlanThe Pumpkin Plan
T4 The Pumpkin Plan
Mike Michalowicz · 2012
Open Library
Recommended byGuy Kawasaki
Burn Your Portfolio
T4 Burn Your Portfolio
Mike Janda · 2013
Open Library
Recommended byJohn D Saunders
Profit FirstProfit First
T4 Profit First
Mike Michalowicz · 2014
Cash discipline for small businesses; a system, not an accounting theory.
Open Library
Recommended byNat EliasonJohn D SaundersRan Segall
The Ultimate Blueprint for an Insanely SucceThe Ultimate Blueprint for an Insanely Successful Business
T4 The Ultimate Blueprint for an Insanely Successful Business
Keith J. Cunningham · 2017
Open Library
Recommended byRan Segall
Company of OneCompany of One
T4 Company of One
Paul Jarvis · 2019
Open Library
Recommended byCal NewportDavid HellmannEric JorgensonGeorge HatzisMatej LatinNick Huber
Escape from Cubicle NationEscape from Cubicle Nation
T4 Escape from Cubicle Nation
Pamela Slim
unverified
Recommended byNat Eliason
Freelance, and Business, and Stuff
T4 Freelance, and Business, and Stuff
Amy, Jen Hood
unverified
Recommended byJohnnie Gomez
Getting Real
T4 Getting Real
Basecamp
unverified
Recommended byGirish MathruboothamJohn Maeda
It's Your Business
T4 It's Your Business
JJ Ramberg
unverified
Recommended bySimon Sinek
The Art and Business of Online Writing
T4 The Art and Business of Online Writing
Nicolas Cole
unverified
Recommended byAli Abdaal
The E-MythThe E-Myth
T4 The E-Myth
Michael Gerber
unverified
Recommended byNat Eliason
The Sweaty Startup
T4 The Sweaty Startup
Nick Huber
Open Library
“my friend Nick Huber's excellent new book on how to get rich by starting blue collar businesses”Andrew Wilkinson
Recommended byAndrew Wilkinson

Experts 32

The people who wrote this page's books, and the people who recommend them.

Authors 3

David Heinemeier Hanssonwrote 1 book here
NH
Nick Huberwrote 1 book here
PJ
Paul Jarviswrote 1 book here

Recommenders 30

NE
Nat Eliasonrecommends 7 books here
MP
Mohnish Pabrairecommends 6 books here
AW
Andrew Wilkinsonrecommends 3 books here
JD
John D Saundersrecommends 3 books here
NH
Nick Huberrecommends 3 books here
TP
Tom Petersrecommends 2 books hereSimon Sinekrecommends 2 books here
AA
Ali Abdaalrecommends 2 books hereJohn Maedarecommends 2 books here
ML
Matej Latinrecommends 2 books here
NK
Noah Kaganrecommends 2 books here
RS
Ran Segallrecommends 2 books here
Show all 30
Tim Ferrissrecommends 2 books hereTony Hsiehrecommends 2 books hereGuy Kawasakirecommends 1 book here
SP
Shane Parrishrecommends 1 book here
AL
Alex Liebermanrecommends 1 book here
CN
Cal Newportrecommends 1 book here
CW
Catriona Wallacerecommends 1 book here
DH
David Hellmannrecommends 1 book here
DS
Derek Siversrecommends 1 book here
EJ
Eric Jorgensonrecommends 1 book here
GH
George Hatzisrecommends 1 book here
GM
Girish Mathruboothamrecommends 1 book here
JF
Jason Friedrecommends 1 book hereJeff Bezosrecommends 1 book here
JG
Johnnie Gomezrecommends 1 book here
JH
Jordan Hughesrecommends 1 book hereMark Cubanrecommends 1 book here
TB
Tom Bilyeurecommends 1 book here
See all 32 in the Experts tab →

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