Best Books for Starting a Business

Reading is a great way to grow and learn: as a person and as an entrepreneur. If you’re wondering what the best books for starting a business are, look no further. We’ve compiled a quick list of six of the best business books for 2023.

Let’s be clear: this list is far from exhaustive. And we’re not listing some of our all-time top business books, like The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People or The Lean Startup or The Tipping Point. Those are great titles, too.

But here, we’re focusing on some of 2023’s must-reads from recent years. Whether you’re looking for a refreshing take on leadership or a new perspective on growing your business, you’ll find a new book to love.

No matter where you are in your business journey, these books are likely to inspire you.

The StorySelling Method by Philipp Humm

In any small business, connecting with your customers is vital to your success. But how do you separate yourself from the crowd in a genuine, sustainable way? Enter storytelling, or as Philipp Humm calls it, “storyselling.” Learn how to craft your brand story and tell it so vividly that you’ll make powerful first impressions, grow your sales, and motivate your team.

Raise Your Game: High Performance Secrets from the Best of the Best by Alan Stein Jr.

What’s the essential ingredient that separates the world’s best athletes and top-performing businesses from the average? Alan Stein’s answer might surprise you: it’s the basics. By examining the “best-in-industry” business leaders and athletic performers, Stein inspires his readers to look past society’s “fluff” and focus on key principles and fundamentals to reach new levels of success in any arena, business endeavors included.

Just starting out on your entrepreneurial journey, or dreaming of starting your first business? Here are some titles that will help you get started on the right foot.

Your Next Five Moves: Master the Art of Business Strategy by Patrick Bet-David

When starting a business, you want to think like a chess grandmaster: always five steps ahead. In this Wall Street Journal Bestseller, Patrick Bet-David walks you through innovative strategies to think clearly and always look ahead. By anticipating what’s next, you’ll be a more adaptable, resilient, and successful entrepreneur — from the start.

How to Grow Your Small Business: A 6-Step Plan to Help Your Business Take Off by Donald Miller

If you’re looking for a simple road map to starting a successful business, look no further. Donald Miller boils down the guesswork of entrepreneurship into a six-step guide: mastering leadership, marketing strategy, sales, viable products, operating, and cash flow. Conquering those six areas can grant you freedom, flexibility, and time to focus on your personal passions.

Behind every business success story is a business owner who knows how to inspire their team. Here are some titles that will build your leadership skills and alter your perspective on creating a successful team.

The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups by Daniel Coyle

How do you create a team with a positive, innovative, healthy culture? How do you repair a toxic one? Daniel Coyle explores some of the world’s most successful teams — the Navy Seals Team Six, Zappos, and even a gang of thieves — to decode these questions. Gain valuable insight on how to build a work environment that meets and exceeds its goals.

The Heart of Business: Leadership Principles for the Next Era of Capitalism by Hubert Joly

How did a company like BestBuy rise from the ashes to become a great place to work (and regain an enviable stock value)? Hubert Joly, the company’s former CEO, argues that BestBuy’s resurgence stems from his own paradigm shift on how to do business: focusing on people over profits to reinvent capitalism. In his eyes, profits are an outcome, not the goal — making for a refreshing business model that focuses on leading a sustainable, ethical company.

Inspired by one of these titles, but still not ready to take the leap alone? ZenBusiness has your back. We can help with the red tape required for starting an LLC, incorporating, or any of your other business needs. We’ll support you every step of the way so you can focus on creating a successful business.

Disclaimer: The content on this page is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.