3 Books Every Business Owner Should Read (Unless You Enjoy Burnout and Being Broke)

Look, if working 80 hours a week, answering calls at 9pm, and being the CEO, janitor, and bookkeeper all in one sounds like “living the dream” to you… then by all means, keep winging it. But if you'd like your business to stop feeling like a never-ending hostage situation, read these 3 books. Seriously.

1. The E-Myth Revisited – Michael E. Gerber

This one should be required reading for anyone who’s ever said, “I’m just gonna start my own business—it’ll be great!” Spoiler alert: it's not great when you're the technician, the manager, and the visionary all rolled into one exhausted human. Gerber politely (okay, not so politely) points out that just because you can bake cupcakes doesn’t mean you should open a bakery. You need systems, structure, and a plan—unless, of course, your dream is to die at your desk with frosting on your shirt.

2. Built to Sell – John Warrillow

Here’s a crazy thought: what if your business could run without you? I know, sounds like witchcraft. But this book walks you through how to create a business that someone else would actually want to buy. You know, one that doesn’t require your personal blood, sweat, and emotional breakdowns to function. It’s basically the antidote to the “I’ll just do it myself” mindset that keeps you broke and bitter.

3. Profit First – Mike Michalowicz

You’re making sales, but somehow your bank account still looks like a desert? Welcome to the club. Mike flips the usual “reinvest everything” nonsense on its head and shows you how to actually pay yourself first—without running your business into the ground. It’s like Dave Ramsey and a CFO had a sarcastic, slightly aggressive baby who wants you to be profitable. And we love him for it.

Bottom line?

If you enjoy chaos, confusion, and being chronically underpaid, skip these books. But if you want a business that runs smoothly, makes money, and maybe even lets you take a vacation (imagine that!), then start reading.

You're building a business. Might as well build a good one.