Take a short list of some of the best books for business owners. These books provide an opportunity to learn new strategies and best practices that you can apply to your business. Every business is different, so you can pick and choose the tips and tricks from each to help you with a specific strategy, including how to build your brand or make more sales, and how to have better interactions with customers or manage your team.

Management

The One Minute Manager, Kenneth H. Blanchard, Spencer Johnson

Check out this practical and short guide to managing others. The premise of this book is that with a series of minute-long tasks, you can set up your team for success. This book was first published in 1982 so it is widely available.

Customer service

Hug your Haters: How to Embrace Complaints and Keep Your Customers, Jay Baer

If you interact with customers, this is a great resource. There are practical steps outlined for how to handle customer complaints received online — such as on your social media pages or on review sites — as well as how to handle customer complaints received over the phone or by email.

Sales

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Robert B. Cialdini

While not strictly a business book, Cialdini’s research will give you a greater understanding into why people act the way they do and how you can motivate them to ‘say yes.’ Well worth the read.

To Sell is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others, Daniel Pink

This book uses social science research to understand how to ‘move others’ — from customers to your own kids. Accessible and informative.

Branding

Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen, Donald Miller

This book details how to use story points to build a brand for your business. Miller shows that building a narrative for your brand, and sharing a specific message with your customer, can have a big impact.

Marketing

This is Marketing: You Can’t Be Seen Until You Learn To See, Seth Godin

Many books have been written about marketing, but Seth Godin’s are entertaining and informative. With short anecdotes and case studies throughout, this book will help you understand how to bring what you’re selling to your customers.

Setting yourself up for success

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

Learn how to avoid common assumptions when starting and running a business. This book has been in print for over 20 years, so it should be available in your local library, or you can pick up a second-hand copy.

Company of One: Why Staying Small Is the Next Big Thing for Business, Paul Jarvis

Company of One shows the value of being your own boss and how not focusing solely on scale and growth can lead to a rewarding and productive lifestyle.