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4 must read books when starting your own business

Becoming self-employed

Table of contents

    Starting a business can be daunting, with lots of things to consider and think about. Ensuring you’re organised and have followed all of the necessary legal obligations is one thing, but then what comes next? How do you actually build a successful business and still have satisfaction and enjoyment out of your work life?

    We’ve put together our top 4 recommended books that you should read when starting a business to ensure you have the right attitude and mindset to set you up for success.

    #1 How Far Do You Want to Go?: Lessons from a Common-Sense Billionaire

    This book explains the business lessons of the author and billionaire entrepreneur John Catsimatidis (owner and CEO of the Red Apple Group) that he experienced throughout his amazing career. With a step-by-step story of his life to owning his own company, John explains how by his 25th birthday he already had 10 Red Apple Supermarkets scattered along Broadway on Manhattan’s Upper Westside. So he must have been doing something right surely?

    But he continues - telling his experience of how he ended up in the political arena and has dipped his toe into many other industries as well, successfully staying afloat throughout. It’s quite worth the read to gain some insight on lessons learned and how to expand.

    Taking John’s mistakes and lessons and implementing his solutions into your business could potentially protect your new business from error or worse, major loss of revenue.

    #2 Turn Your Passions Into Profits: The Proven Path for Building a Rewarding Online Business

    Matt McWilliams, author of ‘turn your passions into profit’ promotes how you truly can turn your passion into your business. After starting his first online business in 2001, to then owning a successful company as a leading online business teacher, he shows that you can and deserve to create a good income doing what you love.

    Sharing his advice on the steps to take to start and grow an online platform, you’ll finish this read feeling like you can smash business development. Focusing on online growth, his simple instructions clearly lay out a successful business model to help you along the way.

    #3 Out of the Closet: A Business Book for Women

    A perfect read for women or men looking to manage a life with children with a fulfilling career.  Marnie LeFevre fills her book with practical advice for entrepreneurs starting a new business, alongside how to raise a family while doing a job you love. Providing great strategies for running, marketing, and developing your business, written by a female entrepreneur who relates to the struggles females experience in business and wants new business owners to feel supported and understood.

    Discover the realness of motherhood alongside working and getting satisfaction from your career. Marnie tells us authentic stories from starting her business and gives a real insight into what it’s like to work in business as a woman. Listen to her advice to help you run your startup with an outlined plan and still boss parenting.

    #4 Company of One: Why Staying Small is the Next Big Thing for Business

    The book that shows you how to make your business better rather than bigger. The common misconception that more = better in business is not longer working. Author, Paul Jarvis, offers step-by-step measures that will help you run a successful but minimal business where you’ll create something that matters and enjoy your work life.

    Owning a business doesn’t mean always following the ‘typical’ rules and layouts for running a company. The way that big corporations are run doesn’t always mean that they’re correct. It’s possible to have a great income while also making positive and impactful changes. Many leave employed life to turn self-employed and create their own start-up. But, if you’re leaving a life of work that doesn't fit your needs and job desires, then why reinstate that into your business just because it’s the ‘right way’. Your business, your choices.

    Discover a new approach to running a company through Jarvis’s compelling book for new entrepreneurs.

    For any advice on setting up your business get in touch with our expert advisors at Crunch.

    Already started your business? We have the perfect solution for ultimate accounting organisation and planning through our Crunch accounting software and support from experts and real accountants. Discover easy accounting with a 14 day free trial online or book a call to speak to our team.

    If you’ve had enough of juggling spreadsheets and never finding the right invoice, your business needs Crunch’s free accounting software, whether you are a freelancer, sole trader or limited company. We are the UK’s most cost-effective online accounting service, with an award-winning Customer Service team and Chartered Certified accountants.

    We have no hidden fees, no limitations, but a wide range of accounting software features that help you easily manage your business. If you need more information, you can talk to our expert online accountants, payroll experts and even VAT specialists.

    Is it time for your Self Assessment? The Crunch team can also complete and file that to HMRC for a one-off fee. We have a powerful online system and fully-trained accountants to relieve you of stressing about those numbers.

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