7 Recommended Books for Starting an Online Business

Do you really need to attend a business school to be a successful entrepreneur? While it may help you in certain circumstances, it isn’t a necessity, especially when you want to start an online business. Pete Cashmore began Mashable when he was only 19. And look at how amazingly successful it is today!

But the road to success isn’t easy. You need to gather adequate information, couple it with wisdom and imagination to make things work. And what could be a better source for all these than books! Just take your pick, read and absorb what the best have to say.

Here’s a quick look at 7 of the best books for starting an online business:

Will It Fly? By Thomas K. McKnight

Does your business idea have wings? Or will it fall flat? The 44-item checklist in this one will help you find the answer to this vital question. Do you have the right personal traits? Do you know where the exits are? You’ll find answers to all your queries and also evaluate your chances of success.

The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau

Is it really possible to build a million dollar business on a modest budget? Guillebeau brings forward a series of case studies to prove his point. A pleasant read, this offers great value if you are on the lookout for a book that helps you understand why you should do what you love – and how to do it too.

The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber

Being an entrepreneur isn’t exactly similar to being the mythical hero it is often cut out to be. If you wish to get the entrepreneurship facts straight, this is the book to read. It also illustrates the distinction between working ‘on’ your business and working ‘in’ your business.

The Barefoot Executive by Carrie Wilkerson

Want a little inspiration? Take up this book and glimpse Wilkerson’s journey to become a home-based entrepreneur. An entertaining read, this helps you understand the ways in which to tackle the core issues – identifying the target market, creating marketing strategies, building your brand, and so on.

The Lean Startup by Eric Ries

Creation and assessment of business processes may not be an easy task. And it is where this book can be a handy guide – when you are planning to start an online business, especially a software startup, this is one of the must-reads. And the best part, it comes from his experience.

The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss

Well, flexible work hours are one of the chief points that drive individuals to begin their own businesses. This book explores the opportunities that you can get when you decide to take the plunge. And the way the author relates the points in a fun and motivational manner makes it all the more interesting.

Lucky or Smart? by Bo Peabody

Bo Peabody was an online multimillionaire in his twenties. In this book he answers the important question – was it luck or was he smart enough to do it? He illustrates the way you can cultivate your perception and identify when he was plain lucky. Smart for him to do it!

No single book can be your only guide; read up on as many as you can before you take a step.

Recommended Books on Growing an Online Business:

Zero To One by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters
Digital Bacon by Alex Rodriguez
The Suitcase Entrepreneur by Natalie Sisson
The Startup Survival System by Kurt Won
Virtual Freedom by Chris Ducker

What books for starting an online business would you recommend to online entrepreneurs? Share your books in the comments below:

The post 7 Recommended Books for Starting an Online Business appeared first on The Entrepreneurs Library.

Q: Will you take a moment to introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about you personally? (0:33)

A: I live in the Chicago area, married with three kids who are 21, 18 and 13. I currently have two online startup businesses after founding and running a company for 10 years and then selling it to Fortune 100.

Q: What was the inspiration behind writing From Idea To Exit? (1:38)

A: I had a lifelong yearning to become on entrepreneur and having accomplished that is really what gave me the spark. I dreamed of being an entrepreneur since high school and survived years of goofy ideas that I never acted on and just prior to my 30th birthday I was able to start my first company, Technology Resource Center. It was after running that company for ten years and selling it that the book came to me and I wanted to share that experience with other entrepreneurial dreamers as well as people who were already running businesses.

Q: What makes your book different from others regarding the same topic? (2:42)

A: I think most entrepreneurial books fit in two categories, one being via graphical tales, and the other instructional tales. I wanted to create content for the entrepreneurial dreamer that took them through each stage – the idea, startup, running and exit. I weave my personal stories and examples but what separates my book is the core question that I set out to answer which is why do some people seem to effortlessly act on their idea and create something while others turn ideas constantly and fail to take action.

Q: How would you suggest the reader engage with this book? (4:18)

A: I suggest the reader read it from cover to cover because my story flows from beginning to end.

Q: Will you give the reader a great explanation of what they are going to get out of this book? (5:12)

A: The book takes the reader through a journey – the four stages of the entrepreneurial lifecycle which are the idea, the startup, running and exit stage.

In the idea I define what an entrepreneur is and how he or she is different from a business owner. I think it’s critical that people understand what an entrepreneur is because it is a very over used business title. I show the history and evolution of entrepreneurism and how it pertains to the readers’ journey. I also try to relate to the entrepreneurial dreamer what it’s mentally and physically like to be an entrepreneur. I go into ideas in innovation and answer a burning question of how to activate your ideas. The first part of the equation in the entrepreneurial formula is the word IDEA – Innovation, desire, effort, ability. This is what an entrepreneur needs to go through the startup phase.

The book then progresses from IDEA to STARTUP which is when you actually become an entrepreneur. I touch on the pitfalls that entrepreneur startups run into. Also what is required and what happens physically and mentally at this stage. And mastering your funding, resources and what the primary role of an entrepreneur is. I end this section talking about partners and employees.

In the next section, running phase, I focus on demand fulfillment. Making your company known and running a business you are constantly adapting and changing as you learn more about your customers and business. You know you have entered this running phase when you start to get orders and you are doing fulfillment. I focus on leadership, culture, evolving as a leader, the art of selling, maintaining a culture of innovation and scaling growth.

The last section I talk about the entrepreneurs exit plan. I like to say that every entrepreneur is going to exit their business either standing up or lying down. Ignoring this reality is irresponsible to yourself, employees, customers, investors and family members. I talk about knowing the signs when it is time for you to move on. If you are selling I give tips on how to put your company on the market and how to negotiate the sale.

I supplement all this through my experiences just as informational and examples to help add some vision into the experience.

Q: If the reading could only take one concept, principle or action item out of the entire book what would you want that to be? (10:53)

A: My sales formula is really the most relevant. Learning what to look for when a sales person is struggling is the key. And I believe you can use this formula to target improvement and I believe it is a universal formula.

Q: Besides your own book is there another book that you would recommend to the readers out there that are looking for that next big paradigm shift? (14:39)

A: Awakening the Entrepreneur Within by Michael Gerber and The Lean Startup by Eric Ries.

Q: Do you have a favorite quote from your book? (16:04)

A: “Don’t try to build a better mousetrap if you don’t know how to make mousetraps.” – Unknown

Q: What is the best way to get more information on you and From Idea To Exit? (17:25)

A: The best way to find me is at Linkedin where I post blogs and I encourage invites.

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