15 of the Best Books for Bootstrapping Entrepreneurs [2024]
We came up with this list of 15 of the best books for bootstrapping entrepreneurs by asking our team for their personal favorites. These are the titles that came up over and over because they’re like playbooks for running your business better. From classics to new releases, we’ve got something for every entrepreneur’s reading list. Eyes blurry from staring at your screen? Relax, we have links to the audiobook versions, too.
The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
A book dedicated to helping you avoid the pitfalls that lead most startups to fail, this one’s packed full of advice to help you do more with less, adjust faster, and figure out what your customers really want.
Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges by Amy Cuddy
If you’ve ever left an important pitch or sales call feeling like your performance was less than stellar, this book needs to be on your radar. In June 2012, social psychologist and author Amy Cuddy gave one of the most popular TED talks of all time. Her insights into how body language might impact not only how others see us, but also how we see ourselves has been viewed and shared more than 50 million times. In her book, Presence, she expands on this idea with passion, research, and real-life examples.
Lost and Founder by Rand Fishkin
Fishkin’s 2018 memoir reads like a conversation with a good friend over a couple beers. While he could easily talk up his many business successes, instead he takes you on an honest, funny, and overarchingly human ride through all the ups and downs that are life as a startup founder.
The Four Steps to the Epiphany by Steve Blank
A new classic with practical advice on everything from rapid iteration and customer feedback to testing your assumptions.
Amazon | (not available as audio)
Traction: How Any Startup Can Achieve Explosive Customer Growth by Gabriel Weinberg and Justin Mares
You have a solid product, and you’ve onboarded your first few customers – what’s next? This book provides a solid starting place for Founders as they start thinking seriously about how to drive growth, with clear and actionable advice.
INSPIRED: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love by Marty Cagan
One of the best books for entrepreneurs new to product management, Cagan’s straightforward, master-class like volume is a must-read to help you develop your product management cycle, scale and staff your team, and uncover new features your customers will love (and pay for).
Tools of the Titans by Tim Ferriss
This selection comes highly recommended by SureSwift Capital's Chair of the Board, Don Wharton. It’s hard to think of an impressive business list that Tim Ferriss hasn’t topped since the success of The 4-Hour Work Week launched him to worldwide fame. He’s one of Fast Company's "Most Innovative Business People," one of Forbes's "Names You Need to Know," and one of Fortune's "40 under 40." Oh yeah, and he’s been an early-stage investor/advisor in companies like Uber, Facebook, Shopify, Duolingo, Alibaba, and more than 50 others. It’s the understatement of the year to say he knows the startup world, and safe to say if he’s got a book out, it should be on your nightstand.
Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown
Brené Brown is read and beloved by millions who have used her wisdom to get past the emotions and habits holding them back in life, business, and relationships. If you struggle with relating to your team, or find that you talk yourself out of opportunities, any one of her books may offer insight into getting past these patterns and making progress.
Zero to One by Peter Thiel
A thought-provoking guide to building successful startups. Thiel, a successful entrepreneur and investor, shares his insights on what it takes to create a truly innovative and successful business. This book challenges conventional wisdom and encourages entrepreneurs to think big and create something truly unique. Don Wharton, SureSwift's Founder, recommends this book not just for Founders, but to Investors who are involved in the startup world.
Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change by Ellen Pao
A powerful memoir that sheds light on the challenges faced by women in the tech industry. Pao's experiences as a venture capitalist and her subsequent gender discrimination lawsuit against her former employer, Kleiner Perkins, provide valuable insights for entrepreneurs looking to create a more inclusive and diverse workplace. This book serves as a call to action for entrepreneurs to work towards a more equitable and just business world.
Amazon | (not available as audio)
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
Duckworth has good news for bootstrappers: It’s grit, not genius that turns out to be the biggest predictor of success. If you started a business solo, that usually means there will be areas that are outside your wheelhouse. Maybe you’re a great programmer, but the marketing side’s a bit of a mystery to you, or vice versa. Or maybe your business is going great, but the next stage means management, which you’ve never done. Grit will teach you to meet challenges in business and life with passion and persistence.
The Power of Broke by Daymond John
An inspiring and practical guide for entrepreneurs looking to build successful businesses with limited resources. John shares his personal story of building the FUBU clothing brand and provides valuable insights and strategies for launching and growing a successful business.
The Unicorn's Shadow: Combating the Dangerous Myths that Hold Back Startups, Founders, and Investors by Ethan Mollick
In "The Unicorn's Shadow," Ethan Mollick from Wharton flips the script on startup success. Debunking myths with hard data, he reveals the true faces of successful founders and the path to entrepreneurial triumph, calling for a more inclusive and evidence-based approach to starting up.
Related articles
.png)
The 13 Hallmarks of an Exceptional Startup Founder
Great leaders come in many different forms, with different backgrounds, strengths, and areas of expertise. But some patterns do start to emerge when you look at a big sample of successful founders — especially in the bootstrapped business model. Being in the acquisition business we’ve had the distinct advantage of purchasing more than 30 companies and reviewing hundreds more from behind the scenes. These are a few things we’ve noticed along the way.
