10 Books Every Solopreneur and Small Business Owner Should Read This Summer

Aug 23

Summer is the perfect time to slow down just enough to actually read — and what better way to spend those hours than sharpening the business skills that get you closer to your goals? Whether you're by the pool, on a porch, or squeezing in a chapter between client calls, these 10 books are essential reads for any solopreneur or small business owner ready to grow and work smarter.

1. "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries

Dive into strategies for launching and managing a business with limited resources. Ries offers practical advice on building a sustainable model and adapting quickly when the market shifts — a must for anyone building lean.

2. "Start with Why" by Simon Sinek

Discover the core of strong leadership and business strategy by focusing on why your business exists. Sinek's book helps you clarify your purpose and inspires both you and anyone on your team to work toward a shared goal.

3. "Good to Great" by Jim Collins

Learn the principles that separate great companies from merely good ones. Collins' research-based insights offer a roadmap for leveling up your business, backed by real-world examples.

4. "The E-Myth Revisited" by Michael E. Gerber

Gerber breaks down the common pitfalls that sink small businesses and offers a framework for building something scalable. Essential reading if you're ready to work on your business instead of just in it.

5. "Atomic Habits" by James Clear

A guide to building habits that stick and breaking the ones that hold you back. Clear shows how small, consistent changes compound into real results — in your business and your life.

6. "Profit First" by Mike Michalowicz

A refreshingly simple system for managing business finances that flips the traditional model: pay yourself first, then figure out expenses around what's left. Perfect for solopreneurs who want a healthier relationship with their numbers.

7. "Traction" by Gino Wickman

If you've ever felt like your business is growing but your systems haven't caught up, this book delivers a practical framework (EOS) for getting organized, setting priorities, and actually hitting your goals.

8. "Essentialism" by Greg McKeown

A guide to doing less, but better. For solopreneurs juggling every role in the business, McKeown's framework for ruthless prioritization is the permission slip to say no to what doesn't matter.

9. "Building a StoryBrand" by Donald Miller

A clear, actionable framework for clarifying your marketing message so customers actually understand what you do and why they need it. Ideal summer read if a messaging refresh is on your list.

10. "Deep Work" by Cal Newport

In a world of constant notifications, Newport makes the case for focused, distraction-free work — and offers real strategies for protecting the time that actually moves your business forward.

These books offer the kind of insight that's easy to skim past during a busy season but well worth carving out time for. So grab your favorite summer drink, find a cozy spot, and dig into a few of these transformative reads.

Ready to free up more of that reading time? If streamlining your business tasks is on your summer to-do list too, I'd love to help. Reach out today, and let's talk about what taking a few things off your plate could look like.

Tai Campbell

Tai | Founder, Savvy Assistant Inc. Tai is a New York City-based virtual assistant and fractional operations manager with over 15 years of experience in operations and administrative support. She works one-on-one with solopreneurs, coaches, consultants, and small business owners who are ready to stop doing everything themselves and start building businesses that scale. At Savvy Assistant Inc., Tai specializes in executive admin support, systems implementation, SOP development, and operations strategy — delivered remotely with the speed and polish NYC businesses expect.