New Year, New Reading List: 5 Must-Reads for Small Business Owners

Start the year with books that fuel clarity, confidence, and growth. Whether you're side hustling, scaling up, or just getting started, these five books will give you the insights and strategies to move your business forward.

1. Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days by Chris Guillebeau A fast-track roadmap for launching your first income stream without quitting your day job. Clear, motivating, and designed for action.

2. Small Business Hacks by Barry Moltz & Rieva Lesonsky Packed with bite-sized, practical advice for running and growing your business, from marketing to money management.

3. Start to Scale by Verne Harnish

 A must-read for founders ready to move from scrappy startup mode to sustainable growth with frameworks and systems to scale wisely.

4. Sprint by Jake Knapp

From Google Ventures to your garage startup, this book teaches you how to solve big problems and test ideas in just 5 days. Ideal for founders who want to innovate faster and smarter.

5. Ready, Launch, Brand by Orly Zeewy

Branding doesn’t have to be overwhelming. This no-fluff guide helps you define your brand and connect with customers right from the start.

We’ve shared our picks, and now it’s your turn. What business book has made a difference in how you lead, plan, grow or show up? Drop your favorites below so we can all grow our 2026 reading lists together. Happy reading!