Burke Research Services was officially started in 2008. It would have been much sooner, but I didn’t have access to high-speed internet (DSL) until summer of 2008. Then in March of 2009, Search by Burke was born as a division. Why? Because not only do I love research, hunting for information, digging for the truth/numbers/quote/etc., but I also know and enjoy online marketing (email marketing, blogging, SEO, analytics, etc.).
So now I’m a small business. As defined by the US Small Business Administration website, that means I have less than 500 employees and my revenues are $7M or less. Hmm, yep, that’s me. That also means there are tons of small businesses out there, doesn’t it? Anyway, I’m one of them now. And if you want to be one, too, then I recommend having a few quality reference books about running a small business on your shelf and easily reachable – you’ll find them invaluable as you begin your journey.
Today there are more small business books to guide us then ever. And deciding which one to get first can be a daunting task. If you’ve decided to take the leap into self-employment, here are five great books I’ve come across that will make a difference in how quickly you succeed in getting your business up and running. I suggest you check them out:
- Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion
- Guerrilla Marketing, 4th edition: Easy and Inexpensive Strategies for Making Big Profits from Your Small Business
- The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It
- Duct Tape Marketing: The World's Most Practical Small Business Marketing Guide
- Start Your Own Business
Marketing, budgeting, time management, marketing, delegating and outsourcing, accounting, marketing, tax prep, sales, filing, telephone, marketing, etc. etc. etc. all are part of small business, and did you notice that I mentioned marketing more than once? that the books I recommend focus on marketing? That’s because no business can survive without marketing. And let me jump in with a short commercial for Search by Burke: online marketing is not nearly as expensive as print, radio and television…really. Online marketing can deliver a big impact by being innovative in the approach, therefore a small budget used wisely can deliver results. Above all else, though, is the most important part - deciding to go for it.
I encourage you to jump in, the water’s not too deep and there are plenty of us around to help you stay afloat. All you have to do is ask. And in the meantime, if you know what you want to do but aren’t sure how to do it, do a bit of research, including reading books and talking to business owners.
Still on the fence? Not sure what to do next? Already started and now need some assistance? Feeling alone in the big pond because you’re the only one in the office? Leave a comment or question and between me and my readers, we’ll get you an answer, a recommendation, a suggestion of who to talk to.
You see, I firmly believe that the United States of America needs more small business owners, and when we help each other we help ourselves. One of my goals with this blog (and others that I write) is to encourage each and every person who thinks they can – to just do it.
Disclosure: I am an amazon.com affiliate, so should you decide to purchase any book or product I list I will receive a payment from amazon.com. It’d be great if everyone purchased what I recommend, but that’s not the goal. The goal is to provide you with information … enough information for you to make informed decisions. It’s what an info pro does.
