The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It

I purchased two copies of this. One to give to a friend and one to replace my original which had become a victim of one of my wife's cleaning campaigns.

I will get around to re-reading this in due course, but I have, over the years, referenced sections of it. A must read especially for anyone without small business experience contemplating such a venture.

This book should be required reading if you're a small business owner. If you've ever wondered why you're working so hard and not getting ahead, Michael Gerber will show you why. This is the book to read about to learn how to systematize your business.
The main thesis of the book is that you should spend more time working on your business than in your business. Michael teaches you to build value in your company through developing your intellectual property. That means to figure out how you want your business to run and to be experienced by your customers. You then build systems to make that experience come alive.
It's powerful stuff. Get the book today and read it!

I have been a business owner for 8 years. I feel this powerful book has changed my life. All the time I spent working "in" my business, I had no clue how to work on it. The wisdom in the book has given my business a second chance.

I urge all people thinking about starting their own business to read this book as well as other books on how to create business processes and procedures. I also recommend "Your Marketing Sucks" for those who need to understand what not to do to promote your business.

I would have saved so much time AND LOTS OF MONEY had I spent even a few months educating myself on how to run a business. Take time to plan and educate yourself. So many businesses do fail before their tenth birthday. Mine almost did.

I read this book from the perspective of one has not only pastored in the church for 40 years, but also as one who has consulted with numerous leaders about their churches. The insights from small business easily carry over into the business of establishing a church community. It's not about money, it's about really understanding what you're all about, building a system to make it happen in the best possible way, and maintaining your joy in doing what you really love to do. I am passionate about urging other church leaders to read this book. It's a gem!

This book was highly recommended by my broker, and I wish I had read it years ago. Excellent. Everyone who is thinking about starting a business, is in the beginning stages of owning a business, and even those in business for years could benefit from reading this book. I plan to reread it often.