Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It
Michael Gerber
An instant classic, this revised and updated edition of the phenomenal bestseller dispels the myths about starting your own business. Small business consultant and author Michael E. Gerber, with sharp insight gained from years of experience, points out how common assumptions, expectations, and even technical expertise can get in the way of running a successful business.
Gerber walks you through the steps in the life of a business, from entrepreneurial infancy through adolescent growing pains to the mature entrepreneurial perspective: the guiding light of all businesses that succeed, and shows how to apply the lessons of franchising to any business, whether or not it is a franchise. Most importantly, Gerber draws the vital, often overlooked distinction between working on your business and working in your business.
The E-Myth Revisited will help you grow your business in a productive, assured way.
E-Myth \ ‘e-,’mith\ n 1: the entrepreneurial myth: the myth that most people who start small businesses are entrepreneurs 2: the fatal assumption that an individual who understands the technical work of a business can successfully run a business that does that technical work.
Voted #1 business book by Inc. 500 CEOs.
Review
The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber completely reframed how I think about small business success. Many of our clients struggle because they’re great technicians, but not necessarily great business owners.
Gerber’s insight, that working in your business isn’t the same as working on it, really hit home. I’ve started applying this mindset to how we build websites: not just designing for looks, but creating scalable systems that support real growth. The book’s emphasis on processes, consistency, and building with the end in mind is something every entrepreneur should internalise.
I now use its core lessons to guide clients toward automation and sustainability, not just online presence. It’s essential reading for any small business aiming to scale effectively.
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