Books for Women Starting a Small Business

The other day a dear friend and former colleague called me in search of advice. She’d recently made the switch from full-time employee to freelance consultant and was a bit shocked to find herself sitting in a cubicle on day one of her new job.

“Why am I so upset about this?” she asked. “I just assumed someone at my level would be in an office. I haven’t had to sit in a cubicle since I was in my 20s.”

“Maybe so,” I said. “But you are a freelance consultant now. You have to start looking at this as your first assignment and consider this company your client. Instead on focusing on the negative, think about the benefits of being in charge of your own situation. Sure you’re in a cubicle today, but six months down the road you’ll be moving on to something else.”

And that’s when I suggested she read one of my all-time favorite books for any woman thinking about going out on her own or starting a new business.

Will 2011 finally be your year to launch? Whether you want to live the freelance life, consult with major companies, open your own paper store or bake cookies out of your home kitchen, starting your own business can be exhilarating, scary and expensive. Before you start writing your business plan, drop by your local library and pick up these five books:

The Girl’s Guide to Starting Your Own Business by Caitlin Friedman and Kimberly Yorio

The Four Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss

Live it. Love it. Earn It. by Marianna Olszewski

168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam

The Martha Rules by Martha Stewart

The reason I’m suggesting The Martha Rules is because I’m hard-pressed to think of anyone who does a better job of defining her brand than Martha. The fact that she worked on the book while she was in prison just makes it more interesting (or perhaps ironic).

Are you thinking of starting your own business in 2011? What will it take for you to make the leap?