11 Best Business Books for Women (2025)

When you're self-employed, your personal development and mental health are deeply intertwined with the success of your business. You are the business, so taking care of your mind is just as important as any business strategy. If you're thinking about starting an online business or you're already a small business owner, here are 11 business books for women that I'm sure you'll find incredibly helpful on your journey.

I have an holistic approach to business, so there's some great books on everything from getting leads and finding the perfect offer to sell to mental health and self-development.

If you haven't visited my blog before: Hi, I'm Amada and I've been a freelancer since 2020 and worked as a journalist and translator among other things.

Today I make money online passively through affiliate marketing and digital products (design related, I make textures and clipart), I've always dreamed of freedom and cashing in on my hobbies, so here I am!

I’ve been a huge bookworm since I was a kid, and as a teenager I discovered self-development books to learn and grow. While I don’t get to read as much as I used to, I still believe that reading is one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself, especially when you’re on a journey of personal and professional growth. This list starts a bit man-heavy, but there's several books by super inspiring women included too, further down in the article.

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1. "$100M Offers" by Alex Hormozi Alex Hormozi is an entrepreneur known for his no-nonsense, high-impact business advice. Together with his wife Leila Hormozi, they have created a business worth $100 million.

In "$100M Offers: How To Make Offers So Good People Feel Stupid Saying No," he completely changes the game when it comes to creating what you sell. This book isn't about finding more customers, but about creating an offer so irresistible that customers will line up for it. He breaks down exactly how to price, package, and present your products or services in a way that makes the sale almost effortless.

This is a must-read for everyone interested in marketing!

2. "$100M Leads" by Alex Hormozi The follow-up to his first book, "$100M Leads: How to Get Strangers To Want To Buy Your Stuff," tackles the other side of the equation: getting attention and generating leads. Once you have an amazing offer, this book shows you how to get it in front of the right people. Hormozi details countless lead generation strategies that work in today's market, from advertising to content creation. Paired with "$100M Offers," this duo provides a powerful one-two punch for business growth.

Alex Hormozi is a quite recent discovery for me, and I'm super obsessed with his business advice lately, as he has a unique approach and gives advice I haven't heard anywhere else.

3. "How to Be Better at Almost Everything" by Pat Flynn Pat Flynn is a leader in the online business space, and this book takes a different approach from typical business guides. In "How to Be Better at Almost Everything," he argues that being a "generalist" rather than a "specialist" is the real key to success.

As an entrepreneur, you have to wear many hats: you're the marketer, salesperson, creator and manager. This book teaches you how to rapidly learn new skills, stack them together, and create a unique competitive advantage that no one else has. It’s the perfect mindset for any solo or small business owner.

4. "Atomic Habits" by James Clear This book has been a game-changer for me! As a neurodivergent person who struggles with building habits and getting stuff done at home, the book "Atomic Habits" has really helped me a lot with setting small, achievable goals I can stick to. James Clear is a leading expert on habits and decision-making, and his book breaks down the science of habit formation into four simple steps.

It’s not about massive, overwhelming changes, but about making tiny, 1% improvements that compound into remarkable results, micro habits! This is essential for any entrepreneur trying to build sustainable systems for success.

I've read James Clear's book in my native Norwegian

5. "She Means Business" by Carrie Green Carrie Green is the founder of the Female Entrepreneur Association, a global network of over 800,000 women. Her book, "She Means Business," is a treasure trove of practical advice and inspiration.

It’s a step-by-step guide to turning your passion into a wildly successful business, covering everything from clarifying your vision and moving past fears to creating a killer brand and marketing strategy. It feels like having a business bestie cheering you on every step of the way.

6. "Daring Greatly" by Brené Brown Dr. Brené Brown is a research professor who has spent two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. Her book "Daring Greatly" is a call to embrace vulnerability and imperfection, to live wholeheartedly, and to courageously engage in our lives. As an entrepreneur, you will face setbacks, criticism and times when you have to really stand up for yourself. You need to know your worth and dare to ask for the payment you deserve.

I think many women especially can struggle with feelings of vulnerability, shame, bad conscience and lack of faith in ourselves. This book provides the framework to show up, be seen, and be brave, even when you can't control the outcome. It’s essential reading for building the resilience needed to run a business.

7. "What They Don't Teach You at Harvard Business School" by Mark H. McCormack The late Mark H. McCormack is often credited with creating the modern sports marketing industry. His book, "What They Don't Teach You at Harvard Business School," cuts through academic theory to deliver street-smart wisdom on what really matters in business: reading people, selling yourself, and building relationships.

It’s packed with real-world anecdotes and practical advice that feels just as relevant today as when it was first written. Some parts of the book feels very corporate business-oriented to me, but there's still a lot of good takeaways from this book!

8. "Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?" by Dr. Julie Smith Dr. Julie Smith is a clinical psychologist who shares bite-sized, practical mental health advice online. In "Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?", she gives you the tools of a therapist in a single book.

It's filled with secrets from a therapist's toolkit to help you manage anxiety, deal with criticism, build self-confidence, and find motivation. Running a business can be a rollercoaster of emotions, and this book is like a first-aid kit for your mental health.

9. "The Let Them Theory" by Mel Robbins I'm reading this book right now, after listening to her podcast for a long time, and this concept is something I believe anyone can benefit greatly from! The "Let Them Theory" is a powerful mindset shift about releasing control over the actions and opinions of others, which I think most people could benefit greatly from.

Okay, so they are mad at me? Let them!. They think my Instagram reels are silly? Okay, let them!

Having this mindset frees up so much mental energy that would otherwise be spent worrying about things you can't control, allowing you to focus on what truly matters: building your business.

10. "Unshakeable: Your Financial Freedom Playbook" by Tony Robbins Tony Robbins is a world-renowned life coach and business strategist, so I assume you know him already. "Unshakeable" is a concise and powerful guide to financial peace of mind.

Co-authored with top financial advisor Peter Mallouk, this book demystifies investing and provides a clear playbook for building wealth. As a (future) business owner, your personal financial health is the foundation upon which your business can securely grow. This book helps you build that unshakeable foundation.

11. "The Miracle Morning" by Hal Elrod Hal Elrod's story is one of incredible resilience. Early in his career as a marketer and motivational speaker, he got severly injured in a car accident. He broke 11 bones in his body, suffered permanent brain damage and the doctors told him it's likely he'll never walk again. He proved them wrong, and today he's a very successful motivational speaker.

His book, "The Miracle Morning," provides a simple, effective 6-step morning routine (the Life S.A.V.E.R.S.) that you can do in as little as six minutes. Starting the day with intention and focus is a great habit to establish (can't say I'm there yet as a chronic night owl, but the book was a super inspiring read). This book gives you the structure to win the morning and set yourself up for a successful day, every single day.

Want more book tips?

If you want more book tips, check out my resource page The Best Books for Creatives. Find a book for yourself or perhaps a Christmas or Birthday gift for some other creative people in your life.

I hope you found these recommendations helpful! Have a book tip for me? Write a comment below!