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The $100 Startup book cover

Cover: Open Library

BusinessBeginner

The $100 Startup

by Chris Guillebeau

★★★★★ 4/5 · Poornadnyan rating

The big idea

Many successful small businesses start with very little money by combining a skill you have with something people will happily pay for.

Read it if…

People who want a side business or a small, independent business rather than a funded startup.

Skip it if…

You are building a tech startup that needs investors.

Key ideas in 2 minutes

  1. Find the overlap between what you are good at and what people want.
  2. Start selling early – an offer beats a perfect plan.
  3. A one-page business plan is enough to get going.

Our review

Practical and encouraging, with dozens of real micro-business examples. It is especially good for freelancers, teachers, coaches and creators thinking about earning from their skills.

Do the one-page plan exercise as you read. It will force you to be specific about who you serve and what you sell.

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