If you are in a creative business or thinking about starting one, here are two business book recommendations;The Business Boutique and Your Creative Career.Â
These two books are aimed explicitly at starting your business. Although I think there is useful information, even for well-established artists.
The first book recommendation is Business Boutique by Christy Wright
Business Boutique is written specifically for women starting or already in business. She gets into the emotional baggage some women carry with them that most men don’t. She does this with humor and honesty. You are brought into her life as she leads you through her journey of entrepreneurship. Â
The book can be used as a guide as you work on your business.Â
Christy takes you chapter by chapter through the four tiers of building a business:
1. The Foundation
2. Making it Yours
3. Getting it Up and Running
4. Putting yourself Out ThereÂ
The author takes you from your “why” to setting up your company and making everything work in your life.
She does this step by step, with real-life examples and humor. The author will give you the pep talk you need to keep going while keeping it real. Running a business isn’t always fun or easy.Â
I slowly read through it and worked through the steps. Rereading portions when I needed to do so.
I reached for it again and again when I needed a push to keep going.
The Second Book Recommendation is Your Creative Career by Anna Sabino
I have never loved the opening remarks more in a book, “In case no one has told you, you’ve got this.”  (This has been my mantra as I started building my own business.)Â
Where the Business Boutique is specifically for women starting a business, Your Creative Career is for creatives beginning a business.
It pushes you, guides you, and coaches you through the process of going from creative to creative entrepreneur. The author doesn’t sugarcoat this or let you think this is easy. Instead, she gives steps and guidelines to get through the challenging parts.Â
The book continues by providing guides for pricing art, growing your business, and how/when to market your creative business.
I have read and marked up both books. Highlights, stars, underlines are all over both books. I highly recommend both business books.
It doesn’t matter to me if you borrow them from the library or purchase them through your local bookstore. I am a big proponent of learning, but I am also frugal. Do what is best for you and your business.
Which of the two business book recommendations most interests you? Do you have a different one which is a favorite? Let us know in the comments what your favorites are.
Here is another article I wrote on free and inexpensive training if you are looking for other resources.