Ladies, let’s be real: running a business is no walk in the park. It’s more like juggling flaming swords while riding a unicycle… in high heels. But don’t panic—books are here to save us! And not just any books, these are the must-reads that mix strategy, inspiration, and a little “you’ve got this” humor. Here’s our curated list of the top 10 business books for female entrepreneurs… with takeaways that will make you nod, laugh, and maybe even throw your laptop in celebration.
1. “Lean In” – Sheryl Sandberg
Why You’ll Love It: Sheryl literally tells you to stop shrinking yourself at the table. Offers insights on navigating leadership, negotiating, and owning your voice in male-dominated industries.
Takeaway with Sass: Sit at the table, ladies, but don’t just sit there, bring snacks, ideas, and your confidence. Leaning in never looked so chic. Stop sitting on the sidelines… unless invisibility is your jam. Lean in, speak up, and yes, politely boss someone around. Push past self-doubt and systemic challenges to claim leadership roles confidently.
2. “Girlboss” – Sophia Amoruso
Why You’ll Love It: Sophia turned her dumpster-diving thrift-store days into a billion-dollar empire. Part memoir, part business guide from the founder of Nasty Gal. Focused more on the “hustle” side and building a business from scratch. Inspires entrepreneurial grit.
Takeaway with Sass: Teaches the importance of resilience, unconventional thinking, and owning your brand unapologetically. Stop saying sorry for wanting it all. Your empire isn’t going to build itself while you’re busy shrinking yourself. Own your quirks, your messy desk, and that 3 a.m. “crazy idea.” That weird spark might just make you millions.
3. “Radical Candor” – Kim Scott
Why You’ll Love It: Focuses on leadership, communication, and creating effective workplace relationships. Learn to give tough love without becoming the office villain.
Takeaway with Sass: Tell the truth, even if it stings, but do it like a human, not a robot. Coffee in hand, preferably. Learn to lead with both empathy and clarity, crucial for scaling a business with a strong team
4. “You Are a Badass at Making Money” – Jen Sincero
Why You’ll Love It: Motivational, practical, and unapologetically bold about financial confidence. Money loves a confident badass, and Jen teaches you how to become one.
Takeaway with Sass: Overcome money blocks, embrace wealth-building, and turn ideas into profitable ventures. Stop whispering “I can’t” and start yelling “I NEED THAT HUNDRED THOUSAND!” (Metaphorically… unless you like yelling.)
5. “The Confidence Code” – Katty Kay & Claire Shipman
Why You’ll Love It: Confidence isn’t magic—it’s a skill. And yes, it can be learned. Combines research, stories, and actionable steps for building confidence in business and leadership.
Takeaway with Sass: Confidence is learnable, and it’s key to taking bold business risks. Fake it till you make it… but eventually, you’ll actually own it. Like Beyoncé, but with spreadsheets.
6. “Boss Up!” – Lindsay Teague Moreno
Why You’ll Love It: Practical advice for female entrepreneurs on building a brand, creating a business plan, and marketing. For women ready to own their grind without guilt.
Takeaway with Sass: Focused strategies to scale small businesses without burning out. Build your business like a LEGO set: start with a strong foundation, don’t step on pieces barefoot, and go big—even if it wobbles.
7. “Own It” – Sallie Krawcheck
Why You’ll Love It: Women are natural multitaskers—time to turn that superpower into profit. Krawcheck dives into finance, leadership, and why women are uniquely positioned to succeed in business.
Takeaway with Sass: Own your deals, your voice, and yes… even that office karaoke night. Encourages leveraging women’s strengths in communication, collaboration, and strategic thinking.
8.“Girl, Stop Apologizing” by Rachel Hollis
Why You’ll Love It: Focuses on mindset, self-expression, and claiming your ambitions. Stop playing small and step into your power. Rachel Hollis unapologetically tells you to stop dimming your light, stop saying “sorry” for wanting more, and start chasing the life you actually want—without guilt or hesitation. It’s like your best friend yelling at you from the sidelines, but with actual strategies to back it up.
Takeaway: Stop apologizing for wanting success, ambition, or that extra slice of pizza. Your dreams aren’t rude—they’re overdue. Your empire isn’t going to build itself while you’re busy shrinking yourself. So stand up, speak out, and go claim them.
9. “Playing Big” – Tara Mohr
Why You’ll Love It: Focuses on mindset, self-expression, and claiming your ambitions. Stop playing small and step into your power.
Takeaway: Stop playing small just because your cat likes your corner desk. Step into bigger roles, bigger ideas, and yes, bigger snacks for brainstorming.
10. “Secrets of Six-Figure Women” – Barbara Stanny
Why You’ll Love It: Explores how women achieve financial success and break income ceilings. Learn how to stop undercharging and start claiming your worth.
Takeaway: Empowering others isn’t just noble, it’s smart business. Plus, lifting up your fellow women makes you look amazing while doing it. Negotiation is adult hide-and-seek with money. Stop hiding, start seeking, and remember: you deserve the loot.
Ladies, reading these books won’t just give you knowledge, they’ll give you swagger, strategy, and a little laughter along the way. Whether you’re just starting out or ready to scale to seven figures, these books are your toolkit, cheer squad, and pep talk all in one.
And one more thing, ladies… there are so many amazing business books by, for, and about women that it would take a lifetime to read them all (and who has that kind of time when you’re busy building empires?). The ideas shared in these ten books will give you fuel, strategy, and maybe even a little swagger to help you grow, thrive, and prosper. But don’t put those reading glasses away just yet—stay tuned for our next list: “10 More Books Every Female Entrepreneur Needs”. Trust us, your next big aha moment is just a page-turn away.
So grab a coffee, maybe some chocolate, and dive in, you’ve got an empire to build!
