5 Best Books about Money to Help You Build a Creative Business

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4 books

If you’re a creative professional, you probably say things like, “I’m not good with money” and “I hate talking about my work.” But that may not be true. The reality may be that you weren’t trained to deal with money.

In reality, it’s not all that complicated.

Since 1988 I have been on a mission to teach money and marketing skills to creative professionals. This book list covers the essential skills and the mindset you need to build a profitable business you can depend on.

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The Psychology of Money

Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness

Morgan Housel, 2020

I love the way Morgan Housel thinks, especially about money. In this excellent book, he brings an historical perspective to timeless ideas. He uses storytelling to explain the irrational aspects of money in a way that just makes sense. I also appreciate the way he integrates human behavior and psychology into finance, whether he’s talking about investing or personal finance. So many of these ideas can be applied to running your own business. Plus, it’s a super easy read.

Think Like a Breadwinner

A Wealth-Building Manifesto for Women Who Want to Earn More (and Worry Less)

Jennifer Barrett, 2021

When I heard the title of Jennifer Barrett’s book, I knew I had to not only read it, but also invite her to be a guest on the Marketing Mentor podcast. My readers and listeners are creative professionals who have a tendency to be number-phobes. Many of them – men and women alike – also believe they are doomed to be “starving artists.” But in reality, there’s nothing scary about numbers – if you have the right mindset. Barrett writes clearly and simply about the “breadwinner” mindset, which has the potential to put anyone in a position of freedom to walk away from any client (or job) that isn’t a good fit. She is singing my tune!

A Healthy State of Panic

Follow Your Fears to Build Wealth, Crush Your Career, and Win at Life

Farnoosh Torabi, 2023

We are often told to “get over our fears.” But in this book, Farnoosh Torabi flips the script and explains why we should consider not only embracing our money fears, but getting to know them really well and learning what they have to teach us. The effect is one of instant relief. As a fan of Torabi’s podcast, So Money, where she interviews people about money mindset as well as practical financial strategies, I was eager to hear what she had to say about money and fear – a popular topic in all the circles I frequent, no matter the gender. The book is supremely readable as well because, as a gifted storyteller, Farnoosh weaves in the experiences of her own life and that of her immigrant family to demonstrate exactly how fear can help us get to know ourselves better and transform us, if we want to be transformed.

The Creative Professional's Guide to Money

How to Think About It, How to Talk About it, How to Manage It

Ilise Benun, 2011

The Creative Professional's Guide to Money teaches creatives everything you need to know about the financial side of running a creative business. Creatives - which include anyone promoting their own creative services (designers, copywriters, photographers, illustrators, interior designers, web designers, and more) - are great at their work, but when it comes to running the financial side of their business, most would rather not talk about it. This book focuses on proven techniques and resources used by a wide range of successful creatives to manage their business finances. Expert advisers are interviewed on topics such as accounting, taxes, contracts and financial planning. Using examples, case studies, and real-life stories from actual creatives, this book addresses common financial mistakes small business owners make and how to avoid them, what to charge for work and how to determine a profit margin and much more.