3 Must-Read Books About Business Systems

For Small Business Owners Who Want Less Chaos and More Control

If running your business feels like a never-ending fire drill — you’re not alone.

Most small business owners are buried in operational chaos:

• Messy spreadsheets

• Repeated questions

• Missed deadlines

• Tools that don’t talk to each other

And the fix isn’t working harder. It’s building better business systems.

Whether you’re a service provider, product-based brand, or blue-collar crew, here are three influential books that can help you get your time, team, and tools back in sync.

1. “Work the System” by Sam Carpenter

Why it matters: This book is a real-world guide for owners who feel like everything falls on their shoulders.

Carpenter breaks down how to build repeatable systems that save time, reduce mistakes, and get you out of the day-to-day grind. It’s about shifting from reactive chaos to proactive control — one documented process at a time.

Perfect for Business owners who do everything themselves and are burning out.

2. “The E-Myth Revisited” by Michael E. Gerber

Why it matters: Gerber explains why most small businesses fail — and how to escape the “technician trap.” His core concept? Just because you’re great at the work doesn’t mean you know how to run a business.

You’ll learn how to build systems that deliver consistent results, even when you’re not in the room.

Perfect for: Founders stuck in the weeds and unsure how to grow.

3. “Clockwork” by Mike Michalowicz

Why it matters: Michalowicz teaches you how to design a business that doesn’t depend on you. From identifying your “Queen Bee Role” to building systems that support it, this book provides a step-by-step plan to regain control and achieve operational freedom.

Perfect for: Owners who want a business that runs without them.

At Broad Street Sprint, we say it all the time:

They’re the reason some businesses grow while others stall. They’re how you stop running your business from your inbox. They’re how you build something that scales without spinning out.

Without systems:

• Every task is a guessing game.

• Your team depends on you for everything.

• Growth creates more stress, not more profit.

With systems:

• You save time, cut waste, and make better decisions.

• Your team has a playbook.

• You can finally lead, not babysit.

That’s what we fix during a Sprint using our proven CORE-5™ approach:

People, Process, Tools, Money, and Time.