12 books every SaaS founder should read
From understanding SaaS fundamentals to mastering growth strategies and navigating the challenges of scaling your business, these 12 books cover a wide range of topics that are crucial for every SaaS founder.
So, whether you're just starting your SaaS journey or you're a seasoned founder looking for new insights, let's dive in and start exploring these must-reads!
1. Traction: How Any Startup Can Achieve Explosive Customer Growth
This book is a practical guide that goes beyond clichéd startup marketing advice to help entrepreneurs build successful companies, strategically grow, and gain long-term loyal clients. There are plenty of examples and interviews from companies like Wikipedia, HubSpot, and Reddit on how to
About the authors
Gabriel Weinberg is the CEO & Founder of DuckDuckGo. Since 2008, Weinberg has grown DuckDuckGo from a self-funded operation out of his dusty basement into a business with over $25 million in revenue and 50 employees across multiple continents.
Justin Mares is the former Director of Revenue at Exceptional, a software company that Rackspace acquired for 8 figures in 2013. He has previously founded two startups (one acquired, one bust).
Why should you read it?
"Traction" offers practical, actionable advice, insights from successful founders with a focus on sustainable growth. By reading this book, you'll gain the knowledge and strategies necessary to navigate the challenges of building a successful company, acquiring and maintaining loyal customers.
2. Founding Sales: The Early Stage Go-to-Market Handbook
This book is a valuable resource for technical founders who need to learn how to sell. It specifically focuses on B2B SaaS startups. Whether you're a first-time salesperson transitioning into this role or a sales manager in such an organization, this book offers Peter's journey and knowledge with this transition.
About the authors
Pete Kazanjy is a serial founder, and seasoned early-stage SaaS executive, advisor, and investor. Pete founded TalentBin, a category-defining talent search engine and recruiting CRM, which exited Monster Worldwide in early 2014.
Pete is currently the co-founder and CRO of Atrium, a proactive sales performance analysis solution.
Why should you read it?
It is the compilation of Pete's actual journey at TalentBin, where he transitioned from being a founder with a product marketing and product management background to becoming an early sales guy, sales manager, and eventually a sales leader after the acquisition by Monster Worldwide.
3. The Mom Test: How to talk to customers & learn if your business is a good idea when everyone is lying to you
This book challenges the notion of seeking opinions from friends and family, stating the fact that it's not just your mom who will lie to you, but almost everyone else too. This book is a practical guide on how to avoid the heartbreak of pursuing a flawed business idea.
About the author
Alongside running a variety of little businesses over the past fourteen years, Rob is the author of three practical handbooks to what he's learned along the way, including The Mom Test (about entrepreneurship and customer development), The Workshop Survival Guide (about education design and facilitation), and Write Useful Books (about designing nonfiction as a recommendable, problem-solving product).
Why should you read it?
With this book, you'll gain valuable tips and tricks to make your user research more effective and reliable, ensuring you gather the information you need to build a successful business and guiding you through making the right questions and entering the right mindset.
4. Hello Web Design: Design Fundamentals and Shortcuts for Non-Designers
With a fun and clever approach, this book demystifies the world of web design and equips you with all the essential tools you need.
From design principles to best practices, useful shortcuts, pro tips, and even coding tutorials, you'll have everything at your fingertips to create a stunning SaaS website.
About the author
Tracy Osborn is the author of Hello Web Design, teaching beginner design fundamentals and shortcuts for non-designers. A designer, developer, and entreprenerd, Tracy works at TinySeed as the program director by day and writes + designs friendly tech books and zines at Hello Web Books in her spare time.
Why should you read it?
Whether you're a design novice or looking to enhance your existing design skills, the resources provided can help you grasp the key principles, best practices, and practical techniques needed to create beautiful and effective websites.
5. Who
This book provides practical steps to avoid common hiring mistakes, attract top talent, and conduct better interviews. They offer a simple and effective solution backed by extensive research and interviews with successful leaders.
About the authors
Dr. Geoff Smart is the chairman & founder of ghSMART, a global leadership advisory, education, and analytics firm. Founded in 1995, ghSMART helps Fortune 500 CEOs & boards, entrepreneurs, and heads of state to achieve their goals through hiring, developing, and leading talented teams.
Randy Street is the Managing Partner of ghSMART, a leadership advisory firm whose mission is to help great leaders amplify their positive impact on the world. He has advised boards, CEOs, and executive teams for over 25 years on topics ranging from CEO succession to management due diligence, and regularly helps them to select and develop teams that succeed.
Why should you read it?
Whether you're a business owner or a board member, "Who" offers advice and a clear path to finding the right people.
6. The Art of Selling Your Business: Winning Strategies & Secret Hacks for Exiting on Top.
"The Art of Selling Your Business: Winning Strategies & Secret Hacks for Exiting on Top" is the ultimate guide to help you achieve the freedom you desire when selling your business.
With John Warrillow's expert advice and insights from successful founders, this book answers your burning questions about valuing your business, finding the right time to sell, attracting the best offers, and negotiating like a pro.
About the author
John Warrillow is the founder of The Value Builder System™, a practice management software for business advisors, and the host of Built to Sell Radio, ranked by Forbes as one of the world’s 10 best podcasts for business owners.
Why should you read it?
With a sleeves-rolled-up action plan, this book equips you with the knowledge and credibility you need to sell your business at a premium price.
7. The 1-Page Marketing Plan: Get New Customers, Make More Money, And Stand out From The Crowd
In "The 1-Page Marketing Plan," Allan Dib offers a refreshing approach to creating a marketing plan that is simple, fast, and effective. With a single page divided into nine squares, you'll be able to craft a marketing strategy.
About the author
Allan Dib is a serial entrepreneur, rebellious marketer, and #1 bestselling author. He has started, grown, and successfully exited multiple businesses in various industries.
As a highly sought-after business coach, consultant, and public speaker, he frequently shares his proven strategies and cutting-edge tactics with people all over the world.
Why should you read it?
Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this book provides valuable insights on acquiring new customers, maximizing profits, closing sales without being pushy, and creating a personalized marketing plan that will set you apart from competitors
8. Buy Back Your Time: Get Unstuck, Reclaim Your Freedom, and Build Your Empire
This book acts as a practical guide to understanding how to scale your business and achieve financial success: effectively managing your time.
With practical strategies and invaluable insights, this book will empower you to work smarter, not harder, and unlock financial success while living life on your own terms.
About the author
Dan Martell is an entrepreneur, angel investor, and thought leader who founded, scaled, and successfully exited three technology companies within a ten-year period.
In 2012 he was named Canada’s top angel investor, having invested in more than 50 start-ups, such as Intercom, Udemy, and Unbounce.
In 2016, Martell founded the SaaS Academy and grew it to become one of the largest coaching companies in the world.
Why should you read it?
This is the ultimate guide for entrepreneurs at any stage who are eager to build their businesses while maintaining their personal freedom.
9. Obviously Awesome: How to Nail Product Positioning so Customers Get It, Buy It, Love It
Discover the secrets of successful product positioning in "Obviously Awesome" by April Dunford. With her extensive experience as a startup executive and consultant, Dunford shares valuable insights on finding your product's unique value and effectively communicating it with your target audience.
About the author
April Dunford is an executive consultant, speaker, and author who helps technology companies make complicated products easy for customers to understand and love.
She is a globally recognized expert in positioning and market strategy and has launched 16 products into the market across her 25-year career as VP of marketing at a series of successful high-growth startups
Why should you read it?
Packed with witty anecdotes and practical advice, this book is a must-read for entrepreneurs and marketers looking to stand out in a crowded market and drive customer engagement.
10. The SaaS Playbook
Rob's new book offers proven strategies and frameworks to help you navigate the process of marketing, building, and scaling your SaaS company without relying on venture funding.
From finding effective marketing channels to optimizing pricing and building a strong team, this SaaS playbook will equip you with the tools to succeed while avoiding burnout.
About the author
Rob Walling is a serial entrepreneur who has built many notable companies, including Drip, MicroConf, and TinySeed.
Why should you read it?
"The SaaS Playbook" is a must-read for founders who want to build and scale their SaaS companies without relying on venture funding.
11. Deploy Empathy: A practical guide to interviewing customers
This book is a guide to mastering customer interviews. You'll learn what questions to uncover hidden goals, needs, and pain points, leading to improved product development, increased sales, and reduced customer churn.
About the author
Michele Hansen is an entrepreneur. She co-founded a software-as-a-service company, Geocodio, with her husband Mathias in 2014. Geocodio started as a small side project that made $31 in its first month.
Michele and Mathias bootstrapped Geocodio through customer-led revenue alone and Michele went full-time on the business in 2017.
Why should you read it?
This book is a valuable resource for anyone looking to enhance their interviewing skills and truly understand their customers.
12. Zero to Sold: How to Start, Run, and Sell a Bootstrapped Business
Written by Arvid Kahl, an experienced entrepreneur who successfully sold his SaaS business, this book provides valuable insights and strategies for creating a sustainable business that meets the needs of your customers.
About the author
Arvid Kahl is a software engineer, entrepreneur, and writer. He co-founded and bootstrapped FeedbackPanda, an online teacher productivity SaaS company, with his partner Danielle Simpson. They sold the business for a life-changing amount of money in 2019, two years after founding the company.
Why should you read it?
Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow your existing business, Zero to Sold will equip you with the knowledge and tools to validate ideas, build products, and achieve long-term success.
