three books.

Three books with major publishers. Each one written for the founder who'd like the brochure version stripped out. Plain English. Real frameworks. Things you can actually use.

Whether you're already running your own business and need some help focusing on what's important or you're just about to embark on your first venture, you need to read this book. Carl Reader is incredibly knowledgeable about every facet of growing a robust and resilient company: every base is covered. Most importantly, for me, this isn't some romantic glamorous account of what it takes to be an entrepreneur, it's a real, gritty, practical handbook for success.

Rebecca Burn-Callander, former Enterprise Editor, Daily Telegraph

boss it.

The book that was a WH Smith Bestseller for eight months after release.

WINNER — Independent Press Awards 2021. Business: Entrepreneurship & Small Business.

HIGHLY COMMENDED — Business Book Awards 2021. Start up / Scale up.

Do you dream of ditching the day job, doing your own thing and being your own boss? Are you ready to Boss It?

In this invigorating and highly practical book, serial entrepreneur Carl Reader provides exactly the fire and guidance you need to get started. Designed to cut through the business jargon, this handy guide will take you through everything you need to establish and run your own business. From the mindset it takes to turn a dream into a plan, to the need-to-know practical stuff for running and growing a business.

Featuring case studies, templates and exercises to help you put what you read into action, and turn that dream into a reality, this motivational book will enable you to be your own boss, to take control of your income, your time and your life... and Boss It.

It is rare to find a book that is inspiring, pragmatic, realistic and optimistic about starting out on your own and growing your own business. Carl Reader has written a business-advice book that is well-contextualized for this time, with wider learnings to support entrepreneurs. Here are practical insights into innovation, as well as aspirational business advice and worksheets to progress thinking into action. Carl explains key business knowledge and motivates the reader to move their idea forward. The Five Stars model is something I'll be using and encouraging others to!

Siân Prime, Academic Lead (Enterprise), Goldsmiths, University of London

Carl Reader has truly captured that the future of work is being rewritten. These COVID times will lead to the growth of the gig economy and there is a place for all skills, but we need to know how to capitalize our best skills to find our way forward. In this book, Carl has shared very useful business-centric tips and a hands-on approach to becoming a small business owner. Boss It will truly give you very apt learning lessons for starting your business dreams.

Ritu Marya, Editor-in-chief, Entrepreneur magazine (APAC and India)

Boss It is an invaluable guide to the seemingly elusive 'it' factor about self-employment. From 'dreaming it' to 'doing it', Carl Reader demystifies how to BOSS IT with confidence and clarity. This book offers the next generation an opportunity to reimagine their future working lives when it is needed now more than ever. And Carl's advice also serves as a nudge to those pondering whether to take the plunge to become their own boss. This is an important, honest and inspirational guide to make dreams a reality.

Claire Bennison, Head, ACCA UK

Whether you're starting your first business or building your tenth, you will be more successful by applying Carl Reader's brilliant BOSS IT principles.

Michael Heppell, Sunday Times bestselling author, speaker and coach

Carl Reader is a passionate and dedicated supporter of entrepreneurs and small businesses. In this book, he takes would-be entrepreneurs through 'the good', but also doesn't shy away from 'the bad and the ugly'. Carl is an affable coach and this guide is incredibly practical, with case studies, templates and exercises, and refreshingly there's no business jargon in sight!

Francesca James, Founder, Great British Entrepreneur Awards

Carl Reader's Boss It is a must-read for anyone considering starting or already running their own business. Carl's experience, insight and approachable style combine to captivate and inform far better than most business books I've read. He's honest about the realities and the practicalities, and his approach (Dream it, Plan it, Do it, Scale it) sets it all out for you. Carl's straightforward advice demystifies complex issues and should be a constant reference source for all. Keep it handy and read it often.

Chris Bryce, former CEO / Chair, IPSE

Boss It uniquely addresses the two most important aspects of business ownership: the why and the how. Self-employment and business ownership remain the backbone of the world's economy, yet the concepts remain unimaginable or misunderstood for many. The author demystifies the topics in a way that guides the reader through self-analysis, supported by a pragmatic step-by-step process. The end result is inspiration and action for the motivated reader.

Brad D Smith, Executive Chairman, Intuit

Purchasing this book is a no-brainer for anyone in business or thinking of doing their own thing. Carl Reader has walked the walk in his own business and now shares years of experience and motivation in plain English.

Mike Michalowicz, author, Profit First and Fix This Next

I've just loved reading this book. Carl Reader takes a sharp pin to pop the many myths of what it takes to set up, run and scale a business. His lived experience of 'walking the walk' of setting up and running businesses burns throughout all the chapters, as does his passion for creating a business guide for the next generation.

Sharon Davies, CEO, Young Enterprise

Carl Reader is the guru of self-employment and this is a fantastic guide for anyone seeking to be their own boss. Whether you are looking for advice on funding, IT or building a customer base, this book has it covered.

Elizabeth Anderson, Money and Business Editor, i newspaper

the startup coach.

By the end of this book, you will have started your own business.

This handy guide will help you to:

Evaluate yourself and your ideas
Assemble your research and your team
Raise the finances you need
Manage and market your business
Make a profit and stay sane

Whilst other books help you talk the talk, the Teach Yourself Coach books help you walk the walk.

Who is it for?

Anyone who wants to start their own business.

Where will this book take you?

You will have started your own business by the end of the book.

How does it work?

A combination of practical, tried-and-tested advice and unique interactive exercises.

When can you do it?

In your own time and at your own pace.

What else do you get?

Access to free downloadable resources.

Why Teach Yourself^®?

Teach Yourself books are trusted around the world and have helped 60 million people achieve their goals.

the franchising handbook.

How to choose, start and run a successful franchise.

Most small business books focus on what it takes to start a small business, and not what it takes to start a franchise. At best, these books might allocate a single chapter to the concept of franchising, and at worst the author presumes that franchises are the same as any other business start-up. The world of franchising has its own nuances, and advice that works for 99% of start-ups would not apply to franchising. In fact, well-meaning advice can often be detrimental to potential franchisees.

This book is focused on making sure that potential franchisees are aware of the specific journey ahead of them. As franchising is a two-way business arrangement, it includes exactly what franchisors are looking for, what can or cannot be negotiated with a franchisor, and how best to present yourself to ensure that you win the franchise you want.

future projects.

Carl is currently represented by Jason Bartholomew at the BKS agency.

Carl has appeared in