Start Small Finish Big 15 Key Lessons to Start and Run Your Own Successful Business

Start Small Finish Big 15 Key Lessons to Start and Run Your Own Successful Business

Read this over lunch – and change your life! In 1965, 17-year-old Fred DeLuca borrowed $1000 and opened the Subway sandwich shop to help pay for college. Today, Subway is a $3 billion business with more than 14,000 Subway stores in 70 countries. How did he do it? In this personable yet solid book, DeLuca describes the basic principles he used to achieve success, explaining how those principles worked for others (Kinko’s, Eckert Drugs) and how they can be adapted by other micro-entrepreneurs without much start-up capital. Funny, insightful, and a must read for anyone considering launching a small business.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars A must have for any new or soon to be small business owner!
The book was a very motivating read and has further inspired me to pursue my small business even in the shadow of our current economy.

The accounts and stories that were put forth in this book showed me that people in similar or worse positions than mine were able to persevere. I am glad to know that I am not alone and that I can do it too.

Fred Deluca mixes details from each of the 15 lessons by giving both his personal experiences building Subway and also that of people who have started other small businesses (at the time) like Little Caesars , Kinko’s etc. Each story or lesson is valuable to a soon to be or new small business owner.

5 Stars Finally a useful book from a corporate guy.
This book offers pratical advice on starting small and growing big. The author provides case studies of businesses whom did not watch profit margins, whom spent too much money too soon, and much more. Its a good book with solid, simple guidance.

5 Stars Learning the Biz
This is a must read for those starting a new business no matter what type of business you are in. It is a simple down to earth methodology to starting from scratch and growing your business to its fullest potential. I have learned a lot from Mr. Deluca and the others in this book and it has inspired me to continue to expand my company.

5 Stars Many excellent choices
The authors have given a wide range of definitions for starting small and finishing big. You’ll recognize some names, and others you’ll have yet to know. That range allows any reader to find a place to identify themselves and be motivated to take their next steps.

4 Stars MUST-READ material for enterprising entrepreneurs
This inspirational book is required reading for anyone who is starting — or thinking of starting — his own business. The cofounder of the Subway sandwich chain begins by sharing the detailed story of his own business venture (seeded with only $1000 at age 17!). From there, each chapter focuses on a different entrepreneur who took a leap of faith to start his or her own business. These people come from all walks of life and arrived at different levels of business success. But they all started small, and they all eventually succeeded.

This book doesn’t provide legal advice, financial counsel, or any of the kind of guidance in those areas that you think you’ll need as a new business owner (and you do need it!). More importantly, this book provides the testimonies of people who often thought they couldn’t make it — and even sometimes failed — but nevertheless persevered. This book will spur you on if you have yet to get started, and pick you up when (not if) you are tempted to give up on your business. The chapter interviews (each illustrating one “key lesson”) are well written, each presenting a rich look into the real life of a real businessperson.

The book begins and ends with some discourse on microlending, of which author DeLuca is a major proponent, having founded MILE, a non-profit microlending institution he writes about. (Profits from the book go to support MILE.) While the promotion of the microlending concept is certainly appropriate to the subject matter, the final chapter — which focuses on MILE — detracts from the inspirational tone of most of the book. I think most of this chapter would have been better suited to an appendix.

Overall, this book is a necessary addition to the entrepreneur’s library. Or — speaking of lending — borrow this book from someone else’s.

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