Company of One: Why Staying Small Is the Next Big Thing for Business, by Paul Jarvis

Jarvis makes a compelling case for making your business better instead of bigger. Company of One is a must-read for any entrepreneur who prioritizes a rich life over riches.Cal Newport, bestselling author of Deep Work

Company of One is your official guide to building around the idea that staying small and avoiding growth can be more durable and even more enjoyable than business as usual from author Paul Jarvis.

The real key to richer and more fulfilling work could be to not create and scale something into a massive corporation, but rather, to work for yourself, determine your own hours, and become a (highly profitable) and sustainable company of one. This book explains how to do just that.

Download an excerpt from the book in PDF format (no signup or strings).

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The book is available in physical, digital and audio formats

Amazon US Amazon CA Amazon UK Indigo IndieBound 800-CEO-READ Target Barnes & Noble iBooks

International? You can get the UK version of the book shipped anywhere free through Book Depository.

Praise for the book

Ever since starting MailChimp 18 years ago, I’ve always been told that my way was wrong. My way has never been to “be big.” My way was always to “be useful.” My company has become a global brand with millions of customers, over $525 million in annual revenue, and almost 1000 employees united by a single mission to help companies of one and entrepreneurs. Go figure. There’s not one, right way. Only your way. Paul’s book, Company of One, can help you find your way.Ben Chestnut, CEO and founder of MailChimp

Company of One will give you invaluable insights to focus on the purposeful, interesting, and impactful work you actually love doing, right alongside permission to stop blindly chasing growth by defining success on your own terms. This book is great for freelancers, side-hustlers, and small business owners who are looking to bring autonomy, self-reliance, and creativity to their work without becoming total workaholics.Kathleen Shannon and Emily Thompson, authors of Being Boss

Your business can thrive with less! Company of One is a riveting, lucidly written guide to run a successful minimalist business.Joshua Fields Millburn, The Minimalists

Want to help?

There are a few ways to help get the book to people who could benefit from reading it.

1. Buy the book. Seriously, that’s the most helpful first step.
2. Share the book. If you enjoyed it, tell someone else or lots of someone elses. It doesn’t matter if it’s a friend or your entire mailing list, it all helps. Tag the book as #co1book on any social platform, so I can follow along.
3. Connect the book to influencers/media. If you have direct contact with a media outlet, influencer, podcast host, publication, etc—I’m open and grateful for an introduction.
4. Check out the Co1 Academy and community. You can learn more about using the company of one principles in your business and connect with other companies of one.

If you can think of or want to help in other ways, ping me at [email protected].

Paul is the savviest sole proprietor I know. This book is a permission slip to reject tired corporate business advice in favor of a smaller, slower, more personal approach. Amen.Jocelyn K. Glei, host of Hurry Slowly

You are not alone with Company of One. If, like so many others, you’re setting out to take on the world by yourself, then welcome to the best company there is, your own.Sam Conniff Allende, author of Be More Pirate

Growth has been hacked to simply mean “more”. More revenue, more customers, more employees, more products, more, more, more. That’s a tragically myopic view of growth. Paul Jarvis will help you open your eyes to a broader, wiser definition of growth. One of learning, one of betterment, one of contentment. There’s never been a more opportune time to launch or run companies that embrace having and being “enough”. The most important ingredient is a new worldview. Company of One can give you just that.David Heinemeier Hansson, creator of Ruby on Rails and founder of Basecamp

You’re not a machine, so why would you run your business like one? Company of One shows you another way. If you’ve ever wondered how to have a business that works for you—instead of the other way around—you need this book. Chris Guillebeau, author of Side Hustle and THE $100 Startup

The default equation of more = better in business isn’t working anymore. If you want to build something that matters, make a difference for your family and the world, and actually enjoy what you do, Company of One offers the inspiration and step by step actions that will change the way you do business, and the way you do life.Courtney Carver, author of Soulful Simplicity

Paul Jarvis beautifully illustrates that “Small is the new big.” It’s true. It’s not about how many employees you have (or how many customers you serve). It is about “who” you are working with. This is a revolutionary idea for our times: build your business based on your values. There’s nothing small about that. This book is a treasure.Mitch Joel, author of Six Pixels of Separation & CTRL ALT Delete

About the author

Paul Jarvis is a writer and designer who’s had his own company of one for the last two decades. He’s worked with professional athletes like Steve Nash and Shaquille O’Neal, corporate giants like Microsoft and Mercedes-Benz, and entrepreneurs with online empires like Danielle LaPorte and Marie Forleo. Currently he teaches popular online courses, hosts several podcasts and develops small but mighty software solutions.

Paul’s ideas about growth have been featured in: Wired, USAToday, Fast Company, Vice, Forbes and many more snazzy publications.

See the press page for photos, more reviews and a plethora of interviews.