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Company of One: Why Staying Small Is the Next Big Thing for Business Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Paul Jarvis (Author, Narrator), Audible Studios (Publisher)
4.5 out of 5 stars 1,754 ratings

What if the real key to a richer and more fulfilling career was not to create and scale a new start-up, but rather, to be able to work for yourself, determine your own hours, and become a (highly profitable) and sustainable company of one? Suppose the better - and smarter - solution is simply to remain small? This book explains how to do just that.

Company of One is a refreshingly new approach centered on staying small and avoiding growth, for any size business. Not as a freelancer who only gets paid on a per piece basis, and not as an entrepreneurial start-up that wants to scale as soon as possible, but as a small business that is deliberately committed to staying that way. By staying small, one can have freedom to pursue more meaningful pleasures in life and avoid the headaches that result from dealing with employees, long meetings, or worrying about expansion. Company of One introduces this unique business strategy and explains how to make it work for you, including how to generate cash flow on an ongoing basis.

Paul Jarvis left the corporate world when he realized that working in a high-pressure, high profile world was not his idea of success. Instead, he now works for himself out of his home on a small, lush island off of Vancouver, and lives a much more rewarding and productive life. He no longer has to contend with an environment that constantly demands more productivity, more output, and more growth.

In Company of One, Jarvis explains how you can find the right pathway to do the same, including planning how to set up your shop, determining your desired revenues, dealing with unexpected crises, keeping your key clients happy, and of course, doing all of this on your own.

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  1. Listening Length
    7 hours and 32 minutes
  2. Author
    Paul Jarvis
  3. Narrator
    Paul Jarvis
  4. Audible release date
    January 15, 2019
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Audible Studios
  7. ASIN
    B07KFNRRTS
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length 7 hours and 32 minutes
Author Paul Jarvis
Narrator Paul Jarvis
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date January 15, 2019
Publisher Audible Studios
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B07KFNRRTS
Best Sellers Rank #8,643 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#7 in Home-Based Businesses
#27 in Small Businesses
#63 in Entrepreneurship (Books)

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
1,754 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book a must-read for modern entrepreneurs, appreciating its well-written content that keeps them grounded. They value its insights on staying small to make more money, and one customer highlights its practical business advice. The storytelling receives positive feedback, with one customer noting its relatable examples, and customers consider it good value for money. However, the writing quality receives mixed reviews, with one customer describing it as repetitive.

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63 customers mention "Advice level"63 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides valuable insights and is a must-read for modern entrepreneurs, with one customer highlighting its practical business advice.

"...since the author is a good person and more importantly these are important ideas that are not usually given much attention...." Read more

"...At least it's not full of simply motivational quotes." Read more

"This book explores a very pragmatic approach to starting and running a business...." Read more

"This is an excellent book for serious entrepreneurs who what to build a financially success business that can make a difference in the world doing..." Read more

39 customers mention "Readability"39 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written and easy to read, appreciating how it keeps them grounded.

"Its a good book in my opinion" Read more

"...I hope so since the author is a good person and more importantly these are important ideas that are not usually given much attention...." Read more

"...read or do personal development or business audio book regularly, worth a listen" Read more

"The fallacy of bigger is better is busted in this easy read. The book will help change your thinking about keeping your business small and focused...." Read more

5 customers mention "Scalability"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's approach to scalability, noting that small businesses can make more money and scale effectively.

"...can scale your business, delight your customers, and make more money while staying small and enjoying the experience instead shaving years off your..." Read more

"...It's a book about building a small business that allows you to enjoy more of your life...." Read more

"...And scale smartly instead of following the trend of too big too fast. Loved it!" Read more

"...Paul Jarvis's book is a confirmation that staying small and personable can have immense advantages. It's well written and full of good insights." Read more

5 customers mention "Storytelling"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the storytelling in the book, with one mentioning the relatable examples and another noting the cautionary tales.

"...the tenets of that philosophy with examples of success and cautionary tales...." Read more

"...Well written. Very personable. Full of relevant and relatable examples...." Read more

"...Mr. Jarvis has a great way of telling his story, and those of others, and making them relevant to solopreneurs, entrepreneurs, and managers in..." Read more

"...a Company of One I loved the tone, the reflection questions and the stories...." Read more

5 customers mention "Value for money"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book offers good value for money.

"...Quality, value, excellence are worth working for; and creating a practice that reflects these values is possible and the best choice for me...." Read more

"...Which means higher profits and more time freedom. I work at a big corporation and have a side hustle...." Read more

"...His book company of one is a legit investment that you will benefit from 4 years to come." Read more

"...Just enough products and/or services. Just enough revenue. Just enough customers. Just enough systems in place." Read more

5 customers mention "Writing quality"0 positive5 negative

Customers criticize the writing style of the book, finding it repetitive and monotonous, with one customer noting it has a lot of fluff and is hard to read.

"...The paper back is in a small type and hard to read, at least for me. It is good for highlighting, dog earing and sharing...." Read more

"...What discouraged me about the book was a very repetitive writing and retelling of the same concepts, over and over...." Read more

"Quite monotonous. Couldn't finish the book. I was quite hopeful when I bought the book after I heard some recommendations on a youtube channel...." Read more

"Too repetitive. Has common sense advice." Read more

A breathe of entrepreneurial fresh air
5 out of 5 stars
A breathe of entrepreneurial fresh air
A breathe of fresh air for any entrepreneur feeling the pressure to grow but not wanting to lose the reason you started in the first place. Smart advice in here to tamp down that ego and maintain the business that suits your life.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • federico mancuso
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good book for entrepreneurs
    Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Its a good book in my opinion
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  • Christopher Davis
    5.0 out of 5 stars Important perspective on business success
    Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I have been following Mr. Jarvis for over a year now, and we have exchanged email a few times. In the world of digital business gurus, he is a refreshing voice. Most gurus dangle the potential of becoming insanely rich and/or only have to work four hours a week as a promise to sell courses, books, software, and services. Jarvis is the antidote to these snake oil sales people. He is personal and sincere.

    When we first started emailing, he told me about the book and how he was working with a traditional publisher which meant it was going to take at least a year longer than if he self-published. I don't think that the delay added any value to the book...and I am interested to see whether the publishing deal translates into greater visibility and sales. I hope so since the author is a good person and more importantly these are important ideas that are not usually given much attention.

    Having waited a year for the book, though, I was disappointed. The ideas are important, and Jarvis does a good job of providing data and examples to support his point of view. Unfortunately, many of the stories he uses are of companies that are not companies of one. They may share some of his values about building relationships with customers and quality over growth, but they are not examples that support the larger argument about a company of one.

    There are examples of companies that do follow this model, and it is a missed opportunity to not talk more about those in greater depth. For example, he talks about a design firm that is a network of designers. It would be great to understand better how they operate, what systems they have in place, and how others could follow from than example.

    Jarvis talks about his accountant and lawyer, but I know from his other writings that he works with a team of other contractors. Yet the book does not really go into those details. Overall, the book is NOT a how to manual. It is what I would describe as a manifesto that articulates a particular vision and set of values, but it could do that much better. I wonder how much the publisher and editor influenced the direction of the book in this way, because it was not as strong as his weekly newsletters.

    My personal belief is that the future of business will be very large companies and lots of companies of one that form networks to solve problems. This book is a first step in articulating some of the values and reasons for this future. Interesting omissions, though, are the idea of the long tail and 1,000 true fans that are foundational to the shift from mass marketing and production to micro marketing and production that leverage personalization versus scale.

    Maybe the book would have been better as two books. One on the company of one and the other on relationship marketing. While these are related ideas and both reflect how Jarvis operates his own company, they are also separate. This would allow discussion of how companies like Basecamp operate to develop relationships with customers and how companies of one can operate their businesses.

    Despite my frustrations with the execution of the book, it is still a valuable read and important.
    83 people found this helpful
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  • RockinRuth
    4.0 out of 5 stars good for beginners
    Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I guess I expected at least some of the chapters to be on business structure and more about shaping your own company of one. Instead, it's pretty much about having the correct mindset and reiterates that fact throughout the chapters I've read so far. At least it's not full of simply motivational quotes.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amanda
    5.0 out of 5 stars Really excellent reframing of how to succeed in business
    Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    The book's core message of growing via quality rather than quantity really hit home for me. You don't necessarily need to be a company of one literally; it's more about how to think about growth from a value perspective instead of volume. If you like Cal Newport and Oliver Burkeman, do yourself a favor and pick this one up, too.
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  • Jo N.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs
    Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book explores a very pragmatic approach to starting and running a business. If you read only one book before embarking on your business adventure, make sure it’s this book.

    It outlines a philosophy which serves as the foundation for what follows. Then it supports the tenets of that philosophy with examples of success and cautionary tales. Finally, it provides concrete steps to take to build your business around the philosophy.

    Also, if you’re a fan of Cal Newport’s work (Deep Work, Digital Minimals etc.) then you’ll love this book.
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  • Jb
    3.0 out of 5 stars Worth the $12 - but not $13
    Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    >5% of this book is unique, but if you read or do personal development or business audio book regularly, worth a listen
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  • Jon Henshaw
    5.0 out of 5 stars A paradoxical approach to business that will improve your health and profitability
    Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I'm not an avid reader of books that target business leaders and entrepreneurs. They usually push for motivational techniques that only fit the personality of the author and recommend office culture changes that again, just fit the nature of the author. They also have the same business aspirations in regards to growth, profitability, and what it means to be successful. There's no wonder why people who are looking for a new way to approach their business while maintaining some semblance of well-being keep buying these books, because none of them have been able to provide what they really want and need. They are all rehashed concepts with different inspirational quotes and a reflection of how the person writing it might go about it.

    Paul Jarvis' book is something different entirely. He flips the idea of 'bigger is better' on its head. He also makes a compelling case that you can personally make more money by staying small, versus trying to grow your company at all costs. The book in its entirety is a compelling case for how you can scale your business, delight your customers, and make more money while staying small and enjoying the experience instead shaving years off your life from unnecessary stress.

    I cannot express enough how much this book resonated with me. As a life-long entrepreneur, the ideas in this book have reshaped how I'm approaching my new business. For many people, Jarvis' ideas are an antithetical approach to how they've been told to run a business. Paradoxically, by staying smaller and rethinking how you grow and interact with your customers, you will end up with much more than you expected.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Ed Barton
    4.0 out of 5 stars Bigger Isn’t Always Better
    Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    The fallacy of bigger is better is busted in this easy read. The book will help change your thinking about keeping your business small and focused. I would have liked to see more tactical elements, but that’s not the premise. The premise was to show that a company of one is not only possible, but potentially preferable. If you’re thinking about doing your own thing, read the book.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Bruno Giosa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great for Solopreneurs
    Reviewed in Brazil on August 22, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I loved Company of One. It gave me a new perspective on how to think my one-man business and how to deal with pressure to scale clients, revenue, and employees all the time. I highly recommend for people who work well on their own, already have a good deal of clients and it's looking for a next step or even better the right next step.
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  • gardy1988
    5.0 out of 5 stars I recommend it for starting some idea for business
    Reviewed in Italy on October 4, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Very good book
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  • Justine Zamora
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 14, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    This book has so many valuable information about being a company of one. I particularly like that after the end of each chapter there’s questions to think about that Paul has written down for readers to reflect. I have taken so much value from this book personally and it’s really changed my perspective on running my business. I love this book for that.

    I purchased the kindle version of this and love it, so easy to read and add notes to and highlight! I definitely recommend this book to anyone interested or running a business already. If you’re looking for an alternative way to run a business, this is the best book to read in my opinion. It’s based off research and real life people/businesses as examples to back up what Paul says in the book.
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  • Cátia Moutinho
    5.0 out of 5 stars Um dos melhores livros de empreendimento
    Reviewed in Spain on February 23, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Como empreendedora, este foi um dos melhores livros que li. Super inspirador e uma perspectiva completamente diferente. Recomendo
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    Cátia Moutinho
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Um dos melhores livros de empreendimento

    Reviewed in Spain on February 23, 2024
    Como empreendedora, este foi um dos melhores livros que li. Super inspirador e uma perspectiva completamente diferente. Recomendo
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  • M.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Really enjoyed it!
    Reviewed in Germany on February 17, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Food for thought: Great examples and stories to help you define what your own vision for your business is.
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