While many business books focus on large corporations, serial entrepreneur Perry Burns takes a different approach with his latest title, offering practical guidance tailored to the real-world challenges of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
“101 Things I Wish I Had Known Before I Started My Business” launches on 1st September 2025 and is already being praised as a practical “first-aid kit” for entrepreneurs. Drawing from Perry’s 50 years of hands-on experience, the book shares valuable lessons, anecdotes, and “war stories” that resonate with business owners across sectors and organisation sizes.
In true entrepreneurial spirit, the road to publication wasn’t without its hurdles. A miscommunication with the publisher resulted in the wrong file being sent to the printers, causing a handful of typos in the first print. Perry has turned this setback into a teaching moment, introducing his SAFETY process (explained on page 203). As he jokes:
“Readers of the first edition have been the lucky recipients of the ‘E’ & ‘T’ parts of the process.”
Perry reassures readers that all significant errors have since been fixed but still encourages them to flag any they spot:
“It’s all part of the entrepreneurial journey,” he adds with a smile.
Covering a wide range of topics — from finance and leadership to the influence of AI and SEO on business — the book mixes practical strategies and checklists with humour, cartoons, and interactive QR codes. Perry also invites readers to share their own “war stories” for potential inclusion in future editions.
Beginning his career selling cash registers door-to-door, Perry later moved into retail technology and software before working across sectors including finance, professional services, and electric motorbikes. Promoted to his first board role in 1985, he has served on the boards of UK Finance and the Motorcycle Industry Association. Today, he continues to champion vision, strategy, and communication while embracing the opportunities offered by emerging technologies.
Availability & Links
- Launch Date: 1st September 2025
- Amazon: http://tiny.cc/101Amazon
- Review Link: http://tiny.cc/101Review
