Michael E. Gerber

Michael E. Gerber: Transforming Small Businesses into Great Enterprises
Michael E. Gerber (born June 20, 1936, in Elizabeth, New Jersey) is an American author, speaker, and entrepreneur widely regarded as one of the world’s leading experts on small business development. Often called the “#1 Small Business Guru,” Gerber’s work has shaped how millions of entrepreneurs think about building and scaling companies.
He is best known for his landmark book The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It, in which he debunks the “entrepreneurial myth” — the belief that people who understand the technical work of a business are automatically equipped to run one. Gerber argues that true entrepreneurs must work on their business, not just in it, creating systems that allow the company to operate successfully without depending on the owner’s constant involvement.
In 1977, Gerber founded what became Michael E. Gerber Companies (originally E-Myth Worldwide), a business coaching and training firm that has served tens of thousands of entrepreneurs across more than 145 countries and industries. His methodologies focus on developing replicable systems, clear processes, and strong managerial foundations — principles that later influenced franchise models, leadership education, and modern small-business consulting.
Over the years, Gerber expanded his E-Myth philosophy through a series of specialized books, including E-Myth Mastery, The E-Myth Contractor, and Awakening the Entrepreneur Within. Together, these works form a practical blueprint for transforming small businesses into scalable, self-sustaining enterprises.
Gerber’s enduring message is that freedom and success in business come from systems, not heroics. By elevating the entrepreneur from technician to architect, he has empowered a global generation of founders to design businesses that work — so they can live lives that matter.