Company of One by Paul Jarvis: Summary for Founders

10 Key Takeaways

Re-centers the founder on sustainability, simplicity, and life-first business design. A must-read if you feel business 'growth' isn't your only goal.

• Growth (more clients, more staff, more revenue) is not the only, or even the best, goal for your business.
• This book shows you how to optimize your business for autonomy, fulfillment, and profitability—not just size.
• It provides a framework for building a sustainable, resilient microbusiness that serves your life.
• It clearly distinguishes between being a freelancer (stuck in the time-for-money trap) and owning a systemized, efficient company of one.
• This gives you permission to say no to unnecessary complexity, bad-fit clients, and the pressure to scale.
• It teaches you how to expand your revenue (e.g., through digital products or retainers) without expanding your headcount.
• It prioritizes building smart systems, processes, and practicing thoughtful restraint as your core business strategy.
• This is the perfect book for founders who are terrified of burnout or mission drift—losing why you started in the first place.
• It powerfully reframes enough (e.g., enough clients, enough revenue) as a specific, strategic, and intelligent goal.
• It's the build-to-live mindset that creates a business that supports your life, not the other way around.

How to Build Your 'Company of One'

Paul Jarvis gives you the why for building a simpler, more profitable business that serves your life. We provide the how. Our coaching helps you implement the systems, processes, and automations (using basic AI) to build a powerful, resilient company of one. See how we guide founders in our AI coaching &  mentorship program.

Get the Book & Support Kiva

Purchase the book on Amazon. Renew Prosper is an Amazon affiliate, which means we earn a modest amount (4.5%) from qualifying purchases. 100% of commissions earned from book sales are donated to Kiva.org.

Kiva is an international nonprofit that funds micro-loans for unbanked entrepreneurs around the world. From their website:

"By connecting people through crowdfunded loans, Kiva puts the power of financial inclusion in all our hands."

Supporting fellow entrepreneurs is very much aligned with Renew Prosper's mission. If you buy with the link below, you'll get the same price you would have paid anyway, so it's a win/win.