Practical wisdom on tools, concepts, and strategies to build, grow, and optimize your business 91% of small and medium sized businesses fail in the first 10 years. What is the other 9% doing to succeed? The 9% Edge is a highly practical guide to entrepreneurship and taking your business to the next level, no matter where you currently are in your build. Developed from extensive research on businesses and their founders, combined with the 26 years of real-world, firsthand experience of author Candy Valentino, this book breaks down the core principles and concepts that are essential to bridging the knowledge gap between different stages of a build, and contains a wealth of tools and strategies, explained in plain English, that can be put into practice as soon as today. Valentino went from a teenager living in a little white trailer on government assistance, to building, scaling, and selling multiple businesses in various industries and helping countless other businesses do the same in a consultant role. In this book, readers will learn about: Expanding your customer base, strategically reducing costs without compromise, and measuring and evaluating critical revenue drivers - Making data-driven decisions, implementing strategic financial and metric changes, and always moving forward with intention - Achieving organizational transformation through revamping a marketing strategy, optimizing operational efficiencies, and restructuring finances The 9% Edge is an essential resource for all business owners seeking to learn from someone who has run the gambit in entrepreneurial endeavors and knows from experience what has been proven to work. UNLOCKING THE SECRETS TO REAL, LONG-TERM BUSINESS SUCCESS In The 9% Edge , Candy Valentino shares a meticulously researched roadmap to entrepreneurial achievement built on over 26 years of hands-on experience and a deep dive into the data of 2,000 businesses and 17,000 entrepreneurs. Valentino not only unveils why 91% of businesses fail but also identifies the critical strategies used by the 9% to succeed and sustain their success. From her early days as a self-made entrepreneur to becoming a wildly successful and diverse founder and investor, this book isn’t filled with vague theory but is packed with usable concepts, tools, and strategies that you can put into practice immediately. Within these pages, you will find everything you need to elevate your business to a new level of growth and success. You’ll learn about making data-driven decisions, implementing strategic financial and metric changes, and how to build your business with intention. Valentino’s approach isn’t about overnight success―it’s about applying consistent, focused efforts to strengthen the core aspects of your business, such as acquiring customers, generating sales, and maintaining profitability. Discover how to harness data-driven insights, implement robust financial strategies, and cultivate a mindset of continuous progress. The 9% Edge is your definitive guide to building and sustaining a thriving business, fortified by Valentino’s unparalleled expertise and firsthand wisdom. Filled with essential lessons you can’t find anywhere else, The 9% Edge earns a well-deserved spot on the bookshelves of all entrepreneurs seeking to cut through the noise and focus on what has been proven to work. PRAISE FOR THE 9% EDGE “Every entrepreneur needs The 9% Edge . Candy’s clear, concise strategies for increasing revenue and profitability are essential for business success. This is one of those books that you’ll want to read over and over again as your business grows, because it’s valuable and relevant at every stage of business.” ―CHRIS RONZIO, Founder and CEO of Trainual “If you’re serious about transforming your business and unlocking unprecedented levels of revenue and freedom, this is what you need. Candy Valentino’s wealth of experience and meticulous research shine through, offering practical strategies that you can implement immediately. This is a blueprint for joining the elite who achieve lasting success. Highly recommended!” ―JOSH SNOW, CEO of Snow Cosmetics “If you want to fix your finances, create a scalable business, and grow your bottom line, this is an essential read! I highly recommend this to every entrepreneur and business owner.” ―EDDIE WILSON, CEO of Collective Influence with 100+ Exits “If you’re tired of trading time for money and want to learn how to create more revenue, keep more of the money you make and build real wealth, The 9% Edge by Candy Valentino is the book that will show you how!” ― DAN MARTELL, 3x Technology SaaS Founder and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Buy Back Your Time CANDY VALENTINO is a successful founder, entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. She is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Wealth Habits and host of the top podcast, The Candy Valentino Show . Valentino started her first company at 19 with no degree