Key Takeaways

• Franchise Insights data shows flexibility is the top franchise characteristic after financial factors.
• Younger generations, especially millennials and Gen Z, are driving demand for lifestyle-friendly franchise models.
• Franchisors that highlight schedule freedom and operational flexibility in their pitches are more likely to attract top candidates.

When aspiring entrepreneurs think about buying a franchise, their first concern is obvious: money. From startup costs to potential ROI, the numbers have to make sense. But once candidates look beyond the balance sheet, a new survey suggests their next priority is something less tangible: flexibility.

According to new data from Franchise Insights, work schedule flexibility is the most desired characteristic among franchise prospects, after financial considerations. In other words, after making sure a franchise is affordable and profitable, today’s entrepreneurs want reassurance that the business model won’t chain them to a rigid, 9-to-5 structure.

Related: Considering franchise ownership? Get started now to find your personalized list of franchises that match your lifestyle, interests and budget.

Why flexibility matters

This emphasis on flexibility reflects larger cultural and economic shifts. Over the past several years, the U.S. workforce has experienced an unprecedented reevaluation of what “work” should look like. The pandemic accelerated the move toward remote and hybrid schedules, and younger generations entering the workforce have shown little interest in returning to old models.

That sentiment carries over into franchising. Many people who explore franchise opportunities are motivated not just by financial independence, but also by the ability to shape their lifestyles. They want the freedom to attend a child’s school event, take a midday run or even manage the business remotely. A franchise that locks owners into long, inflexible hours can be an increasingly tough sell.

This helps explain the rise of non-brick-and-mortar franchises, which have surged in popularity because they allow owners to operate without being tied to a physical storefront. Similarly, home-based brands in categories like tutoring, cleaning or senior care are thriving because they give franchisees more control over their time.

Related: I Walked Away From a Corporate Career to Start My Own Small Business — Here’s Why You Should Do the Same

What this means for franchisors

This trend is both a challenge and an opportunity for franchisors. On one hand, not every business model can promise flexibility. Restaurant and retail franchises, for example, often require owners to be physically present during peak hours. But even in those sectors, many brands are finding creative ways to highlight flexibility. Some encourage franchisees to hire strong managers who handle day-to-day operations, creating a shared management structure that frees owners to focus on growth. Others lean on technology, using digital tools for scheduling, supply chain management and customer communication so franchisees can step away more easily.

Multi-unit ownership is also positioned not only as a financial growth strategy, but as a way for owners to put more distance between themselves and daily operations. For service-based and home-based franchises, the flexibility angle is even stronger. Brands in categories like tutoring, pet care or consulting can market themselves directly to prospects who want work-life balance without being tied to a storefront.

Franchise Insights’ data also aligns with generational research showing millennials and Gen Z place a higher premium on flexibility than previous cohorts. These younger buyers are not only more likely to pursue entrepreneurship earlier, but they are also less willing to sacrifice lifestyle for ownership.

For franchisors hoping to recruit from this growing pool, showcasing flexibility in marketing materials, discovery days and FDD disclosures could make the difference between winning or losing a candidate.

Related: These Are the Top Franchise Suppliers of 2025

What they don’t want

Just as important as knowing what prospects value is understanding what no longer drives their decisions. According to the Francise Insights data, concerns that once dominated the franchise conversation — such as pandemic-related health and safety protocols — have largely faded from view. For today’s buyers, Covid-19 isn’t shaping business choices the way it did just a few years ago.

Instead, prospects are showing less patience for models that demand relentless, inflexible schedules or require owners to be on-site around the clock. Many are wary of businesses that look too much like another full-time job, especially if the path to profitability requires years of long hours behind the counter. They also tend to resist brands that don’t offer clear operational support or rely on outdated systems that tether them to manual tasks.

Put simply, franchise candidates are no longer willing to trade financial independence for burnout. The winning formula now combines strong economics with modern operations — and the freedom to build a business without sacrificing lifestyle.

The bottom line

Financial considerations will always come first — no one should buy a franchise without running the numbers. But the rise of flexibility as a close second should push franchisors to rethink their pitch. Today’s prospects are asking: “Can I make money — and can I do it on my terms?”

The brands that answer “yes” to both questions will be well-positioned to thrive in an increasingly competitive franchise marketplace.

https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/this-is-one-of-the-top-factors-driving-young-franchise/497541

Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

https://www.entrepreneur.com/living/costco-gold-star-membership-plus-a-20-digital-costco-shop/497418

This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features Michelle Platt, 51, and Brian Platt, 53, the married co-founders of Jam Packd, the business behind functional, protein-packed fruit spreads. The couple is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

^{Image Credit: Courtesy of Jam Packd. Michelle and Brian Platt.}

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What was your day job or primary occupation when you started your side hustle?
Michelle: I ran a health and wellness website for over nine years and now work full-time as a campus director for a private school.

Brian: I’ve been an advertising creative for 30 years, working as a creative director, and now actively freelance while building Jam Packd.

Related: These 31-Year-Old Best Friends Started a Side Hustle to Solve a Workout Struggle — And It’s On Track to Hit $10 Million Annual Revenue This Year

When did you start your side hustle, and where did you find the inspiration for it?
Michelle: We first came up with the idea in April 2024. I had just returned from a conference where I spoke to online entrepreneurs about how to utilize the Amazon Influencer Program and other outreach strategies. My favorite topic to write about on my website was health foods and products. Many of these were low in net carbs, high in protein and had good-for-you ingredients. By the time I left that conference, I was convinced that I should start my own brand in the health food niche. My husband and I brainstormed about products that could be more healthful, and it was an immediate aha moment when he suggested jam. While we always had jam in the house, it was something I increasingly avoided, with its empty calories and often artificial sweeteners and fruit juice. I knew I wasn’t alone in this. We realized there was nothing out there that filled this gap in the market, and Jam Packd was born.

Related: His Salty Side Hustle Saw Revenue ‘From Day 1’ and Hit $10 Million Last Year

^{Image Credit: Courtesy of Jam Packd}

Brian: In advertising, ageism is the one “ism” that’s alive and well and even somewhat celebrated. So at some point, I think every ad creative starts thinking about how else they can use their skills when the ad clock strikes midnight. For me, that question turned into action when Michelle found inspiration at a conference she was speaking at. She came home with the idea that we should create something ourselves, and jam naturally rose out of that conversation. Our family consumes a lot of jam, but we’ve always done it somewhat begrudgingly, as even the “good” brands have always been too sweet for us, contained no real nutrients and were often loaded with sugar. So the idea of a spread packed with organic fruit, collagen peptides, prebiotic fiber, omega 3s, vitamins and minerals and no added sugar felt like something we would be hardcore consumers of. And if it was something we would love, maybe others would, too.

What were some of the first steps you took to get your side hustle off the ground? How much money/investment did it take to launch?
Michelle: It cost us about $20,000 even before our first bench test and purchasing ingredients. This included our initial setup and R&D, from setting up our website to our logo, lawyer fees, food scientist and focus groups. Our most important first steps were securing the domain name and our trademark, hiring a logo and product packaging designer (who nailed it) and connecting with a food scientist with experience in protein. (Our home recipes didn’t have the right taste and consistency.) We also needed to find a co-packer that could handle our ingredient list.

Brian: Despite many people telling me the first thing you need is a business plan, the first thing I needed was a label. So we mocked up a placeholder label. As hideous as it was, it gave us something that felt tangible. We were no longer just a financial projections spreadsheet — we were a disgustingly ugly label. And that’s something. We used that placeholder as a proof of concept, put it in front of paid focus groups and asked the question: “Would anyone even want this?” They did.

Next, we went to a food scientist to find out if making this jam was actually possible. It was. So we hired a designer, a trademark attorney and brought the name Jam Packd and Jam Packed Jams LLC to life. The last (of the first steps) and most grueling was finding a co-packer, followed by reaching out to all the vendors and food groups. When you’re the small guy, nobody wants to talk with you. In a moment of frustration, after having left a dozen polite voicemails for a fruit vendor, my final message was a full three-minute, expletive-laden rant. They immediately called me back, and we’re still working together. So my advice is to be persistent and use naughty words on voicemails if you must.

Related: This Mom’s Garage Side Hustle for Kids Became a Business With $1 Billion Revenue

Are there any free or paid resources that have been especially helpful for you in starting and running this business?
Michelle: For me, the best resources were my experiences as a blogger. When you have a website, you have to do it all: coding, plug-ins, social media, newsletters, influencer marketing, affiliate marketing, video and SEO. Brian brought his own set of expertise. Now working full-time, however, I knew we couldn’t handle it all. We found some great freelancers on Fiverr to help with some of the technical tasks. And while you have to be cautious with AI, ChatGPT helped resolve Shopify issues, led us to the right apps and even provided some guidance on our business strategies.

Brian: I find the Startup CPG, Shopify Masters and Prof G podcasts very helpful and inspiring. But honestly, I feel I learn the most from entrepreneurs who have struggled or failed. Survivorship bias is real. The winners will say things like drop out of college or follow your instincts. To me, it often feels like random attribution. I’m sure there are lottery winners who advise on what to wear when buying a ticket. The entrepreneurs who have lost seem to know exactly why and can tell you how to avoid it.

If you could go back in your business journey and change one process or approach, what would it be, and how do you wish you’d done it differently?
Michelle: There are so many things we wish we could change, but maybe the headaches were necessary. A third set of eyes could have helped. Even though Brian and I looked at things meticulously, we found some mistakes early on in our labels and had to redo those. Also, in an ideal world, we would have continued our relationship with our food scientist for longer before moving on.

Brian: Just one? That’s tough. If I had to pick, I’d say we should have perfected our recipe before bringing in a co-packer. Our food scientists were amazing and loved experimenting with us, but co-packers aren’t built for that. I wanted to brainstorm, tinker, talk and throw jam at the wall. They rightly wanted a ready-to-run recipe they could adapt slightly for their facility. We went in too early, and it was frustrating for everyone. In the end, we circled back to our scientists, and that’s when things really clicked.

Related: This Mom’s Creative Side Hustle Started As a Hobby With Less Than $100 — Then Grew Into a Business Averaging $570,000 a Month: ‘It’s Crazy’

^{Image Credit: Courtesy of Jam Packd}

When it comes to this specific business, what is something you’ve found particularly challenging and/or surprising that people who get into this type of work should be prepared for, but likely aren’t?
Michelle: There are so many moving parts, in everything from ordering ingredients to understanding your margins, that you have to be super organized to make this work. In all honesty, I’m not the numbers person, and had I started this business on my own, I know it would not have grown in the way that it did. Plus, it helps to have a veteran ad guy as my husband.

Brian: Few people will ever care about your thing like you do. That translates to a lot of lazy communication, ghosting and mistakes. Murphy’s Law is in full effect. If the last ingredient you need to hit your production date is delayed, that’s the week they ship it to the wrong address. When you send a purchase order, silence could mean they missed it, they saw it but don’t prioritize you or, like in my case, they’re waiting to see what their bigger clients order first, and you’ll get what’s left. Whether it’s ingredients, printing or scheduling runs, expect about 10% of the passion and responsiveness you’re putting in.

Can you recall a specific instance when something went very wrong? How did you fix it?
Brian: I sat down to write an ad about our “low net carbs” and wanted to double-check the numbers. I picked up a jar of blueberry and saw total carbs listed as four grams. But I knew that couldn’t be right. The math didn’t add up. We’d put everything through lab testing and double-checked everything, but somehow a typo made it onto thousands of labels. So Michelle and I printed new nutrition panel stickers, flew to the warehouse in Utah and painstakingly applied one to every jar of blueberry by hand.

How long did it take you to see consistent monthly revenue?
Michelle: We knew standing out as a new product would be hard, but honestly, Brian’s experience in advertising did just that from day one. We sold out of our first run in about 30 days and were consistently making over $1,000 a day soon after.

Brian: Despite all my frustrations with Meta, its ad algorithm is frighteningly good. Within a couple of weeks, we could see which messages resonated most.

What does growth and revenue look like now?
Brian: So far, we’ve passed $50,000 in sales and are on track to hit $400,000 to $500,000 in our first year through DTC. We’ve put a lot of focus on customer acquisition costs, and that’s allowed us to stay profitable on our ads every single day.

Related: After College, She Spent $800 to Start a Side Hustle That Became a ‘Monster’ Business Making $35 Million a Year: ‘I Set Intense Sales Targets’

What do you enjoy most about running this business?
Michelle: I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur. Both Brian and I are creatives at heart. It’s what brought us together. It’s amazing to build something out of nothing and have people appreciate your product.

Brian: The ability to publicly test our instincts. In advertising, if a brand’s CMO thinks an idea sucks, it’s dead. Now the public gets to decide. As it turns out, the ads that we have the most heart for often come back with the worst customer acquisition cost (CAC). So maybe all those CMOs I’ve cursed out over the years were on to something.

^{Image Credit: Courtesy of Jam Packd}

Related: He Spent $36 to Start a Side Hustle. Now the Business Earns 6 Figures a Year — With Just 1-2 Hours of Work a Day: ‘Freedom.’

What is your best piece of specific, actionable business advice?
Michelle: First impressions are everything, especially in this world of social media and scrolling. Get the logo and packaging right from the start. Create an enticing website. Pick a great name. And obviously make a great product.

Brian: I like the quote “only the paranoid survive” from Andrew Grove, the old CEO of Intel. There’s plenty to be paranoid about. We’ve already had someone try to trademark our name, and an early customer is now trying to make a knockoff, even stealing one of our core ad headlines.

But I actually don’t mean it to be so negative. I just mean if paranoia isn’t innate for you, build the habit of questioning everything. I don’t really believe in overthinking because questioning if you’re overthinking is part of the thinking itself — 99% of it won’t mean much, but the 1% that does makes all the calories burned worth it. You just won’t know what 1% mattered until later. After 30 years in advertising, I can tell you the team that wins is the one that thought, feared and dreamed harder than anyone else.

https://www.entrepreneur.com/starting-a-business/couple-used-chatgpt-to-start-side-hustle-on-track-for-500k/497476

Key Takeaways

• Eric Schmidt was the CEO of Google from 2001 to 2011.
• In a new interview, Schmidt said that he is “not in favor of” working from home.
• He mentioned that remote work stops junior employees from learning from more experienced ones in the office.

Flexible work, with days spent working from home, needs to be eliminated, says Google’s former CEO Eric Schmidt.

Schmidt spoke on an episode of the “All-In” podcast, which aired on Wednesday. In the episode, Schmidt said that he was “not in favor of, essentially, working at home,” because it inhibits learning in junior employees.

He mentioned that he learned from “elder people” while he was working at Sun Microsystems, a computer manufacturer purchased by Oracle in 2010 for $7.4 billion, by being in the office and listening to conversations. Schmidt worked at Sun from 1983 to 1997, rising from a software manager role to become vice president of the Sun General Systems Group.

Related: Google Cofounder Sergey Brin Thinks Gemini Employees Should Be Working ’60 Hours’ a Week (and Not Remotely), According to a Leaked Internal Memo

“Think about a 20-something who has to learn how the world works,” Schmidt said on the podcast. “When I think about how much I learned when I was at Sun, just listening to these elder people who were five or 10 years older than I was, argue with each other, in person, how do you recreate that in this new thing?”

Though Schmidt said he was “in favor of work-life balance,” he mentioned that tech workers have to make “some tradeoffs” between the two in order to succeed.

“If you’re going to be in tech, and you’re going to win, you’re going to have to make some tradeoffs,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt was CEO of Google for a decade, from 2001 to 2011. Last year, he said at a Stanford University talk that Google fell behind in the AI race due to remote work policies for its staff. Google allows employees to work from home two days a week.

Related: This Big Tech CEO Just Became a Billionaire for the First Time

“Google decided that work-life balance and going home early and working from home was more important than winning,” Schmidt said at the time. “The reason startups work is because the people work like hell.”

Schmidt later walked back his remarks, saying he “misspoke.”

Companies like Amazon, JPMorgan, and AT&T have enforced strict return-to-office mandates this year, requiring staff to work from the office five days a week. The initiatives have met with pushback, as employees protested the impact on work-life balance, but have since been implemented.

Related: ‘I Don’t Care How Many People Sign’: JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon Fires Back at Employees Who Signed a ‘F—ing Petition’ Calling for Hybrid Work

https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/why-ex-google-ceo-eric-schmidt-is-against-working-from-home/497582

Do you have a knack for making high-quality handmade items? Selling them on your own website as a small business owner can be tricky — figuring out the tech, targeting active buyers and setting up your shop policies are just a few hurdles you must overcome.

If you’re a small business owner or pursuing this as a side hustle, it’s possible that all the effort just won’t be worth it. However, there is a way to become a shop owner without all the hassle of developing a website independently.

Are you interested in learning more? Well, look no further — Etsy is the platform for you.

What is Etsy?

Etsy is an online marketplace that connects buyers and sellers interested in buying or selling unique handmade, vintage and craft items. Etsy buyers want to purchase the fruits of your creative gifts.

Etsy sticks out because of its ability to connect independent Etsy sellers to a global audience to sell their products online.

The best part of hand-crafted and vintage items is their unique story and origins; Etsy makes the most of this. With an Etsy business, you can sell various handmade products like jewelry, clothing and craft supplies.

What are the benefits of selling on Etsy?

Before diving in, make sure you truly understand the benefits and power of selling on Etsy versus other online platforms.

Massive reach

Because of its well-known status, Etsy allows anybody to increase visibility on their shop. Etsy reported over 96.3 million shoppers last year alone. Your shop will be exposed to all corners of the world via Etsy search. The opportunities are just waiting to be unlocked by your creativity.

Marketing tools

Because of its broad reach and influence, Etsy provides any small business with massive marketing opportunities.

Selling on this online marketplace can establish you as a seller and help you build a loyal customer base once you open your Etsy shop. All you have to do is create wanted products and provide quality service.

Related: Branding 101: The Basics of Building a Successful Brand

Growth potential

Any successful Etsy shop can provide a financial opportunity for the seller while the seller does what they do best: create. This online shop can offer a flexible way to earn income. Successful sellers can generate significant revenue from their shops to pursue their goals, whether for their business or otherwise.

Not only can it be a side gig, but with enough success, it can become a full-time job supporting you and the business itself.

Etsy gives any successful shop the tools they need to grow. Continue providing your shop with improved products and a smoother shopping experience and you might have a sustainable business.

How to get started selling on Etsy

If these benefits interest you, setting up your unique shop on Etsy is the next step. Follow the steps below to make the best start for your future business.

1. Decide if Etsy is the right platform

Starting any business endeavor is intimidating. As always, carefully research what you plan to put your time and energy into.

Because they specialize in hand-crafted goods and services, ensure you know you cannot sell mass-produced items or any items that violate Etsy’s policy.

Other than this, the only problems that you may have with Etsy will be specific to your business. Be sure that Etsy is suitable for you before investing your time in this venture.

If not, consider other ecommerce platforms, such as Amazon or eBay, or utilize Shopify integrations on your own site.

Related: E-commerce Basics: 10 Questions to Ask When Creating an Online Store

2. Create your account and open your Etsy storefront

First, you’ll need to go to Etsy.com. Click “Sign in” in the top right corner of the page, next to the shopping cart icon. If you have an account already, go ahead and sign in (and you can go ahead and skip to “the selling page” below). If not, click “Register” to create a new Etsy account. Enter your first and last name, email and password.

To finish making your account, follow the instructions to verify your email address. Once completed, go ahead and sign in.

Once you have signed in, click your profile icon in the top right. The default is a gray silhouette, but you are welcome and recommended to customize your profile to be unique and recognizable to future customers.

The dropdown menu gives you many options that you should familiarize yourself with, but go ahead and click on the “Sell on Etsy” option. This will take you directly to the seller page. Press “Get Started” and follow the simple steps to create your page.

A couple of notes to think about when filling out this information. Etsy takes your answers and puts them in an algorithm.

Once your store is created and made public, it will use these answers to appeal to customers that fit the description. So be specific with your answers to maximize the tool Etsy uses for your business.

Additionally, make sure your shop name is memorable, easy to spell and reflects what you sell.

Related: 8 Mistakes to Avoid When Naming Your Business

3. Upload your first product listing

This part is self-explanatory, and Etsy sets you up for success by requiring this listing before doing anything else on your store page. Etsy is very detailed on this part and lets you know what you need to get your first products out there for the world to see.

Even though some are optional, fill out as many product descriptions and listings as possible. The more detailed, the better.

Don’t worry about making this first listing perfect. Etsy uses this as a tutorial for uploading your products to the market and won’t show this product until you’ve made your store public. Make sure you understand the basics of listing on Etsy.

4. Choose your payment method

Once again, pretty self-explanatory on Etsy’s part. The main thing to note is Etsy’s mode of payment: Plaid. Plaid is a secure method of connecting your bank to Etsy for secure, quick and easily-received payments. Similar to a modern Paypal. So don’t worry about handing out your credit card information. Leave the security to Plaid and your bank.

Different online stores use other methods for various reasons, but Plaid is reliable. Follow the steps, fill out your information and connect to Plaid to continue registering as a store.

Don’t be concerned about security: They need information you wouldn’t usually share about your account with your financial institution, but they need it to access your bank account to pay you.

5. Customize your storefront

Now that you have officially opened your store, you have many more options to explore. It can be overwhelming, so look below for some highlights. A good business owner should know all the tools, but you can get a good start by looking below.

Start by customizing your online storefront, namely your store name, icon, cover and profile photos, banner and shop announcements. These are all specific to you and your business. If you are nervous about this part, consider using Etsy’s guide to starting a great Etsy shop.

Related: Selling Products Online? How to Build a Perfect Checkout Page

What are the fees associated with starting an Etsy store?

While selling on Etsy, there will be fees unique to Etsy that you should understand. These Etsy fees will affect profit but are mandatory for a seller on the ecommerce platform.

Listing fee

Etsy listing fees are required to list products for sale on Etsy. You’ll get charged a listing fee for each listing you post.

On Etsy, the listing fee is a flat rate of $0.20 USD per listing. This fee gets charged whether or not the item listed sells. This is important to consider in the decision of whether or not to list. It’s a small individual price but can quickly add up and negatively affect profits. This fee automatically adds to your payment account when you publish an item.

Transaction fee

Transaction fees are the fees Etsy collects when a customer makes a purchase. Unlike listing fees, transaction fees are only collected on listings that sell. There are just a few basic things to remember on the subject of transaction fees with Etsy:

• The transaction fee is 6.5% of the total order amount in your listing
• This fee covers the total cost of the item, along with the shipping
• The transaction fee amount is automatically charged to your payment account for ease of viewing

Payment processing fee

Payment processing fees are a set rate of the item’s total sale price. It is important to note that this rate varies by country. The fees are taken from the item’s total sale price, including shipping fees and any applicable sales tax.

Currency conversion fees

If your listing currency differs from the currency of your Payment account, the funds you receive will be subject to a conversion fee by Etsy. Since this is a service Etsy provides, they have a certain fee based on the currency converted. However, you can bypass this fee by setting your listing currency to be the same as your Etsy payment account.

Shipping costs

While you can determine your own shipping costs, Etsy provides multiple ways to calculate and charge shipping costs. This can be done by creating shipping profiles for different product categories.

Because of the variety of items sold on Etsy, they created this tool to help people ship their products efficiently and in a profit-oriented way.

Be sure to understand what each product needs for shipping and be able to utilize this tool when you need to determine shipping costs for your business.

All of the fees discussed above are described in more detail by Etsy on their help center, so be sure to utilize this resource as you build your online store.

What are some helpful features on the Etsy platform?

There are several features to consider when considering how Etsy sets you up for success. These are tools that very few other online marketplace companies offer, so be sure to know how to use these tools.

Automatic statistics

The stats tab on your store dashboard is a great way to analyze business data quickly. Etsy compiles all of it based on your online sales, giving you an easy view of your success and what you can do better.

Streamlined marketing

As discussed, Etsy provides a great opportunity for growth because of its influence and reach in the online space. The marketing tab provides options for search analytics, Etsy ads, search engine optimization (SEO), sales and discounts, social media integration and custom web addresses.

All of these can improve your online store’s quality through marketing tools provided at the click of your mouse.

Related: 21 Ways to Market Your Business Online

Specialized integrations

It doesn’t get much easier than this. Etsy provides integrations with 21 partners specializing in their respective fields: marketing and promoting, maximizing listings and understanding buyer trends, bookkeeping, taxes and inventory analytics.

With all these tools accessible from your dashboard with a click, you can create an online store that would be impossible to do on your own.

Selling on Etsy FAQs

1. How to integrate an Etsy shop with a brick-and-mortar store?

This can be an intimidating task but also a significant milestone to set for your business as you explore your market.

Check out the “Sell in person” option in the bottom left of your dashboard. Etsy gives you another fantastic way to branch out — a physical store for your potential customers to visit.

If you’re successful enough, Etsy has this option for you to continue your business growth. Going from an online page to an in-person storefront is getting closer to the final destination in the business world.

Related: Lessons Retail Stores Can Learn From Successful E-commerce Sites

2. How much does it cost to sell on Etsy?

This question is a common question that many beginner sellers have. Unfortunately, this question can’t be simply answered across all businesses. Because of the uniqueness of Etsy’s target products, these pricing plans vary greatly.

However, there is a list that Etsy has a list of fees and taxes associated with selling on their site,some of which have already been discussed:

• Listing fees
• Shipping Label fees
• Transaction fees
• VAT
• Pattern
• Advertising fees
• Etsy Payments and deposit fees

Spend time understanding which fees apply to you and which ones don’t. This can help you predict the cost of selling on Etsy and help you balance whether or not this tool is worth the fees and expenses.

3. What is Etsy Plus?

Etsy Plus is a plan provided by Etsy that comes with a subscription fee but also multiple perks to help your company get off the ground faster and jump-start growth:

• Sign up for Etsy Plus
• Credits
• Access to custom web address discounts through hover
• Restock requests
• Advanced shop customization
• Access to discounts and perks

While these tools can be super helpful in the promotion and growth of your business, they also may be too large a step or too expensive a fee for the size of your business. But don’t completely ignore this tool.

Keep it in mind as you grow your business because it can be a powerful way to foster growth in all aspects, whether through customer retention or marketing.

Should you open an Etsy shop?

The big question: Should you open an Etsy shop?

Unfortunately, nobody can answer that question except for you. Considering Etsy’s ease of creating a business, it is a very valuable tool for beginners in the entrepreneurial world.

At the same time, there are many examples of success in other facets of the business world, even on other platforms.

Understand that your idea, business and platform are unique and will differ from any other business endeavor. You can attempt to recreate successful formulas but never have an identical company. So embrace that part.

Be open to different strategies. Stay committed to your decision, but make sure that decision is well-researched and backed with reasoning.

Always be open to growth. Be ready to grow with your business and be ready to face hardships. Remember that there are always tools to help with those tricky spots. Fortunately, Etsy has all those tools in one place. So what are you waiting for?

Check out Entrepreneur’s other resources for more details on this topic.

https://www.entrepreneur.com/starting-a-business/how-to-sell-on-etsy-in-2023-a-comprehensive-guide/448517

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

https://www.entrepreneur.com/growing-a-business/a-great-product-means-nothing-if-you-ignore-this-principle/496415

Key Takeaways

• A new analyst note claims that, though Nvidia is the most valuable company based on market value, Alphabet is actually the most valuable based on AI strength.
• Alphabet’s overall business is doing well, thanks to AI.
• AI is “driving strong momentum,” Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in a July earnings report.

Move over, Nvidia. An analyst says the actual most valuable company in the world is Google’s parent company, Alphabet.

Research publisher MoffettNathanson wrote in a note obtained by Bloomberg on Thursday that though Alphabet isn’t the world’s largest company by market value, it is in the running for the “most valuable company in the world” based on AI strength.

Alphabet’s “combination of market leadership, diversification and scale” makes the company “not only a winner in the GenAI era” but also “a company that should rightly be considered for the title of most valuable company in the world,” MoffettNathanson Founder and Media Analyst Michael Nathanson wrote in the note.

Related: Google Reportedly Told Its Staff to Use AI More or Risk Falling Behind: ‘It Seems Like a No-Brainer’

Alphabet’s overall business is booming, thanks to AI. According to the company’s second-quarter earnings, reported at the end of July, revenue increased 14% year-over-year to $96.4 billion, with growth across the company.

“We are leading at the frontier of AI and shipping at an incredible pace,” Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai stated in the report. “AI is positively impacting every part of the business, driving strong momentum.”

Earlier this month, Alphabet became the fourth company in the world to achieve a $3 trillion market capitalization, joining Nvidia, Microsoft, and Apple in the $3 trillion club. Market capitalization assesses the total value of a company by multiplying the number of company shares by its stock price. Alphabet achieved the milestone more than two decades after Google first went public in 2004.

Related: This Is How Senior Leaders Are Using AI at Work, According to a Google Survey

At the time of writing, Alphabet’s market capitalization had diminished to $2.97 trillion, making it the fourth most valuable company in the world by that metric. Nvidia had the highest market value of $4.3 trillion, with Microsoft and Apple following with market capitalizations of $3.79 trillion and $3.74 trillion, respectively.

Alphabet stock has grown more than 70% this year following a market capitalization low of $1.8 trillion in April. Over the past month, Alphabet shares have gained over 17% in value.

Nathanson wrote in the note that Google is leading AI search. Google’s global market share in search overall has been approximately 89% for the past year. Last February, the company introduced AI overviews, or AI summaries of search results embedded at the top of search, which have since reached two billion monthly users.

Related: Google CEO Sundar Pichai Says ‘You’ll Be Surprised’ By How Google Search Changes

“Google remains the one to beat in GenAI search,” Nathanson wrote in the note.

https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/alphabet-is-the-most-valuable-company-not-nvidia-analyst/497581

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