A TikTok Ban Could Mean Millions Lost for Small-Business Owners

WSJ Your Money Briefing

The Wall Street Journal

News, Business News

3.8 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 3 February 2025

⏱️ 8 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

From clothes to candy, TikTok has become a storefront for a growing number of small businesses. WSJ reporter Ann-Marie Alcántara joins host Ariana Aspuru to break down how a possible ban could impact those who rely on the app to make a living. Plus, we hear from a North Carolina based shop owner who has turned her floral-inspired art designs into a million dollar business. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Ready to launch your business? Get started with the commerce platform made for entrepreneurs.
0:04.8	Shopify is specially designed to help you start, run and grow your business with easy customizable themes that let you build your brand.
0:12.5	Marketing tools that get your products out there. Integrated shipping solutions that actually save you time.
0:17.5	From startups to scaleups, online, in person, and on the go.
0:22.0	Shopify is made for entrepreneurs like you.
0:24.5	Sign up for your $1 a month trial at Shopify.com slash setup.
0:32.6	Here's your money briefing for Monday, February 3rd.
0:36.2	I'm Mariana Asburu for the Wall Street Journal.
0:42.9	I really started posting on TikTok during the pandemic, and my business just completely blew up.
0:48.9	That's Elise Burns. She's a 27-year-old small business owner in North Carolina.
1:01.8	She's been selling floral-inspired art goods like stickers, stationary, and laptop sleeves online since she was 18.
1:08.3	I had been on Instagram for a while, but TikTok is really kind of what got me a lot of traction.
1:12.7	That is what really took my business to, like, the next level of being possibly like a full-time job for me. So I did $20,000 in revenue on Etsy in 2019. And then I did
1:19.9	$360,000 in revenue on Etsy in 2020 after I got on TikTok. So that was just this huge, huge jump that made me think it could be a full-time job.
1:31.2	And then 2021, I did $1.2 million.
1:33.9	2022, I did $1.8 million.
1:36.7	2023, I did $2.9 million.
1:39.5	And then in 2024, we hit $4 million in revenue.
1:42.8	Behind the viral memes and trendy dances, a growing number of shop owners, like Elise, have
1:49.0	capitalized on the platform and created lucrative businesses by connecting with customers
1:54.3	on TikTok.
1:55.9	But the looming threat of a possible U.S. ban on the app would be a serious hit to her income.
	...

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