barrier to entry
Newcomer's competitive obstacle
A barrier to entry is anything that makes it difficult for new competitors to enter a market or industry.
High startup costs, regulatory requirements, established brand loyalty, and control of essential resources all function as barriers: The pharmaceutical industry has significant barriers to entry.
The term comes from economics but applies broadly to any field where newcomers face structural obstacles.
Adhering to requirements
- licensingGranting official permission
- permitsGrants formal authorization
- zoningSectioning areas by use
- certificationAttestation of qualification
accreditation · patents · copyrights · trademarks · bureaucracy · red tape · antitrust · tariffs
Initial capital required
- capital requirementsMinimum funds banks must hold
- investmentDeploying capital for returns
- overheadLocated directly above
- infrastructureBasic physical systems
equipment · licensing fees · rent · insurance · marketing expenses · inventory · supplies · training costs
Barrier to leap over
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- roadblockObstruction across a road
- bottleneckConstriction limiting throughput
- stumbling blockObstacle causing difficulty
gatekeeping · threshold · deterrent · handicap · limitation · restriction · constraint · encumbrance
Required prior condition
- credentialProof of qualification
- degreeUnit of measurement
- diplomaAcademic completion document
- certificationAttestation of qualification
experience · training · education · skillset · expertise · knowledge · proficiency · competence
compliance
Adhering to requirements
- licensingGranting official permission
- permitsGrants formal authorization
- zoningSectioning areas by use
certification · accreditation · patents · copyrights · trademarks · bureaucracy · red tape · antitrust · tariffs · quotas
startup costs
Initial capital required
- capital requirementsMinimum funds banks must hold
- investmentDeploying capital for returns
- overheadLocated directly above
infrastructure · equipment · licensing fees · rent · insurance · marketing expenses · inventory · supplies · training costs · labor costs
hurdle
Barrier to leap over
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- roadblockObstruction across a road
- bottleneckConstriction limiting throughput
stumbling block · gatekeeping · threshold · deterrent · handicap · limitation · restriction · constraint · encumbrance · bar
prerequisite
Required prior condition
- credentialProof of qualification
- degreeUnit of measurement
- diplomaAcademic completion document
certification · experience · training · education · skillset · expertise · knowledge · proficiency · competence · aptitude
- market economicsmonopoly, oligopoly, perfect competition, duopoly, monopsony
- business strategystrategy, competitive advantage, market share, profitability, differentiation
- market powermonopoly, oligopoly, cartel, market share, pricing power
- market distortionprice fixing, price control, monopoly, cartel, tariff
- monopolymonopoly, monopolization, market power, market dominance, market concentration
- antitrustantitrust, price fixing, cartel, collusion, antitrust laws
barrier to entryopen market
Unrestricted trading environment
free entry · open access · open competition · perfect competition · free market
barrier to entryenabler
One who facilitates harmful behavior
facilitator · catalyst · springboard · on-ramp · gateway
barrier, barriers, entry, entries, enter, entered, entering, enters, barred