E-Commerce Is the Greatest Engine of American Entrepreneurship in a Generation
It allows anyone, anywhere in the United States to build a business. It creates jobs in every state. It generates tax revenue in every community. And it is under threat from foreign sellers who don't play by the same rules.
The Scale
$1.2T
U.S. e-commerce sales (2024)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
1.1M+
American sellers on Amazon alone
Source: DemandSage
2M+
American jobs supported by marketplace sellers
Source: AboutAmazon.com
E-commerce has doubled in five years — from $571 billion in 2019 to $1.192 trillion in 2024. It now accounts for 16% of all U.S. retail sales and is growing at more than double the rate of total retail (7.5% vs 2.6%). This is not a niche industry. It is the backbone of modern American commerce.
You Can Build a Business From Anywhere in America
E-commerce eliminated the requirement to be in a major city to reach customers. A family in North Dakota can sell pasta nationwide. A craftsman in rural Georgia can reach millions. A veteran in small-town Texas can build a brand.
30%+
Year-over-year sales growth for Amazon sellers in rural areas (2024)
50
States with active marketplace sellers — every single one
$450B
Amazon investment in small-town and rural job creation
97.3%
Of all U.S. exporters are small businesses, generating $413B in exports
Millions of American Jobs — Created by American Sellers
2M+
Jobs created by Amazon marketplace sellers alone
11% year-over-year growth
63%
Of all new U.S. jobs (1995–2021) created by small businesses
17.3 million total
$23/hr
Average base pay at Amazon fulfillment
$30+/hr total compensation
750K
Jobs supported by Walmart’s U.S. manufacturing commitment
Sourcing and production
Tax Revenue That Funds American Communities
American e-commerce sellers pay income tax, property tax, payroll tax, and sales tax. After South Dakota v. Wayfair (2018), marketplace platforms collect sales tax in virtually every state. Amazon alone invested $340 billion in the U.S. in 2025, generating substantial payroll and property taxes in every community where it operates.
The Remaining Gap
Sales Tax Gap (Closed)
Before Wayfair, states lost an estimated $8–13 billion annually in uncollected sales tax. That gap has been closed for domestic sellers.
Income Tax Gap (Wide Open)
The income tax gap for foreign sellers — estimated at $9–60 billion — remains wide open.
The Spirit of American Entrepreneurship
Americans are starting businesses at record rates. Over 500,000 new business applications are filed every month. E-commerce made this possible by lowering the barrier to entry — you don’t need a storefront, a warehouse, or a six-figure investment. You need a product, a laptop, and a marketplace account.
5.4M
New business applications in 2021 (record)
76%
Of Amazon sellers achieve profitability
63%
Achieve profitability within the first year
55,000+
Sellers exceeded $1 million in sales in 2024
$290K
Average annual sales per Amazon seller
$2.5 Trillion
Cumulative sales by independent Amazon sellers over 25 years
Source: Census Bureau / FRED
Source: AboutAmazon.com 2024 Report
All of This Is at Risk
Foreign sellers — operating with a 50% tax advantage, CCP subsidies, and zero accountability — are displacing the American sellers who built this ecosystem. Chinese sellers now represent 57% of million-dollar Amazon sellers. On Walmart, they grew from 20% to 34% in two years. If nothing changes, the American entrepreneurs who made e-commerce a $1.2 trillion industry will be pushed out of it.
American Seller
- ✓Pays up to 50.3% combined income tax
- ✓Full regulatory compliance
- ✓Full product liability
- ✓Builds American communities
- ✓Creates American jobs
Foreign Seller
- ×Pays $0 in U.S. income tax
- ×No liability for defective products
- ×No regulatory compliance
- ×Profits leave the country
- ×Displaces American jobs
The law already exists to fix this. IRC §864 and the TCJA provide the authority. Established withholding mechanisms provide the collection tools. What’s missing is action.