You shouldn't copy competitors in business!

[Maslate]

The question I have about is how many people you know are running failed businesses because they copied another person? Because I've seen people doing things that others are doing and they are progressing pretty well.

Some people who copied others even managed to outpace the ones they copied, it was like how Mr Biggs was reigning in my city for few years and someone new just come around and claimed all Mr Biggs customers.

Cheaper rate and more tastier foods, then people are left with no choice, it's not all those who copied others that will fail at it, some are just going to be better at what they do.

I guess this is not all about copying, but who serves better and make the customers feel more satisfaction, that business will surely get ahead of others. People will not mind even if you are a copy cat, but as long as you can offer them more with cheaper price and higher quality, they will definitely bite your business.

That's why you can't tell others to never copy from other business. That decision is left for them. But if they can make their own brand and focus on their own originality, the competition will still be there but there is less tension and pressure as different business have also their different target audience.

[Elainebue]

copying a competitor probably feels like the safer option at first, but then you're basically just fighting them on the same ground. i think it's way harder to build something people actually remember when you're just following what someone else already did. The Liquid Death example is a pretty good one.

[NewRevelation]

The question I have about is how many people you know are running failed businesses because they copied another person? Because I've seen people doing things that others are doing and they are progressing pretty well.

Some people who copied others even managed to outpace the ones they copied, it was like how Mr Biggs was reigning in my city for few years and someone new just come around and claimed all Mr Biggs customers.

Cheaper rate and more tastier foods, then people are left with no choice, it's not all those who copied others that will fail at it, some are just going to be better at what they do.

I guess this is not all about copying, but who serves better and make the customers feel more satisfaction, that business will surely get ahead of others. People will not mind even if you are a copy cat, but as long as you can offer them more with cheaper price and higher quality, they will definitely bite your business.

That's why you can't tell others to never copy from other business. That decision is left for them. But if they can make their own brand and focus on their own originality, the competition will still be there but there is less tension and pressure as different business have also their different target audience.

I think it's a two way thing. Your point is valid too. The new market price matters too, and most importantly, the originality of your product. That two is a major commander of customers. But then again, there are products fail to survive the market even when they reduce the market price below the already existing product. Because the previous brand already took over the market. So, creating your own gimmicks and style of advertising and letting people know about your product in a different style also matters as the OP pointed out too. The both are just important.

[ImGenius]

Copying from another company does not mean that their business will fail. There are some big companies that look at the business ideas of smaller companies, learn from them and implement those ideas into their own business. Through this their products or services improve a lot which can help satisfy users. Sometimes there are companies whose products or services are good but for some reason users are not using those products.

Now if someone understand the problem and improves that product a lot so that it properly fulfills what users want, then their business can also run very well. For this reason we cannot say that the businesses of those who copy will fail.

[LUCKMCFLY]

That happens quite often. Brands start with an idea, but customers end up seeing it as just "more of the same." When I come across brands like that, I evaluate how good they actually are or what new benefits they bring to the table. If there aren't any, or if it's just the same old structure with zero innovation, people will naturally stick with the established brand.

A good entrepreneur knows that things work much better from day one when they innovate and offer something "different." I say different rather than strictly unique, because even a clever variation is enough to catch people's attention. If you pair that with more attractive pricing, you have another strong hook. That's the real level of competitiveness every brand should aim for.

[Abbatty]

Copying from another company does not mean that their business will fail. There are some big companies that look at the business ideas of smaller companies, learn from them and implement those ideas into their own business. Through this their products or services improve a lot which can help satisfy users. Sometimes there are companies whose products or services are good but for some reason users are not using those products.

Now if someone understand the problem and improves that product a lot so that it properly fulfills what users want, then their business can also run very well. For this reason we cannot say that the businesses of those who copy will fail.

I get your point, sometimes the big companies allows the smaller companies to come up with ideas, not because they are lazy but they allow them to take the financial risk in testing the market, so when the product sells, then the big companies comes in and do it even better, with that they get to win over customers easily. So when it comes to business it not about who does it first but who does it better.

So in cases like this, when a bigger company copies the smaller one, the smaller one now is left with a choice to either leave the market or try to come up with something to improve their product to beat the big company. In most cases the smaller companies usually leaves the market, because they can’t keep up.

[Bright0515]

First of all, people need to understand that what works for you might not really for someone else, this is the more reason why it is important not to copy but you can learn. There is a lot of things you can add to your business just by improvising and being creative. Doing exactly what others are doing shows no relevance or value and also the chances of people connecting themselves with you is going to be very low because they already know that people already operate using a particular system and they might not have need for it from someone else. There's no point in  copying what others are doing because your idea might be what some else needs.

[ejikeme24]

First of all, people need to understand that what works for you might not really for someone else, this is the more reason why it is important not to copy but you can learn. There is a lot of things you can add to your business just by improvising and being creative. Doing exactly what others are doing shows no relevance or value and also the chances of people connecting themselves with you is going to be very low because they already know that people already operate using a particular system and they might not have need for it from someone else. There's no point in  copying what others are doing because your idea might be what some else needs.

Anyone who is going back into those things that has already been done obviously don't want to improve, like I always say instead of going back into those things that has been done, try and discover new patterns or new strategies because those people that you want to copy from is also trying to create something new. I would use my Self as an example, when I was learning my skill i was also making research to see if I can bring new ideas or patterns, instead of repeating the same thing over and over again. I don't even know if people sees things from this perspective, because if they do, they would've try to create something new instead of copying what other people are doing.

[slapper]

A solid take and a wanna add something to it. But things are really worse off than they look at this moment in 2026! Copying is so easy and so inexpensive with AI tools that pretty much anyone can steal another brand's identity. If you've got everything that looks like the successful version of that brand, you're toast! The floor just dropped out on that strategy.

See, that's why the Liquid Death example you cited just now is even more fascinating. They just launched Sparkling Energy in January this year, going straight into energy drinks. Same graphics, same attitude, completely different category of products. They did not need to re-create their identities since they already had an identity related to a feeling. That's where most brands fall short in their Liquid Death study. They make replicas of the skulls. They don't copy the conviction.

And copying conviction is impossible, that's the point. A logo is not one you can steal. It is impossible to steal the reason for a founding. Or what a community that together decides to believe about a brand. When the consumers begin to say "this is ours", that's the real moat, that cultural ownership. Nobody can replicate that by looking at a competitor's Instagram grid.

[Yeesha]

That's harsh. Your statement topic. If they are competitors, it means they are doing something right. Instead of saying you won't copy them, why no learn from them. Pretty sure they have done somethings right. So why not learn the good once from them and disregard the once that are not good. That's much better. Learning what works and don't work is actually better. I wouldn't not throw away my competitors, I'll learn from them.

You don't have to be in competition with anyone, but if the competitors are doing the right thing you can copy them, that's not a problem in as much as you are going to benefit from them. Your competitors are not your enemy neither are they your rivals. A good businessman or businesswoman will consider their competitors as their motivator. We shouldn't underestimate the power of learning, learning is actually very important, and it is essential to prioritise it in the world of business and other aspects of life. Because it is beneficial, so you don't have to mind whoever you are learning with, as long as it is going to be beneficial to you, even if it is your enemy learn good things from them, because it is for your own good.

[Webutxo]

You can learn from competitors but copying them doesn't really Make you better, the wisest thing anyone can do is to try to be better and not to copy what others are doing especially when it comes to business. If you are going to start a business that others are already into then it is important to do things differently, having your strategy actually goes a long way when it comes to getting the necessary attention and results that you want.

Business is all about being authentic and not copying what others are doing because you feel that the same strategies they apply is also going to work for you as well.

There is trademark on registered business, so copying them will only land you in prison. It doesn't make sense for a person that want to be an entrepreneur to be copying other people's business, rather just create your own or look for other business company that you know and the challenges they are facing and create your own. If you are able to marketed your company and product into the people, they will come and patronize you in high demand.

Competition is good for every economic, this is the problem we are having in our country, we have monopoly everywhere because only few people controls the companies. They detect what to produce, they determined how they are produce and of of course the price. It's better we have plenty business and companies so that people can make choices, where people can make choices to affect the price of things in the market, that's how it's done in other places.

[B-BossMan]

That's harsh. Your statement topic. If they are competitors, it means they are doing something right. Instead of saying you won't copy them, why no learn from them. Pretty sure they have done somethings right. So why not learn the good once from them and disregard the once that are not good. That's much better. Learning what works and don't work is actually better. I wouldn't not throw away my competitors, I'll learn from them.

You don't have to be in competition with anyone, but if the competitors are doing the right thing you can copy them, that's not a problem in as much as you are going to benefit from them. Your competitors are not your enemy neither are they your rivals. A good businessman or businesswoman will consider their competitors as their motivator. We shouldn't underestimate the power of learning, learning is actually very important, and it is essential to prioritise it in the world of business and other aspects of life. Because it is beneficial, so you don't have to mind whoever you are learning with, as long as it is going to be beneficial to you, even if it is your enemy learn good things from them, because it is for your own good.

You know i don't actually know for some people who took competition as something or achievement. I have come to understand something in terms of business,  as a business owner once you prevent yourself from seeing every battle, everything would be okay for you and there will not be any thinking or putting yourself into unnecessary pressures. Instead of competitions why not using the energy to grab some ideas from the person on that same field and then learn from thier past mistakes or experiences, study thier presents results and pick something valuable from there. From that you can be able to build your own strong financial position easily, there's no limit I learning, be changing different types of approaching your business and having pride would never pave way for you rather put you in danger, in the business aspects, a business man who has been making improvements on his strategy is more better than someone that thought they knew everything already.

[lombok]

Everyone should do what works for them mostly when trying to build a business what works for someone else might not work for another person since everyone has different goal and potential a lot of businesses has gone down mostly because they don't do what works for them competition isn't bad but copying exactly what the person does isn't a good idea

Any thriving business enterprise is well based on a solid knowledge of personal potential and the, others, strengths. Simply imitating the patterns of work of other entrepreneurs will simply lead to duplication with no distinctive selling point to the customers.

Survival probability of a business is great when its operational plan conforms to unique expertise of the founder. Healthy competition in the market ought to be a strong motivation toward refining the originality of individual ideas so as to achieve both short and long term customer loyalty.

[Cheema02]

Copying from another company does not mean that their business will fail. There are some big companies that look at the business ideas of smaller companies, learn from them and implement those ideas into their own business. Through this their products or services improve a lot which can help satisfy users. Sometimes there are companies whose products or services are good but for some reason users are not using those products.

Now if someone understand the problem and improves that product a lot so that it properly fulfills what users want, then their business can also run very well. For this reason we cannot say that the businesses of those who copy will fail.

In business, we make decisions according to different parameters, and taking inspiration from other companies is not bad. Do you agree that some people take it as a failure of a company? When companies hope others will maintain their quality, then a lot of people think that this company is going at a loss, but actually they are wrong because the actual concern is to satisfy the customers and sometimes for this purpose, companies work on customer priorities to leave their ideas. Here, companies have two benefits. First, they satisfy their customers, and second, by observing other products they learn from their mistakes and improve their products.

Can China follow this strategy? There is no argument in this statement because China improves its production by inspiring other companies, like in parallel with Tesla China lunch it's a BYD company which is very successful right now. Sometimes the product is almost accurate, but it needs some refining and the other party identifies it and, by making refinements, launches its own product and makes a huge profit. So the actual concern of any industry should be the satisfaction of its customers.

[Obulis]

Copying exactly can leave someone clueless of what they just copied and so have no idea and can't really keep up to this copied idea or whatever. What is happening in other businesses can actually be a clue to personal branding but doing exactly the same thing could mean that your business will fail even before the idea originators business will fail. No doubt copying might help but to stand the test of time is to be idea driven which is usually lacked in copying copying.

[Mate2237]

Work more on coming up with strategies and not copying what they are doing, as a matter of fact I think copying competitors can be a limitation to you because you aren't expanding your mind to think beyond what you see others doing. If you have competitors in business your strategy should be doing something that makes your services more improved, you need to ask yourself important questions like, what can I do differently and how can I be better at this. You can do the same business others are into and make more money but copying won't make you achieve this.


Competitors in business are meant to be studied, in the services that they provide there must be something that they are lacking, this is where creativity needs to come in, being a business owner entails a lot, you must learn how to analyze and think critically. Basically, a business is all about rendering services to people, you need to learn how to interact with customers to know what can make your services better, you know the popular saying, "customers are always right".

[Pi-network314159]

Most upcoming brands make the same mistake early on. They study a competitor who is doing well, and instead of asking why it works, they ask how to do the same thing. New logos, new pricing tiers, new tone of voice, almost a copy of what is already out there.
It feels safe because the competitor has already proved the model works. But it also means the brand is now fighting for the same attention, using the same visual language, telling the same story everyone is telling.

Sometimes I start emagining how people will turn copy cat just because they see their friend or neighbors growing or doing pretty well, without learning the secret behind it. One thing About business I like is that copying your fellow business person does not make both of you same, there are things that makes the business person spectacular or special that the copy cat can't do. For example if you have a good manner of approach and you treat your customers with love and respect, such characteristics can not be copied. That's why copy cat busines don't last in most cases; because it was not originally built on a solid foundation, rather a false business built on lies.

[Cookdata]

I get your point, sometimes the big companies allows the smaller companies to come up with ideas, not because they are lazy but they allow them to take the financial risk in testing the market, so when the product sells, then the big companies comes in and do it even better, with that they get to win over customers easily. So when it comes to business it not about who does it first but who does it better.

So in cases like this, when a bigger company copies the smaller one, the smaller one now is left with a choice to either leave the market or try to come up with something to improve their product to beat the big company. In most cases the smaller companies usually leaves the market, because they can’t keep up.

Why should anyone build a company and allow big company steal your idea, that's a fraud. The first thing you do when you create a company, make it a secret, if you find it hard to go big, look for investors. There are people that seek for venture capitals, share your idea with them, but make sure you keep the secret. A venture capital that is ready to take risk willingly will want to invest on your ideas and many more will want to support as long as they can have some shares.

Most of the big companies you see today either started so where and along side had some investors or they had investors before they went big. One person can't make a company big if you want to grow fast unless it's coming from a person that is already established from other business and have means to provide funds to grow the new one.

[alastantiger]

copying a competitor probably feels like the safer option at first, but then you're basically just fighting them on the same ground. i think it's way harder to build something people actually remember when you're just following what someone else already did. The Liquid Death example is a pretty good one.

When it is about business people do not always care about morals but what they are after is profits and if copying others including your competition gives you money, why not continue and keep on making profits because there is no reason to be losing money yet you continue to operate your business. If you open the business to leave an impact than you can ignore the way of operating your business that  has proven to make you profits and change it to something different. At last you meant win and make profits with your new strategy but there has already been a waste of opportunity that was there to make money with less efforts been done. Copying is not wrong because most businesses are doing it and it is a healthy way of doing business.