Forbes Inaugural Small Business Summit | Etsy CEO Says A Proposed California Bill Hurts Online Small Businesses | Leveraging Trends Accelerated By The Pandemic To Boost Your Business

Plus: 3 Ways Converting To A Franchise Could Protect Your Business

As we count down the days until National Small Business Week, we at Forbes are back with your biweekly dose of The Pursuit, your must-read briefing for building and running a business. 

It’s no secret that our intrepid community of founders and business owners has been the hardest hit by the pandemic. Now more than ever, it’s important that we come together to share insights, offer support and obtain guidance from thought leaders who have their finger on the pulse of the community. That’s why I am so excited to share a project I’ve been working on since joining Forbes in January—well before any of us could have imagined the state of the world today. Join us next Friday, September 25, from 2 to 5 p.m. ET for our inaugural Forbes Small Business Virtual Summit. Register now at no cost here.

In other news, got a business idea you’ve been working on after hours? Or maybe you’ve already put pen to paper and have technically been in business for at least a year? Either way, you’ll want to check out the Next 1000: a first-of-its-kind initiative that will spotlight bold and inspiring entrepreneurs on their way to success. Applications are open now through October 31. The final product? One thousand new faces with a running start to one day land on the cover of Forbes. Apply here.

And below you’ll find more insights and practical guidance on how to make big business decisions in the face of ever-changing market headwinds and the pandemic. Thanks for reading. You can also follow me on Twitter and on LinkedIn.

"...Sometimes I back away, but mostly I push myself through it...Everything that is behind us is pushing us forward."

Amy Novogratz

Founder and Managing Partner, Aqua Spark

Must Reads

We’re experiencing an unprecedented shift in consumer behavior as a result of the pandemic. While not all trends are created equal, some will become a part of our “new normal.” Read more here about the ones you can leverage to advance your business.

Etsy CEO Josh Silverman is speaking out against a proposed California bill that he says would hurt small businesses while helping the likes of Amazon. According to the proposal, online retailers would be held accountable for injury in the same way as brick-and-mortar retailers—putting millions of sellers in the precarious position of potentially being on the hook for liabilities they can’t afford. Read more on this and other small business news here.

Sonja Rasula’s passion for supporting small businesses sparked her entrepreneurial journey when she launched Unique Markets over a decade ago. Read on here to see how she’s pivoted her business to fit the current climate with her new subscription box, Care Package.

Writer, activist, consultant and accomplished chef Jenny Dorsey is meeting the current moment by pivoting her company, Studio ATAO, to adapt to the new reality. Dorsey and her team have been hosting “Experimental Salons” for a curated group of guests over Zoom as a part of the company’s community initiatives. Read on here to find out how other creative culinary women are taking their high-touch experiences online.

Early stage VCs report spending almost the same amount of time sourcing new investments today as they did before the pandemic, but they also expect to do fewer investments, according to a new survey. Read on for advice from investors on how to navigate the investment process online.

Across Forbes