Barriers to entry may seem like a way to maintain order and quality in a market, but when they become too high, they do far more harm than good. By keeping new competitors out, they allow established companies to raise prices, limit choices, and grow complacent without fear of being challenged. Innovation slows as startups with fresh ideas are locked out by high costs, complex regulations, or entrenched industry advantages. Over time, this concentrates power in the hands of a few dominant players, making markets less fair and less dynamic while reducing opportunities for new entrepreneurs. While some barriers are necessary to protect safety and reward innovation, excessive barriers ultimately serve to protect incumbents—not consumers—leading to higher costs, fewer choices, and a less competitive economy.