The 2020s will go down in history as the decade of massive economic and technological changes. Perhaps no other area is more affected by this fact than the world of business.
Now dominated by consumers and business owners born in the 1980s and 1990s, modern commercial, retail, and professional transactions reveal much about where the world is headed.
These shifting business trends are not just about tools and technology—they reflect evolving values and lifestyles.
Among the Millennial generation, some of the top trends include obtaining college and master’s degrees after they enter the workforce, using third-party payment methods as owners or customers of med spas, doing all their shopping online, investing with the help of mobile apps, delaying marriage if they tie the knot at all, and striving for work-life balance.
Here are the essential details about these important trends.
Getting Career-Focused Degrees Online
With so many online degree options available nowadays, millions of millennials are using their evenings and weekends to add career-specific credentials while holding down full-time employment.
One reason for the rise in digital learning is the high price of traditional education, fear of carrying massive amounts of loan debt, and the convenience of studying from the comfort of home.
Online certificate programs, courses, seminars, and four-year degrees are affordable, flexible, and enjoying a new legitimacy among employers.
They represent a savvy way for hard-working people to obtain credentials that are perfectly suited to their chosen career paths, all without the time commitment that was part of the old way of earning a diploma.
Online education is, above all else, practical—and its rapid rise reflects broader business trends favoring flexibility, efficiency, and digital transformation.
Payment Splitting for Medical Aesthetics
Owners of medical aesthetics practices and their customers are at the forefront of a generational change in the way professional healthcare is delivered and paid for.
In fact, more and more med spas offer their clients the option of third-party financing and monthly payment plans. Not only is the system more manageable for people’s budgets, but it also gives them the chance to get the treatments they need without substantial upfront costs.
From the consumer’s point of view, the arrangement is a stress-free way to deal with bills that range from $200 to $10,000. Indeed, med spa financing gives customers access to a wide variety of treatments without hassles or undue delays.
For facility owners, especially startups, payment splitting is a sustainable, practice building technique, and one that requires on in-house accounting or finance department.
The popular plans result in more patients, higher service sales, immediate access to funds for treatments, and error-free integration with Allē, the BOTOX® Cosmetic loyalty programs customers love, JUVÉDERM® Collection of Fillers, and similar programs.
The commonsense solution of third-party financing means med spa owners can thrive in a competitive marketplace without having to rely on becoming accountants or hiring non-medical staff members.
Payment splitting is a win-win for customers and business owners and has opened the field of medical aesthetics to a whole new generation of users and entrepreneurs.
Shopping Online for Almost Everything
Shopping from a mobile device, laptop, or other phone is now the primary way consumers order what they want from grocery stores and other retailers.
The method has been around for more than two decades, but the 2020s is witnessing the near total transition away from in-person commerce to the digital variety. Today’s shoppers are attracted to the variety, convenience, and chance to read detailed reviews before making purchases.
It’s no wonder that e-commerce represents the majority of all consumer dollars spent in the US, with much of it done on phones and tablets.
One unintended effect is the decline in brick-and-mortar sales as well as the rise of big box retailers that use their storefronts as delivery points for goods ordered via apps and websites. These Business Trends reveal a long-term shift in consumer behavior and the redefinition of traditional retail spaces.
Using Portfolio Management Apps
It comes as a surprise to no one that millennials prefer to do their investing with the help of digital tools like apps and financial programs.
Not only has digital portfolio management become a well-established practice for millions of working adults, but it has also given investors much more control over their money.
E-investing platforms offer high-quality professional advice, statistical tracking tools, access to specialized libraries, and more. Individuals who are serious about investing and saving for the future leverage the power of digital tools, many of which were unavailable just a decade ago.f
Proactive investors of the M Generation like the idea of engaging with markets and charting progress toward their financial goals, all without the assistance of an old-school, high-commission stockbroker.
Many e-brokerages feature copy trading services that let newcomers to the markets follow the moves of more experienced traders. It’s a way to learn by doing and has grown in popularity year after year since its introduction a decade ago.
Millennial Business Trends Shaping the 2025
Millennials are reshaping the business landscape by embracing technology, flexibility, and convenience.
From online degrees to digital investing and payment-splitting in med spas, their habits reflect a broader shift toward practical, tech-driven solutions.
As these trends continue to evolve, they are setting the tone for the future of urban commerce and everyday living.
