how to create a business model for a startup

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How to Design a Business Model for a Startup

• Jan 21, 2022

Oleksandra I.

Head of Product Management Office

• Tech Navigator

When starting a new business, you may be filled with uncertainty as to whether your product will fit the market or how to deliver value to customers that they’re willing to pay for. For most startups, their answers to these questions define the company’s viability and attractiveness in the eyes of investors.

Before starting to develop a new product, it’s crucial to figure out how to make money with it. That means deciding on the startup’s business model. In this article, you’ll learn how to design a business model based on the specifics of your startup.

What is a business model?

At its basic level, a business model describes how your business will make money. It is a set of strategic decisions on how to deliver value to your customers in exchange for money. A deep understanding of your customers’ needs and your company’s value proposition, value chain, and cost structure will help you determine how to design a winning business model to make your business profitable in the long run.

Four main dimensions define a business model:

• WHO: Who is your target customer, and what needs do they have?
• WHAT: What is your core offering (value proposition)?
• HOW: How will your company deliver value through its resources?
• VALUE: How will you capture value through your revenue model?

We will apply a classic business model canvas adapted for startups to answer these questions.

Business model canvas

The business model canvas was first described by Alexander Osterwalder , a Swiss entrepreneur and business theorist, and Dr. Yves Pigneur , a Belgian computer scientist, in their Business Model Generation handbook. While designing a startup business model is tricky, creating a business model canvas makes the model easier to understand and implement.

A business model canvas allows a company to take a helicopter view of their market position and get insights to build a strategic vision for development. It helps startups understand how their product needs to be implemented and promoted to reach the desired business goals and deliver maximum value to customers.

When should you design a business model canvas?

• You need to visually focus on the most important elements of your business . For instance, when you need to design a winning business model for a digital startup.
• You need to understand your competition . You can sketch your competitor’s business model using a business model canvas.
• You need to improve your existing business by detecting changes in customer needs and finding opportunities to win from them.

Why does the business model canvas matter?

Here are some benefits of creating a business model design for a startup using a business model canvas:

• Identify resources. Analyze and list all resources required to create your product.
• Find gaps. A business model canvas helps you detect opportunity gaps and find new ways to fill them.
• Analyze competitors. Map your competitors’ business models to understand how they work and reveal their potential weaknesses.
• Pitch investors. A business model canvas helps investors easily understand any business idea and evaluate its potential.
• Drive innovation. Working on a business model canvas helps you refine specific uncovered opportunities in the market and generate innovative ideas for meeting them.
• Map out potential changes. Uncover previously missed opportunities and get a better vision of your solution.
• Test new business models. Visualizing each model helps you define which one fits best.
• Align your team’s goals with actions. A business model canvas helps you see what should be done to reach your goals and what resources are required.
• Analyze your startup idea from a customer perspective. A business model canvas is built around customer needs and helps building business around them to maximally fit the market.

Business model canvas structure

There are nine blocks in the canvas, grouped in three categories:

• The right side of the canvas focuses on the market and customers .
• The left side reflects internal business factors .
• The bottom portion contains value propositions — the value your product provides to customers.

The business model canvas allows you to capture your entire business model on a single page. For a startup, it helps you build your initial business model before product development and further can be used to map changes and improve the existing business model accordingly. It is an agile, laconic alternative to a traditional business plan.

How to design a winning business model using a canvas

Step 1: define your customer segments.

Filling out a business model canvas starts by listing your customer segments. Their characteristics and needs affect all the decisions you have to make for creating a profitable business. First, you need to understand what market you’re developing your product for. There are different types of customer segments:

• Mass market. A company serves many customers with similar needs and problems without segmenting the target audience.
• Niche market. A business serves particular customer segments. Each requires its own value propositions, customer relationships, and distribution channels (mostly in supplier–buyer relationships, like those between auto parts manufacturers and automakers).
• Segmented. A business serves 2+ market segments with slightly different needs yet related problems (i.e. bank clients with varying asset levels).
• Diversified. A business serves 2+ completely unrelated customer segments (i.e. Amazon is a retail company that provides goods to consumers but also provides cloud computing services for web companies).
• Multi-sided markets. A business serves 2+ interdependent customer segments (i.e. a credit card company serves cardholders and merchants who accept those credit cards).

After you define the market type, define your target customer categories. In the case of a startup product, segment your customers based on similarities in behaviors, interests, problems, demographics, and other criteria that matter for your product. Developing an ideal customer profile (ICP) for each selected segment is critical. An ICP describes the perfect potential customer that would get maximum value from purchasing your product.

For each ICP, you should then identify the buyer persona — a portrait of who exactly will buy from you. Based on ICPs and buyer personas, you will be able to build customer-centered communication throughout the entire business model canvas and make correct decisions regarding the rest of its components. Here is an example of forming ICPs and buyer personas.

Based on ICP descriptions, you’ll be able to elaborate your product’s value proposition to address the most significant customer goals and challenges.

Step 2: Outline your value proposition

A value proposition describes why customers choose your product among others — in other words, it describes the unique value customers cannot find in alternative solutions. Therefore, you should define the right value proposition for each customer segment.

Values can be quantitative (price, service speed, delivery terms) or qualitative (usability, design). Here are some of the potential elements that form the value for a customer:

• Performance
• Convenience
• Personalization
• Getting the job done
• Risk reduction
• Cost reduction

To ensure a fit between the product and target customers, use a value proposition canvas based on information about customer segments:

Outline three customer profile components:

• Gains: The benefits that customers want to get
• Pains: Negative experiences, emotions, and risks the customer wants to avoid
• Customer jobs: Problems customers are trying to solve, tasks they are trying to do, and needs they’d like to satisfy with your product

Then fill in the value map that contains:

• Gain creators: How your product creates customer gains
• Pain relievers: How the product eases customer pains
• Products and services: The products and services (or their particular features) that help customers get their jobs done, relieve their pains, and bring the desired gains

After listing all the above elements, try to rank them in terms of value for your customers. You can say that your product fits the target market when the offered products and services address the most significant customer pains and gains.

A value proposition document has no strict format, yet it should be short and precise. For example, here are the value propositions of Airbnb:

Step 3: Identify channels

Channels describe how you communicate with and reach your customer segments to deliver a value proposition. On the other side, these are paths by which customers find your product on the market and enter your sales cycle.

You can choose between direct channels (your own website or in-house sales force), indirect channels (retail stores owned by your company), and partner channels (wholesale distributors, third-party retailers, partner websites).

Partner channels allow expanded product reach yet entail lower margins. On the other hand, channels you own bring higher margins but are more costly to arrange and operate.

Partner channels help raise awareness of your brand and product, which is crucial for a startup after the initial launch. Word of mouth, social media, and app stores are the most popular distribution channels for new apps.

Step 4: Map customer relationships

Define customer relationships for each customer segment according to customers’ expectations, the nature of your product, and your own goals. Evaluate how costly it is for your business to maintain relationships with customers in order to choose the optimum ones for each category of users. The major types of relationships include:

• Personal assistant. A customer interacts with a human representative during and after the sales process through call centers, email, or other means (iTunes).
• Dedicated personal assistant. Each client gets a dedicated representative (bank services).
• Self-service. Customers are provided with all required means to use your product on their own. 
• Automated services. A mix of self-service and automated processes deliver personalized content and services (Pandora).
• Communities. Developing a community of customers and company reps to exchange knowledge and help solve problems; community relationships also help you get an in-depth understanding of a product’s audience. (Glaxo SmithKline).
• Co-creation. Involving customers in product design and development (YouTube).
• Transactional. There is no actual relationship between the customer and the company (a kiosk at a bus stop).

For some digital products, it makes sense to offer a customer options to choose from. For instance, a bank application can operate fully as a self-service product. However, if a customer requires human assistance or a consultation, they can contact a bank representative.

Also, remember to define the type of relationship for each customer segment.

Step 5: Choose revenue streams

At this stage, define how you will generate revenue from each customer segment. Three factors to consider include:

• What are your customers willing to pay?
• How do they prefer to pay?
• What part of overall business revenue does each revenue stream bring?

Types of revenue streams

Besides choosing a revenue stream, you should consider the pricing mechanism that best fits your product. There are two types of pricing mechanisms: fixed and dynamic. Here are their main differences:

• Fixed pricing is always the same for a particular service or product. At the same time, in the dynamic scheme, pricing may change depending on WHOSE negotiation power and skills.
• Dynamic pricing depends on inventory and purchase time (airline seats or hotel rooms), while fixed pricing depends on the quality and quantity and customer segment characteristics.

The best revenue stream to choose is one that adds the least complexity to your existing business structure. To determine the right revenue stream for your startup, you should analyze how you can generate maximum revenue at minimum cost and effort. Then, to make your business more resilient to changes, diversify your revenue streams.

Step 6: Set key resources

Key resources are assets required to make your business model work. These are resources needed to produce a product, launch it on the market, promote it, maintain relationships with customers, deliver value to them, and earn revenue. There are four primary types of resources:

• Physical (manufacturing facilities, machines, point-of-sale systems)
• Intellectual (brand, knowledge, patents, copyrights, partnerships)
• Human (the team behind the product)
• Financial (cash balances, lines of credit, stock option pools, etc.)

Step 7: Plan key activities

Key activities are the most important actions a company needs to take to operate successfully. They can include:

• Production. The design, development, and delivery of products in required quantities and of a sufficient quality
• Problem-solving. Coming up with solutions to specific customer problems
• Platform/network. When a business operates as a platform, its main activities may include platform management, maintenance, promotion, etc.

For instance, the key activities for Microsoft include software development, while Dell is focused on supply chain management. McKinsey’s consultancy business revolves around problem-solving.

Step 8: Identify key partnerships

If your startup relies on suppliers and partners to make it work, you should define all these connections in key partnerships:

• Strategic non-competitor partnerships
• Cooperations (partnerships between competitors)
• Joint ventures
• Buyer–supplier relationships

To design a business model for a startup, you should consider partnerships to optimize profitability and create economies of scale, reduce risk and uncertainty, and acquire particular resources and activities. For example, Tesla’s key partners are battery manufacturers and component suppliers. Facebook’s key partners are content providers (creators and distributors of movies, music, TV shows, news, etc.). Spotify itself is a music platform that doesn’t produce music. Therefore, the key partners for Spotify are record labels and publishing houses.

Step 9: Build the cost structure

Here, you need to understand your startup’s fixed and variable costs to define financial tradeoffs and business decisions. There are two main cost structure categories: value-driven and cost-driven. The value-driven cost structure is focused on maximizing the product’s value, even if that means not charging the lowest possible price. The cost-driven cost structure focuses on minimizing product costs.

Consider all fixed and variable costs important to your startup and create hypotheses of the future cost structure. Fixed costs are those that remain the same despite production volumes. For instance, these include expenses for salaries, rent, and manufacturing facilities. On the other hand, variable costs change in proportion to the production volume.

Start with a high-level outline for the cost structure, including the main expense categories. For instance, Airbnb’s cost structure includes platform development and maintenance and marketing costs at a high level. Then you can itemize the cost structure by listing all significant expenses under high-level categories. Finally, to design a winning business model, you should adjust the cost structure so that the estimated revenue exceeds the estimated overall startup cost.

How to use a business model canvas?

The business model canvas with all blocks filled in is a tool that helps you choose a suitable business model for your startup. It gives you an understanding of your niche, values, resources, and activities required for reaching your commercial goals. Additionally, the canvas helps you design a winning business model by transforming assumptions into meaningful, proven insights.

• Map out your business at a very high level.
• Link the canvas blocks: every value proposition should be related to a particular customer segment and revenue stream.
• Run tests to validate your assumptions.
• Modify the canvas and add new choices based on test results.

“Like seeing the doctor for an annual exam, regularly assessing a business model is an important management activity that allows an organization to evaluate the health of its market position and adapt accordingly.” 

― Alexander Osterwalder, Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers

Creating a business model canvas is an iterative process that requires analysis and research within every new cycle until you clarify all significant aspects of your business model. The great thing about the business model canvas is that you can use it further after your startup is launched and needs improvement. Any time the market changes or you need to improve your product, you can quickly map a new business model reflecting all required modifications.

Final thoughts

A business model canvas is a powerful and effective tool for startups. It enables teams to see all interrelations between the building blocks of their business and how they can be modified to increase its effectiveness. If you’re currently looking at how to design a business model for your startup, begin with mapping a business model canvas with your team. It significantly reduces the effort for further product design and development as well as for elaborating a winning market strategy. RubyGarage business analysts and product managers are ready to assist your team with generating your initial business model and creating your roadmap for further product development.

What's the difference between a business plan and a business model?

A business plan is a document that describes how a business might become profitable. A business model is a framework that depicts how a business might create and capture value.

Can I use a business model canvas to research competitors?

Yes. Similar to designing your own business model, you can use the business model canvas to depict the competitors' businesses and understand their strengths and weaknesses.

Are there any software tools I can use to design a business model canvas?

Yes, there are numerous online canvas templates, both free and paid. For example, you may use Canvanizer, Vizzlo, or Miro templates.

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November 20, 2023

Starting your own business can be exciting, but also terrifying. You might have a great idea, but not know how to turn it into a profitable venture. This is where a business model comes in.

Introduction: Getting Started with a Startup Idea & Why You Need a Business Model?

A business model can help you define your ideas regarding who will purchase your product, how they will pay for it, and what features they desire. Additionally, it can assist you in estimating the amount of money required for starting up and determining if the company is worth the investment. This section will provide you with all the necessary information about what a business model is and how to create one for your validated startup idea .

What is a Business Model?

A business model is a set of systematic ways to create, deliver, and capture value. It is a blueprint for how your company will make money. A startup business model describes how a company earns income and profits from its operations. Startups mostly go for highly scalable business models that allow them to operate with few assets, zero heavy investments, and cheap capital expenditures.

In the digital age, the number of businesses that have a clear and well-tested business model is on the decline. This may be because it seems like you don't need one as long as you have an idea that has gone viral, or because people think they can create anything without having to worry about making money.

Importance of a Business Model

According to statistics, 90% of startups fail , with 10% failing within the first year and only 50% of businesses making it to their fifth year . A properly designed business model can help avoid these issues. A business model aids in targeting a company's consumer base and helps in the development of marketing plans, as well as income and expense projections, taking into account the various business models and clienteles. In order to learn about the potential accessible targets in the market, a business model should be designed. Understanding and choosing the appropriate business model allows companies to better understand the financial contributions they can make in the initial stage of their business. By evaluating a company's business model, a person can learn more about its products, as well as the business tactics it can use to grow and sustain future prospects. The other benefits of business models include the following:

• A good business model gives a company a competitive advantage and helps them understand their own operations better.
• A powerful business model gives the company a good reputation in the market and enables the owner to carve out a space for the company.
• Making a good business model from the outset leads to a well-established finance plan, which results in increased cash flows and rapid profit growth.
• A pre-developed startup business plan enhances the organization's financial stability.

Types of Business Models

In the market, startups are categorized into different types based on the business models they choose to pursue. However, not all of these models are necessarily profitable. Some of the most common business models used today are low-risk startup models.

Low Risk/High Reward Model

A low-risk model is one where there is minimal risk involved in starting up the company. These businesses require little capital to get started, have fewer obstacles to entry than other company models, and have high-profit potential, making them an excellent alternative for people who wish to start their own business without risking everything. For example, a company may sell its product with no upfront costs to them or their customers. This can include selling consultancy services, freelancing (selling skills), and much more. This type of model works great for people who want to sell products that they think will sell well in the market with very little investment on their part.

High Risk/High Reward Model

The most common business model is the high risk/high reward model, where the entrepreneur invests a lot of time and energy to build something that they hope will be successful. To achieve such a high degree of accomplishment, these people had to take significant risks. Successful entrepreneurship is inextricably linked to taking risks. Regardless of how strong your cash flow is or how much effort or time you put in, the end result might be positive or negative. You must be prepared for the physical, financial, and psychological stress that comes with establishing a business and keep believing in yourself and working hard to see the fruit of your efforts. This is what you typically see with startups like Facebook or Microsoft. These tech giants undertook high risks and invested their time and resources in creating exceptionally unique and highly demanded platforms. Taking risks surely leads to miraculous evolutions in the history of the business world.

Best Startup Models

There are two different types of best startup models:

• Bootstrapping is when an entrepreneur starts a business with their own time, skills, and resources. This self-funded business does not rely on the support of common financing methods, such as crowdfunding, investment, or loans from banks.
• Scaling up is when an entrepreneur starts with a small business and then invests in making it bigger. To scale a business means opening the door to more work duties and creating opportunities while remaining cost-effective and meeting your company's demands without suffering or overstretching. It's all about adjusting to the increasing workload, clients, or users, and then delivering.

Perks of Choosing Bootstrap Business Model

• Retaining Full Ownership: This business model allows the owner to fully own their business with zero shares in equity. When anyone starts a business based on investors' funding, they often ask for a huge share in equity and have a say in decision making. This is why Bootstrap is ideal in the longer run. You have control, and you get to do whatever you want.
• Gets Rid of Unnecessary Burden: When you start a business through a loan or investment, there is a burden on your shoulders to return it. Instead of designing a complete and long-term lasting business model, you focus on earning revenue even if that disturbs the essence of your business. However, with the bootstrap business model, you feel a sense of freedom. You focus on maintaining the essence of your business and strategically develop ways to increase cash flows.
• Empowers Business Owner: Starting a business on your own empowers a person. Building it from scratch highly motivates a person to keep going and gain success. We recommend following our checklist for starting a business .

Perks of Using a Scaling Business Model

• Creates Efficiency: When a business is ready to expand at the right time, it efficiently brings in more profit for the corporation. They are able to deal with different circumstances while still remaining rigorous.
• Creates Growth Consistency: When the business has grown into a stable state, the owner makes sure to scale it to keep the growth factor consistent. Though it seems like staying in the same state is safe, businesses don't last long if they aren't growing. Scaling a business ensures that growth is gradually increasing with time. The owner makes sure never to stop at some level; they keep taking new steps on the ladder while ensuring they don't trip at any step.
• Adaptable to Tough Situations: Creating flexibility ensures that the business is able to adapt to tough situations and thrive nonetheless. Businesses not only scale for growth but also to create new opportunities for income generation. The market is ever-changing, and one cannot entirely depend on a single business to maintain sustainability. Scaling your business to another aspect makes your corporation more adaptable to unplanned events. If a part of your business is disturbed by a change in the market, you can smoothly earn from another domain of your business.

Sizes of Companies and Their Typical Business Models

Different types of companies operate at varying scales in different industries. Some start-ups operate in the early stages of their life cycle, for example, operating small brick-and-mortar shops but not yet an online store. Others begin with an online store and later expand to include physical stores, while some might take the opposite approach. There are also companies that do not have either brick-and-mortar or online stores, and instead focus on other channels like social media. A start-up can be of various types, but the most common categories are:

• Technology-based
• Business-to-business or B2B
• Business-to-consumer or B2C

Technology-Based Start-ups

Technology start-ups focus on developing a new product or service with the aim of disrupting an existing market. Since technology is in popular demand nowadays, tech start-ups are now focusing more on innovativeness, scalability, and growth.

Business-to-Business (B2B)

Market research for startups is crucial in identifying potential customers and understanding their needs. A business-to-business start-up offers a product or service for sale to other businesses. Some B2B firms produce a component of a final product and sell it to distributors, who then sell it to their own customers. Moreover, a business-to-business deal can also occur when a company produces a product used as a component in another company's product. For example, Intel sells Apple processors for use in the Macbook Pro.

Business-to-Consumer (B2C)

Business-to-consumer (B2C) refers to the process of selling products and services directly to customers who are the end-users of the company's products or services. Consumer start-ups sell products and services directly to consumers. Some early-stage start-ups will have an initial product or service that they offer for free. They do this to acquire customers and improve the product before taking it live. They may also offer their customers other products and services in addition to their core offerings in order to generate revenue while they build up their main offering.

How to Choose the Perfect Business Model for Your Start-up?

Choosing the right business model is not easy. That is why there are tools available to help you with this choice. One such tool is the Business Model Canvas, which is a diagram used to create a visual representation of a start-up's business model. A blank canvas can be found online and needs to be filled in with five important components: value proposition, customer segments, key activities, channels, and revenue streams. Another tool is the St. Gallen Business Model Navigator, which can help you select the best model for your business needs and provide templates for all models you might need when starting your own company. If you want to start raising money, you should know how to make the most out of your pre-seed funding round.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Developing a Business Model

Developing a business model can be tricky, especially for first-time entrepreneurs. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when developing a business model:

1. Failing to Understand Your Target Market

One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make when developing a business model is failing to understand their target market. It's important to conduct market research and gather data about your target audience's needs and preferences before developing your business model. Without this information, you risk developing a product or service that no one wants or needs.

2. Focusing Too Much on Features and Not Enough on Benefits

Another common mistake entrepreneurs make is focusing too much on the features of their product or service and not enough on the benefits. Features describe the characteristics of your product or service, while benefits describe how those characteristics will help your target audience. By focusing on benefits, you can create a more compelling value proposition and increase the chances of success for your business. It is important to consider these benefits when conducting startup financial modelling and projecting your revenue streams.

3. Not Validating Your Business Model

Many entrepreneurs make the mistake of assuming that their business model will work without testing it first. It's important to validate your business model by conducting market research and getting feedback from potential customers. This can help you identify any flaws in your business model and make adjustments before launching your business.

4. Failing to Plan for the Future

Another common mistake entrepreneurs make is failing to plan for the future. It's important to consider how your business model will evolve over time and make plans for growth and expansion. This can help you stay ahead of the competition and ensure the long-term success of your business.

5. Ignoring Financial Projections

Financial projections are an important part of developing a business model. They help you estimate how much money you will need to start and grow your business, as well as how much revenue you can expect to generate. Failing to consider financial projections can lead to a lack of funding or an inability to sustain your business over time.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can develop a strong and effective business model that will help you achieve your goals and succeed in the market.

How to Test and Validate Your Business Model

Before launching your business, it is important to ensure that your business model is viable and will be successful in the market. Here are some steps to test and validate your business model:

1. Conduct Market Research

Market research is crucial in validating your business model. It involves gathering and analyzing data about the market, potential customers, and competitors. By conducting market research, you can gain valuable insights into the needs and preferences of your target audience, as well as identify gaps in the market that your business can fill.

2. Build a Prototype

Building a prototype allows you to test your product or service in the market and get feedback from potential customers. This can help you identify any issues or areas for improvement before launching your business.

3. Conduct User Testing

User testing involves getting feedback from potential customers on your product or service. This can be done through surveys, focus groups, or other forms of market research. By understanding what your customers want and need, you can develop a product or service that will meet their needs and stand out in the market.

4. Analyze Your Financial Projections

Analyzing your financial projections is crucial in validating your business model. This involves creating a financial plan that outlines your expected revenue and expenses, and then comparing it to industry benchmarks and competitors. By doing so, you can identify any potential issues and adjust your business model accordingly.

5. Seek Feedback

Seeking feedback from mentors, investors, and other business owners can be invaluable in validating your business model. They can provide valuable insights and advice based on their own experiences, which can help you identify potential issues and adjust your business model accordingly.

By following these steps, you can test and validate your business model to ensure that it is viable and will be successful in the market.

Tips for Creating a Successful Business Model Canvas

The Business Model Canvas is a popular tool for creating a visual representation of a start-up's business model. Here are some tips for creating a successful Business Model Canvas:

1. Start with a Value Proposition

The first component of the Business Model Canvas is the value proposition. This describes the unique value that your product or service provides to your customers. It's important to start with a clear and concise value proposition that communicates your product or service's benefits in a compelling way.

2. Identify Your Customer Segments

The next step is to identify your customer segments. This involves understanding who your target customers are and what their needs and preferences are. By doing so, you can tailor your product or service to meet their specific needs and develop targeted marketing strategies to reach them.

3. Define Your Key Activities

The key activities component of the Business Model Canvas describes the activities that are necessary to deliver your product or service to your customers. This includes everything from product design and development to marketing and sales. It's important to identify the key activities that are essential to your business and focus on optimizing them for maximum efficiency.

4. Choose Your Channels

The channels component of the Business Model Canvas describes how you will reach your customers. This includes everything from traditional marketing channels like advertising and public relations to digital channels like social media and email marketing. It's important to choose the channels that are most effective for reaching your target customers and focus on optimizing them for maximum effectiveness.

5. Determine Your Revenue Streams

The revenue streams component of the Business Model Canvas describes how your business will make money. This includes everything from product sales to advertising revenue. It's important to identify the revenue streams that are most important to your business and focus on optimizing them for maximum profitability.

6. Consider Your Cost Structure

The cost structure component of the Business Model Canvas describes the costs associated with running your business. This includes everything from product development and marketing to overhead costs like rent and salaries. It's important to identify the costs that are most important to your business and focus on optimizing them for maximum efficiency.

7. Keep it Simple and Clear

Finally, it's important to keep your Business Model Canvas simple and clear. Avoid using jargon or technical language that may confuse your audience. Instead, focus on communicating your business model in a way that is easy to understand and compelling to your target customers.

By following these tips, you can create a successful Business Model Canvas that effectively communicates your business model and helps you achieve your goals.

The Role of Market Research in Developing a Business Model

Market research is a crucial step in developing a successful business model. It involves gathering and analyzing data about the market, potential customers, and competitors. By conducting market research, you can gain valuable insights into the needs and preferences of your target audience, as well as identify gaps in the market that your business can fill.

Market Analysis

The first step in market research is to conduct a market analysis. This involves gathering data about the overall market size, growth trends, and key players in the industry. By understanding the broader market landscape, you can identify opportunities and potential challenges for your business.

Customer Research

Once you have a good understanding of the market, the next step is to conduct customer research. This can involve surveys, focus groups, or other forms of market research to gather information about the needs and preferences of your target audience. By understanding what your customers want and need, you can develop a product or service that will meet their needs and stand out in the market.

Competitive Analysis

In addition to understanding the broader market landscape and the needs of your target audience, it's also important to conduct a competitive analysis. This involves gathering data about your competitors, including their strengths and weaknesses, pricing strategies, and marketing tactics. By understanding your competitors, you can identify ways to differentiate your business and develop a unique value proposition.

Iterative Process

Market research is an iterative process, meaning it requires ongoing analysis and adaptation. As your business grows and evolves, it's important to continue gathering data and refining your business model. By staying up-to-date with market trends and customer needs, you can ensure that your business remains competitive and successful.

In conclusion, market research is a critical step in developing a successful business model. By conducting a market analysis, customer research, and competitive analysis, you can gain valuable insights into the needs and preferences of your target audience, as well as identify opportunities and potential challenges for your business. By making market research an ongoing process, you can ensure that your business remains competitive and successful in the long run.

How to Pivot Your Business Model When Things Aren't Working Out

Sometimes, even the best-laid business plans don't work out as expected. In these situations, it may be necessary to pivot your business model in order to adapt to changing market conditions or customer needs. Here's how to do it:

1. Identify the Problem

The first step in pivoting your business model is to identify the problem. What is not working in your current business model? Is it a lack of demand for your product or service? Are you not generating enough revenue to sustain your business? Are there new competitors in the market that are taking away your customers?

2. Brainstorm Solutions

Once you've identified the problem, it's time to brainstorm solutions. What changes can you make to your business model to address the issue? Can you change your target market or customer segments? Can you offer new products or services that better meet customer needs? Can you change your pricing model to better reflect the value of your offerings?

3. Test Your Ideas

Before making any major changes to your business model, it's important to test your ideas. This can be done through surveys, focus groups, or other forms of market research. Determine what your customers want and need, and test different ideas to see what works best.

4. Implement the Changes

Once you've tested your ideas and determined what works best, it's time to implement the changes. This may involve rebranding your company, changing your product offerings, or targeting a new customer segment. It's important to communicate these changes to your customers and stakeholders so that they understand why you are making them.

5. Monitor the Results

After implementing the changes, it's important to monitor the results. Are you generating more revenue? Are you attracting new customers? Are you meeting your business goals? If not, it may be necessary to pivot again or make further adjustments to your business model.

Remember, pivoting your business model is not a sign of failure. It's a necessary step in adapting to changing market conditions and customer needs. By identifying problems, brainstorming solutions, testing your ideas, implementing changes, and monitoring the results, you can successfully pivot your business model and ensure the long-term success of your company.

The Importance of Flexibility in Your Business Model

Flexibility is an essential aspect of any successful business model. In today's ever-changing market, it is crucial to be able to adapt quickly to new technologies, customer needs, and market trends. A flexible business model will allow you to pivot your strategy when needed and take advantage of new opportunities as they arise.

One of the most significant benefits of a flexible business model is the ability to respond to customer feedback. By listening to your customers and their needs, you can adjust your product or service offerings to better meet their demands. This can lead to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.

A flexible business model can also help you stay ahead of the competition. By continually innovating and adapting to new technologies and trends, you can differentiate yourself from other businesses in your industry. This can give you a competitive edge and help you attract new customers.

In addition to responding to customer needs, a flexible business model can also help you navigate economic downturns and other unexpected events. By being able to pivot your strategy and adjust your offerings, you can better position your business for success even in challenging times.

Overall, building flexibility into your business model is essential for long-term success. By being willing to adapt and change as needed, you can stay ahead of the competition and better meet the needs of your customers.

Examples of Successful Business Models in Different Industries

The following are some examples of successful business models in different industries that have been able to grow and sustain in today's competitive market.

Subscription Box Model

Subscription boxes are becoming increasingly popular in the e-commerce industry. This business model involves sending customers a box of products on a regular basis, such as monthly or quarterly, for a set price. The products in the box are curated according to the customer's preferences. Birchbox, a beauty subscription box, and Dollar Shave Club, a grooming subscription box, are two examples of companies that have successfully implemented this business model.

Freemium Model

The freemium business model offers customers a basic version of the product or service for free, with the option to upgrade to a premium version for a fee. This model is commonly used in the digital industry, particularly with mobile apps and online tools. Dropbox, a cloud storage service, and Spotify, a music streaming platform, are two examples of companies that have successfully used this business model.

Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Model

The DTC business model involves companies selling their products or services directly to consumers, bypassing traditional retail channels. This model has become increasingly popular in the fashion industry, with companies like Warby Parker, an eyewear company, and Everlane, a clothing company, successfully implementing this approach.

Platform Model

The platform business model involves creating a platform that connects buyers and sellers, earning revenue through transaction fees or advertising. Airbnb, a home-sharing platform, and Uber, a ride-sharing platform, are two examples of companies that have successfully implemented this business model.

Membership Model

The membership business model involves charging customers a fee to gain access to exclusive content, products, or services. Amazon Prime, a membership program that offers free shipping and access to streaming services, and LinkedIn Premium, a subscription service that offers additional features for job seekers, are two examples of companies that have successfully implemented this business model.

Razor-Blade Model

The razor-blade business model involves selling a product at a low cost, then making a profit on the consumable products required to use the product. This model is commonly used in the printer and shaving industries. Gillette, a shaving company, and HP, a printer company, are two examples of companies that have successfully used this business model.

Crowdfunding Model

The crowdfunding business model involves raising funds from a large number of people, typically through an online platform, to finance a project or product. Kickstarter, an online crowdfunding platform, and Indiegogo, a similar platform, are two examples of companies that have successfully implemented this business model.

Pay-What-You-Can Model

The pay-what-you-can business model allows customers to pay what they can afford for a product or service. This model is commonly used in the restaurant industry, with some restaurants allowing customers to pay what they can for a meal. Panera Bread, a bakery-cafe chain, has implemented this model through its Panera Cares program.

These are just a few examples of successful business models in different industries. By understanding these models and how they have been implemented, entrepreneurs can learn how to create a sustainable and profitable business model for their own venture.

How to Choose the Right Pricing Model for Your Business

Choosing the right pricing model for your business depends on several factors, including your target audience, industry, and business goals. Here are some tips to help you choose the best pricing model for your product or service:

• Know your target audience : Understand your target audience's willingness to pay and what they value in your product or service.
• Research the competition : Analyze your competitors' pricing strategies and determine how you can differentiate yourself in the market.
• Consider your business goals : Determine what your revenue targets are and which pricing model will help you achieve them.
• Test and iterate : Don't be afraid to experiment with different pricing models and adjust as necessary based on customer feedback and market conditions.

Different Pricing Models

There are several pricing models that you can use to monetize your product or service, including:

• Cost-plus pricing : This model involves adding a markup to the cost of producing your product or service to determine the selling price. It is a straightforward approach that ensures you cover your costs and make a profit.
• Value-based pricing : This model involves setting a price based on the perceived value of your product or service to the customer. It requires a deep understanding of your target audience and their willingness to pay.
• Subscription pricing : This model involves charging customers a recurring fee for access to your product or service. It is a popular model for software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies and other businesses that offer ongoing services.
• Freemium pricing : This model involves offering a basic version of your product or service for free while charging for premium features or services. It is a common model for mobile apps and online tools.
• Dynamic pricing : This model involves setting prices based on current market conditions, demand, and other factors. It is commonly used in the airline and hotel industries.

How to Monetize Your Product or Service with Your Business Model

Creating a successful business model requires not only defining your value proposition and target customer segments but also determining how you will generate revenue. In this section, we will explore various ways of monetizing your product or service and how to choose the right pricing model for your business.

Once you have chosen the right pricing model for your business, it's time to start monetizing your product or service. Here are some ways to generate revenue:

• Direct sales : Sell your product or service directly to customers through a website, online marketplace, or physical store.
• Affiliate marketing : Partner with other businesses and earn a commission for promoting their products or services to your audience.
• Licensing : License your product or service to other businesses for a fee.
• Advertising : Sell advertising space on your website, mobile app, or other digital platform.
• Sponsorship : Partner with other businesses to sponsor your product or service in exchange for exposure to your audience.

Monetizing your product or service is a crucial aspect of creating a successful business model. By understanding your target audience, researching the competition, and choosing the right pricing model, you can generate revenue and build a sustainable business.

The Role of Customer Feedback in Developing a Business Model

Customer feedback is a critical component of any successful business model. It provides valuable insights into how customers perceive your product or service, what they like and dislike, and what changes they would like to see. Incorporating customer feedback into the development of your business model can help ensure that you are meeting the needs of your target audience and delivering a product or service that they truly value.

One effective way to gather customer feedback is through surveys. Surveys can be conducted online or in-person and can provide valuable information about customer preferences, pain points, and satisfaction levels. Another method is to engage with customers through social media or email and encourage them to share their thoughts and opinions.

Once you have gathered customer feedback, it is important to analyze and interpret the data. Look for patterns and trends in the feedback to identify common themes and areas for improvement. Use this information to make informed decisions about how to adjust your business model to better meet the needs of your customers.

It is also important to continue gathering feedback and making adjustments over time. The needs and preferences of your customers may change, and your business model should be adaptable to these changes. By staying attuned to customer feedback and making adjustments as needed, you can ensure that your business remains relevant and successful in the long term.

Developing a successful business model requires careful consideration of several key factors. Conducting market research, understanding your target audience, choosing the right pricing model, and incorporating customer feedback are all essential components of creating a sustainable and profitable business. By following the tips and examples outlined in this guide, entrepreneurs can develop a strong and effective business model that will help them achieve their goals and succeed in the market.

Key Takeaways

A successful business model starts with a clear and concise value proposition that communicates your product or service's benefits in a compelling way.

Identifying your target audience and tailoring your product or service to meet their specific needs is crucial for success.

It's important to choose the channels that are most effective for reaching your target customers and focus on optimizing them for maximum effectiveness.

Choosing the right pricing model for your business depends on several factors, including your target audience, industry, and business goals.

Customer feedback is a critical component of any successful business model. It provides valuable insights into how customers perceive your product or service, what they like and dislike, and what changes they would like to see.

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The step process for creating an effective startup business model

1. defining your business model, 2. finding your target market, 3. identifying your value proposition, 4. creating your revenue streams, 5. developing your cost structure, 6. building your team, 7. creating your brand, 8. launching your business, 9. growing your business.

The first step in creating an effective startup business model is to define your business model. What are you selling? What are your revenue streams? What are your costs? How will you reach your target market ?

Your business model should be clear, concise, and easy to understand. It should also be adaptable and flexible, so that you can pivot as needed to respond to market changes or new opportunities.

Once you have a clear understanding of your business model, you can begin to build out your business plan . This should include your overall vision for the business, your short- and long-term goals, your marketing and sales strategies, your financial projections, and your operational plan.

Your business plan will be your roadmap for success, so it's important to take the time to create a well-thought-out and comprehensive plan. If you need help getting started, there are plenty of resources available online or through your local small Business administration office.

After you have your business plan in place, it's time to start working on your product or service. This is where you'll really start to bring your vision to life. What problem are you solving? What need are you filling? How will your product or service be better than what's currently available?

Spend time on this step to make sure you have a strong foundation for your business. Once you have a great product or service, you can start to focus on how to sell it and scale your business.

To do this, you'll need to build a sales and marketing strategy . This will include figuring out who your target market is and how to reach them. What channels will you use to market your business? How will you generate leads? How will you close sales?

Again, there are plenty of resources available to help you with this step. Once you have a solid sales and marketing strategy in place, you can start to execute on it and grow your business.

The final step in the process is to continue to iterate and improve. As your business grows, you'll need to constantly evaluate and adjust your business model. Are there new opportunities or threats that you need to respond to? Are there changes in the market that you need to be aware of? Are there new products or services that you can add to your lineup?

By continually improving and evolving your business model, you'll be able to keep up with the ever-changing landscape and continue to grow your business.

Assuming you have a great product or service idea, the next step is to find your target market. This can be one of the most challenging parts of starting a business, but it's also one of the most important.

Your target market is the group of people most likely to buy your product or service. To find your target market, you'll need to do some research. Start by asking yourself who your product or service is for. Once you have a good idea of who your target market is, you can start to research where they can be found.

One of the best ways to find your target market is to look at your competition. Who are they targeting? How are they reaching their target market ? You can also use social media to find your target market. Use hashtags to search for people who might be interested in your product or service.

Once you've found your target market, the next step is to figure out how to reach them. This will require some creativity on your part. You'll need to find a way to stand out from the competition and get your target market's attention.

One way to reach your target market is through content marketing . This involves creating blog posts, videos, or other forms of content that will interest your target market. You can then promote this content through social media or other channels.

Another way to reach your target market is through paid advertising. This can be done through Google AdWords or other forms of online advertising.

Finally, you'll need to think about how you're going to convert your target market into customers. Once you've reached your target market, you'll need to have a plan for how you're going to get them to buy from you. This will require some sales and marketing skills on your part.

If you can follow these steps, you'll be well on your way to creating a successful startup business model . Just remember that it takes time and effort to find your target market and get them to convert into customers.

In order to create a successful startup business model , it is important to identify your value proposition. This is the unique selling point that will make your business stand out from the competition. It is what will attract customers and keep them coming back.

There are a few key things to keep in mind when identifying your value proposition:

1. What need does your product or service address?

2. What are the unique features of your product or service?

3. How does your product or service benefit your customers?

4. How does your product or service save your customers time or money?

5. How does your product or service make your customers lives easier?

Answering these questions will help you to identify the key features of your product or service that will appeal to your target market. Once you have identified your value proposition, you can then start to build your business model around it.

Identifying your value proposition - The step process for creating an effective startup business model

The first step in creating a startup business model is to focus on creating revenue streams. The best way to do this is to identify a problem that your target market has and then create a product or service that solves that problem. Once you have a product or service that solves a problem, you need to determine how you will generate revenue from it. There are a few different ways to do this, but the most common are through advertising, subscriptions, or by charging for the product or service.

The second step is to focus on your costs. You need to determine how much it will cost you to produce your product or service and how much it will cost you to market it to your target market . Once you have a good understanding of your costs, you can then start to focus on your pricing. You need to make sure that your pricing is competitive and that you are making a profit.

The third step is to focus on your target market. You need to identify who your target market is and what needs they have. Once you know your target market, you can then start to create a marketing plan that will reach them.

The fourth step is to focus on your competition. You need to research your competition and find out what they are doing right and what they are doing wrong. You can then use this information to improve your own business model.

The fifth step is to focus on your growth strategy. You need to determine how you are going to grow your business. There are a few different ways to do this, but the most common are through word of mouth, online marketing, and by expanding into new markets.

If you follow these five steps, you will be well on your way to creating an effective startup business model . Remember, the key is to focus on your revenue streams, costs, target market, competition, and growth strategy. By focusing on these five areas, you will be able to create a successful business model that will help you achieve your goals.

Assuming you have a product or service with some traction, it's time to think about how you'll make money off of it. Every business model has three primary components: revenue streams, cost structure, and profit formula. Let's focus on the cost side of things.

There are two types of costs in business: variable and fixed. Variable costs are ones that change based on how much you produce, like the cost of raw materials. Fixed costs are ones that stay the same even if you produce more or less, like rent or insurance.

The key to a successful startup is to keep your variable costs low and your fixed costs as close to zero as possible. That way, you can make a profit even if you don't have many customers.

The first step is to figure out what your variable costs are. To do this, you need to know how much it costs to produce one unit of your product or service. This includes the cost of raw materials, labor, shipping, and any other direct costs. Once you know this number, you can start to price your product or service .

The next step is to figure out your fixed costs. These are the costs that you have to pay even if you don't make any sales, like rent, insurance, and salaries. The goal is to keep these costs as low as possible so that you can still make a profit even if you don't have many customers.

The final step is to figure out your profit formula. This is the difference between your revenue and your costs. To make a profit, your revenue must be greater than your costs.

A successful startup business model must have a clear understanding of its revenue streams, cost structure, and profit formula. Once you have a handle on these three things, you can start to price your product or service and scale your business.

When it comes to starting a business, there are a lot of moving parts. From coming up with a clever idea to building a great team to executing on your business plan , there's a lot to do in order to get your business off the ground.

One of the most important aspects of starting a successful business is having a strong and effective business model . Your business model is what will determine how you make money, how you deliver value to your customers, and what your overall strategy is for growing your business.

1. Define your value proposition

The first step in creating an effective business model is to define your value proposition. What is it that your business offers that is unique and valuable to your customers? This is the foundation of your entire business model and it's important to get it right.

Think about what need or problem your business solves for your customers. What are they looking for that they can't find anywhere else? Once you've identified your customer's pain points, you can start to craft a value proposition that address them.

Your value proposition should be clear, concise, and easy to understand. It should also be unique to your business. Don't try to be everything to everyone - focus on what you do best and make sure your value proposition reflects that.

2. Identify your target market

The next step is to identify your target market. Who are the people or businesses that are most likely to benefit from your value proposition? Once you've identified your target market, you can start to think about how to reach them.

Your target market should be specific enough that you can tailor your marketing and sales efforts to them. But it shouldn't be so narrow that there's no one left to sell to. Finding the right balance is key.

3. Choose your revenue model

Now that you know who you're selling to and what you're selling, it's time to choose a revenue model. There are a lot of different ways to make money, so it's important to choose a model that makes sense for your business.

Some businesses choose to make money through advertising, while others generate revenue through subscriptions or transaction fees. There's no right or wrong answer here - it all depends on what makes sense for your business.

4. Build your team

No business can succeed without a great team in place. As you start to build your team, it's important to keep your company's mission and values in mind. Hire people who share your vision for the company and who will help you execute on your business plan .

The most successful startups are typically led by teams of passionate and talented individuals who share a common goal. As you build your team, look for people who have the skills and experience needed to help you achieve your goals.

5. Execute on your plan

The final step in creating an effective startup business model is to execute on your plan. This is where the rubber meets the road and where you'll put all of your hard work into action.

There's no magic formula for success, but there are some things that all successful businesses have in common. They have a clear vision, they execute on their plan with discipline and determination, and they surround themselves with great people.

If you can do these things, you'll be well on your way to building a successful startup business .

Building your team - The step process for creating an effective startup business model

Your brand is what sets your business apart from the competition and is what will attract customers to your business . A strong brand will make your business more recognizable, memorable, and trustworthy.Creating a strong brand is essential for any startup business. But how do you create a brand that will resonate with your target audience?

1. Define your brand.

Before you can create a strong brand, you need to first define what your brand is. What are the core values of your business? What is your mission statement? What makes your business unique? Answering these questions will help you create a brand that is authentic and relevant to your target audience.

2. Do your research.

Before you start creating your brand, it's important to do your research. Learn about your target audience and what they want and need from a business like yours. What are their pain points? What are their values? What do they respond to? Doing your research will help you create a brand that resonates with your target audience .

3. Keep it simple.

When it comes to branding, less is more. Don't try to be everything to everyone. Keep your branding simple and focused on one or two key messages that you want to communicate to your target audience. Trying to communicate too many messages will only confuse and turn off your target audience.

4. Be consistent.

Consistency is key when it comes to branding. Use the same colors, fonts, and logo across all of your marketing materials. This will help create a cohesive and recognizable brand for your startup business .

5. Be different.

In order for your brand to stand out from the competition, it needs to be different. What makes your business unique? Why should someone choose your business over another? Answering these questions will help you create a brand that is differentiated and memorable.

Creating a strong brand is essential for any startup business. By following these tips, you can create a brand that is authentic, relevant, and differentiated.

Creating your brand - The step process for creating an effective startup business model

When it comes to launching a startup business , there are many factors to consider and things to keep in mind in order to create a successful business model. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you launch your business effectively:

1. Define your business: The first step is to clearly define what your business is and what it offers. This includes your business name, logo, tagline, and elevator pitch.

2. Research your industry and target market: Its important to know who your target market is and what trends are happening in your industry . This research will help you create a marketing strategy that will reach your target market effectively.

3. Create a business plan: A business plan is a essential document that outlines your business goals, strategies, and how you plan on achieving them. This document will be used to secure funding and attract potential investors .

4. choose your business structure : There are several different business structures to choose from, so its important to select the one that best suits your business needs. The most common structures are sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies (LLCs), and corporations.

5. Register your business: Once you've chosen your business structure, you'll need to register your business with the state or local government. This process usually includes filing paperwork and paying fees.

6. Obtain licenses and permits: Depending on the type of business you're running, you may need to obtain certain licenses and permits in order to operate legally.

7. Get insured: Its important to have adequate insurance coverage for your business in case of any accidents or damages.

8. Set up your accounting system: Having a good accounting system in place will help you track your finances and make sound financial decisions for your business.

9. Hire employees: If you plan on hiring employees, there are several things to keep in mind, such as job descriptions, payroll, and benefits.

10. Launch your marketing campaign: Once everything is set up and in place, you can launch your marketing campaign to start generating awareness for your business.

Launching your business - The step process for creating an effective startup business model

Congratulations on taking the first steps to starting your own business ! Before you get too far ahead of yourself, its important to take a step back and make sure you have a solid plan in place. Your business model is the foundation of your business, and it will determine your success or failure.

Creating a successful startup business model is no easy task, but it can be broken down into a few simple steps. Follow these steps and you'll be well on your way to building a thriving business.

1. Define your value proposition.

Your value proposition is the unique solution that your business offers to its customers. Its what makes you different from your competitors and sets you apart in the marketplace. Without a strong value proposition, it will be difficult to attract and retain customers .

2. Identify your target market.

Who are your ideal customers? What needs do they have that your business can address? Once you know who you're targeting, you can start to develop marketing and sales strategies that will reach them.

3. Create a sales and marketing plan .

Your sales and marketing plan should be designed to generate leads and convert them into customers . It should include strategies for both online and offline marketing, as well as a plan for how you will sell your product or service.

4. Develop a pricing strategy.

Your pricing strategy should be based on your value proposition and your target market. It should be competitive, but also allow you to make a profit.

5. Build a team of experts.

As a startup, you may not have all the skills and knowledge you need to succeed. That's why its important to build a team of experts who can help you with everything from marketing to finance.

6. Create a financial plan.

Your financial plan should include both short-term and long-term goals. It should also outline how you will generate revenue and profitability.

7. Launch your business.

After you've taken care of all the planning and preparation, its time to launch your business . This is when the real work begins!

8. Grow your business.

The final step is to focus on growth. This includes everything from expanding your product line to opening new locations. Growing your business is essential for long-term success.

By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to creating a successful startup business model. Just remember to take things one step at a time and focus on each task until its complete.

Growing your business - The step process for creating an effective startup business model

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How to Design a Winning Business Model

• Ramon Casadesus-Masanell
• Joan E. Ricart

Smart companies’ business models generate cycles that, over time, make them operate more effectively.

Reprint: R1101G

Most executives believe that competing through business models is critical for success, but few have come to grips with how best to do so. One common mistake, the authors’ studies show, is enterprises’ unwavering focus on creating innovative models and evaluating their efficacy in standalone fashion—just as engineers test new technologies or products. However, the success or failure of a company’s business model depends largely on how it interacts with those of the other players in the industry. (Almost any business model will perform brilliantly if a company is lucky enough to be the only one in a market.) Because companies build them without thinking about the competition, companies routinely deploy doomed business models.

Moreover, many companies ignore the dynamic elements of business models and fail to realize that they can design business models to generate winner-take-all effects similar to the network externalities that high-tech companies such as Microsoft, eBay, and Facebook often create. A good business model creates virtuous cycles that, over time, result in competitive advantage.

Smart companies know how to strengthen their virtuous cycles, undermine those of rivals, and even use them to turn competitors’ strengths into weaknesses.

The Idea in Brief

There has never been as much interest in business models as there is today; seven out of 10 companies are trying to create innovative business models, and 98% are modifying existing ones, according to a recent survey.

However, most companies still create and evaluate business models in isolation, without considering the implications of how they will interact with rivals’ business models. This narrow view dooms many to failure.

Moreover, companies often don’t realize that business models can be designed so that they generate virtuous cycles—similar to the powerful effects high-tech firms such as Facebook, eBay, and Microsoft enjoy. These cycles, when aligned with company goals, reinforce competitive advantage.

By making the right choices, companies can strengthen their business models’ virtuous cycles, weaken those of rivals, and even use the cycles to turn competitors into complementary players.

This is neither strategy nor tactics; it’s using business models to gain competitive advantage. Indeed, companies fare poorly partly because they don’t recognize the differences between strategy, tactics, and business models.

Strategy has been the primary building block of competitiveness over the past three decades, but in the future, the quest for sustainable advantage may well begin with the business model. While the convergence of information and communication technologies in the 1990s resulted in a short-lived fascination with business models, forces such as deregulation, technological change, globalization, and sustainability have rekindled interest in the concept today. Since 2006, the IBM Institute for Business Value’s biannual Global CEO Study has reported that senior executives across industries regard developing innovative business models as a major priority. A 2009 follow-up study reveals that seven out of 10 companies are engaging in business-model innovation, and an incredible 98% are modifying their business models to some extent. Business model innovation is undoubtedly here to stay.

• RC Ramon Casadesus-Masanell is a professor at Harvard Business School and the author, with Joan E. Ricart, of “How to Design a Winning Business Model” (HBR January–February 2011).
• JR Joan E. Ricart ( [email protected] ) is the Carl Schroder Professor of Strategic Management and Economics at IESE Business School in Barcelona.

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How to Write a Startup Business Plan

By Yuvika Iyer , May 28, 2022 - 10 min read

A startup business plan is an outline of your ideas and strategies for what you’ll need to do to start, manage, and even complete your startup’s mission. Creating one might sound simple enough, but because it’s a startup’s roadmap for success, it can be a complex document to create. 

Writing a business plan can make a world of difference for entrepreneurs who desire external funding. It involves determining your target customers, understanding what makes them tick, and figuring out how to reach them through marketing campaigns. 

In this blog post, we’ve explained why you should have a startup business plan, different types of startup business plans, and we’ve included 12 of the most effective tips for writing a startup business plan. If you’re ready to start with now, we have a product launch template to get you started quickly. 

What is a startup business plan?

A startup business plan is a written document that outlines your ideas and strategies for launching, managing, and eventually exiting your new venture. 

A well-constructed business plan can be crucial to the success of any entrepreneurial endeavor . As you prepare your proposal, keep in mind that it will evolve as you learn more about your market.

To start, create an outline of the most important items you'd like feedback on before writing anything down officially.

Then ask yourself these questions:

• What do I want?
• Why does my company exist?
• How will I make money?
• What are my long-term goals?

A detailed business plan helps you set milestones for measuring success. You can share the plan with investors who may want some reassurance on the viability of their investment in your company.

The best way to create a successful startup business plan is by including everything in an organized and easy-to-read document — marketing strategies, financial projections, team bios, timelines, and more.

What is a lean startup business plan?

A lean startup business plan is a method for developing products that relies on iterative experimentation to reduce uncertainty. 

It has been used by companies such as Google , Amazon, and Facebook in the early stages of their development, and involves testing your idea with real customers early in development.

Lean startups are less likely to fail because they have tested their product or service with live feedback from consumers. Doing this allows them to make changes quickly without wasting resources on something no one wants.

The goal is not to build an extensive business plan but rather a "lean" one that can be changed based on customer feedback and then re-evaluated in regular intervals until it reaches market potential — or fails.

A lean startup business plan is a strategy that focuses on getting a product in front of customers as quickly and cheaply as possible. Use the lean startup business plan to validate your ideas before wasting time and resources.

Why do you need a small startup business plan?

A small startup business plan is one of the most important steps in building a company. Apart from helping you to focus on company goals, it aids in obtaining feedback from potential partners and keeps the team on the same page.

The best thing about starting small? You can change course at any time! If you need help developing or tweaking your small startup business plan, use this guide for entrepreneurs to get started.

You've built a product and you're ready to take the next step, but what's your plan? First, you need a strategy in place. Do you know how much money it will cost, or where exactly that funding should come from? What about marketing strategies for getting customers in the door? 

You’ll also need to find ways to retain them afterwards so they keep coming back again and again (and spending more).

Obtain external funding

If you want to get funding from lenders or investors, you need a startup business plan. Lenders want to make sure they're investing in a company that will last and grow.

A well-organized idea shows passion for its purpose and outlines clear goals for helping customers. At the same time, having an exit strategy is also important.

Making a plan for when things don’t pan out as desired lets investors understand how much value there can be while giving customers (and yourself) peace of mind.

Understand your target market

One key piece of your business plan is knowing how to conduct a market analysis. To do this, consider the industry, target market, and competitors. 

Are there any market trends or competitor factors that can affect your business? Review them closely and get ready to make required changes to your business plan.

Prioritize high ROI strategies

In business, ROI is important. Any business that doesn’t generate as much cash as it burns is likely to fail.

With a startup business plan in place, the strategies with the highest ROI become crystal clear. You'll know exactly what to tackle first and how to prioritize the rest of your tasks.

Accelerate financial health

Business plans are not crystal balls, but they can help forecast your financial health. Planning for expenses is vital to keep operations steady and identify problems as soon as possible. 

Cash flow projections can help you see if goals are achievable or highlight upcoming issues that need correction before it's too late.

How to write a small startup business plan

Use this guide for entrepreneurs to develop or tweak a startup business plan. By following this easy six-step process, you'll soon have a clear path to startup success.

1. Clarify the startup vision, mission, and values

The first step to writing a startup business plan is understanding the startup itself.

Once you know what your startup does, ask yourself why. What is the startup's mission? What problem will it help customers solve? The startup's mission statement helps define its reason for existing.

It’s usually expressed in a simple sentence, but can also be written as a short paragraph.

Try to answer these questions: What does your startup do? How will it make money? How quickly do you hope it will grow? Are there any significant milestones or deadlines that need to be met?

2. Outline the executive summary

Now that you have an idea for your startup, its mission, and a vision in mind, it's time to write your startup business plan executive summary.

Keep it simple and precise. Begin by writing a one-sentence startup business plan introduction that showcases the core customer need/pain point and how you propose to solve it.

3. Develop startup goals and milestones

Next, write down the milestones and goals for your startup business plan. This is a crucial step that many entrepreneurs forget when they're starting out.

Do you want to focus on getting new customers? Or attaining a specific revenue number?  Without clear short-term goals, it can be hard to know how to prioritize startup tasks.

4. Write a company description

Answer the two fundamental questions — who are you and what will you do? Then, give an introduction to why you're in business.

Provide a summary of introspective goals, clarifying intangible aspects such as values or cultural philosophies. Make sure to mention:

• Proposed business structure (limited partnership, sole proprietorship, incorporated company, or a general partnership)
• Business model
• Business vision and mission statement
• Background information of your team members

5. Conduct market analysis

Choosing the right market is crucial to your organization’s success. There are different kinds of products and services that a business can offer and each has particular requirements for a successful market fit.

If you choose one that doesn't have a large enough customer base or is not profitable enough, your company may end up struggling for every sale.

Ensure that there is a clear market niche — an ideal audience of customers with a need or a pain point that your business can help solve.

6. Develop startup partnerships and resources

When you're launching a small startup, one of the most important things that your business needs is capital. There are several ways to get going on this front.

When thinking about sources of funding for startups , consider startup grants, startup loans, startup investors, and startup accelerators.

7. Write a startup marketing plan and startup budget

Your startup business plan is almost complete! All that's left is to create a startup marketing plan and budget. Your startup marketing plan will help you define your company’s target audience and brand image.

The startup budget is an integral part of any startup that helps you take the guesswork out of writing expenses.

Examples of startup business plans

Business plans differ based on the nature of the business, target market, competitive advantage, delivery of product/service, scope, and size.

Though the core business plan template remains the same, the content and flow change. Here is an example of an accounting firm's business plan:

Vision statement

At our company, ABC Accounting Services LLC, we work hard to provide the best service and build a strong team. Our vision is for this brand to be recognized as #1 throughout NYC by both smaller businesses and larger corporations.

Our values are reflected in all that we do: integrity (ethical behavior), service (giving top priority to clients' needs), excellence ("doing it right"), teamwork (working together).

Executive summary

ABC Accounting Services LLC is the premier accounting firm in New York City and will handle various financial services. We specialize in audits, bookkeeping, tax preparation/compliance work, and budgeting assistance with high-quality consulting.

Business structure

ABC Accounting Services LLC will be structured as an LLC — a Limited Liability Company in the state of New York. It will provide accounting, bookkeeping, taxation, auditing, and compliance-related services to small, medium, and large enterprises situated in New York City.

Marketing strategy and competitive advantages

Despite the fact that there are many established accounting services firms in our industry, we have a great chance of becoming successful because of the high demand for financial consulting. 

Often, small businesses don't need full-time employees but would rather hire an accounting service provider like us to handle their bookkeeping and tax returns on time every year.

It is best to find a unique niche or carve out your own market in the financial consulting services industry. If you're able to create an identifiable brand identity for your accounting business, then you will likely see less competition from other firms.

Startup milestones

ABC Accounting Services LLC will focus on delivering an exceptional client experience to grow the business and expand market share.

Startup business plan template

Here's a template you can follow when creating your startup business plan:

Top tips for writing a startup business plan

The following tips will help you create a compelling startup business plan without getting overwhelmed.

Know your audience

To write an effective business plan, tailor your language and level of detail to match the audience reading it. 

Have a simple and clear goal

If you have a goal of securing funding for your business, it will be an uphill task with lots of work and research.

Simplifying and breaking down bigger goals into smaller, actionable tasks will assist you in getting through them faster.

Spend time researching

Avoid assuming anything about your target audience, product/service, or the market need.

Spending adequate time and effort on research from primary and secondary sources will help you develop an accurate business plan.

Build a startup toolkit

The process of creation becomes easier if you have the right startup tools and software by your side. Pick the right ones that will help you in your journey.

Keep it precise

Short and easy-to-read business plans are best kept within 20 pages. If you have additional documents, consider adding them as appendices or provide a link if available online.

Ensure tonal consistency

Keep the tone consistent by having just one author write your startup business plan. Otherwise, be sure to edit it thoroughly before you finalize it.

Add reference points

All information regarding the market, your competitors, and your customers should reference authoritative data points.

Be ready to pivot

A business plan should be fluid and flexible. Think of it as an evolving document that will continue to change over time.

How to create a business plan with Wrike

A good business plan is a powerful tool and can be a key predictor of future progress, but simply filling in a startup business plan won’t help you achieve success. You need to create action steps with accountability that will help you reach your goals. 

Wrike’s project management software can help your organization deliver successful projects and maximize individual and team productivity, and our product launch template can help you turn your startup business plan goals into actionable steps. 

Start a free trial of Wrike today to see how it can help to simplify work, showcase progress to stakeholders, and achieve startup success.

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How to create a business model for a startup

A lot of startups need help with creating a business model that will be successful and generate money.

Without a sound business model, your company is likely to fail, so it's essential to make one if you want to succeed.

Our blog post walks you through the process of creating a business model for your startup . We provide tips on identifying your revenue sources, cost structure, and profit models.

So don't stop—read on!

This is the eighth in a series of blog posts designed to help startup founders better understand and plan the products they build. If you wish to learn more about market research ,  desk research , and competitor analysis , read our previous posts.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What is a business model? Definition

How to create a business model for your startup.

• Revenue model Startup consultant's insight: what are the most popular revenue models for startups?

Total revenue model

Cost structure, profit model, growth model, final thoughts.

A business model depicts the essential components of a business or organization that, when combined, will generate profit. It pinpoints revenue sources, cost structure, and profit and growth models that will ensure continued success.

What does a business model look like?

Creating an Excel sheet is the most accessible form of putting all elements of your startup's business model together.

Business model: what it is and what it is not

A business model is not a business plan.

A business plan is a detailed document of a company's goals. It's a broader term because it includes not only a revenue-cost-profit model but also a description of your business, your marketing and sales strategy, product or service description, your management team, and market analysis.

Why is a business model important

Laying out a business model is essential for the further success of your company. Why?

Because it lets you organize your business ideas. A decent business model will help you define how your startup will make money. It will make you better understand the revenue and cost structure.

Now that we know the definition, let's get down to why you clicked this article.

Below I'll explain what your business model should include. We'll review the most popular business (revenue) models for startups. Then we'll discuss multiple revenue streams you can take advantage of and what to consider when creating a cost structure. Lastly, we'll talk about the profit model (a little bit) and the growth model (a little more).

The right business model requires including a few elements. These are your:

• revenue model,
• total revenue model,
• cost structure,
• profit model,
• growth model.

Stick with me cause I'm sure you want to read about an example of a brilliant dog-walk app, UberPet , that charges professional dog walkers for walking dogs and pet owners for having their dogs walked. A win-win for the one who invented the app, right? 😉

Revenue model

A quick disclaimer #1

The terms "revenue models" and "business models" are used interchangeably in Google. This means that you will be shown the same or similar results if you type in the search bar any of these phrases. It's incorrect since the term "revenue models" is narrower than "business models," but the Internet has its rules, and there's nothing we can do about it. Just remember that there are two phrases you can use when researching the topic.

A quick disclaimer #2

This is super important, so let me bold the information:

There can be different types of users in one product. This means you can have many different business models within one product.

Let's look at an example of the already mentioned UberPet (a fictional application we've created for the use of this article).

UberPet is a mobile app for professional dog walking services. It enables you to find someone to walk your dog when you can't do it yourself. It's a marketplace connecting dog owners and professional dog walkers.

This app has two business models: one for dog owners and one for dog walkers.

A. Dog owners pay a certain amount of money for a dog walking service.

B. Dog walkers pay a monthly subscription to be listed on the marketplace.

So, in the first case, that would be the on-demand model (because a service—walking a dog—is provided when a consumer wants it). In the second case, the model would be a subscription.

What are the most popular revenue models (business models) for startups?

There are multiple business models to choose from, but we will discuss only those that have proved to be the most popular among startups. This is a list of revenue models selected by our startup consultant Wojtek . 

So what are the best models to generate revenue?

Marketplace model

Online marketplaces are  platforms that connect buyers and sellers . We can distinguish horizontal and vertical marketplaces. In horizontal marketplaces, multiple product categories will cater to a broader audience (Amazon). Vertical marketplaces, on the other hand, concentrate on a single, often niche market sector (Etsy - vintage, custom, DIY things).

The marketplace business model is a big one since it includes other popular models:

• Subscription
• Featured ad

I'll describe the first three in a second but let me shortly present the last two before.

If you're a seller in a listing marketplace, you must first pay to be featured on the platform list. You're paying for being added to a repository.

The featured ad model is often combined with other models, such as commission or listing. In this case, a seller pays extra money to have their product or service listed on the top of a search result.

Subscription model

This revenue model goes back to the 17th century but is booming today.

In the subscription model, customers pay a recurring price at fixed intervals to maintain access to a product or service . Your subscription will automatically renew at the end of each period, and your credit card or checking account will be charged for the new period.

The popularity of this model is justified.

A business's predictions for revenue become more reliable when subscribers continually pay customers throughout their agreement, so the companies feel more secure.

On the other hand, customers might enjoy being subscribed to a service or product if they think they will buy it frequently, and through subscriptions, they could save money. Also, with the help of subscription services, customers can save time.

Examples: Netflix

Freemium model

The freemium model is a common variation of the subscription business model. It combines  free and premium services . A user gets access to a basic (free) product, but money is charged for additional (premium) features or services.

Examples: LinkedIn, Spotify

Commission model

This is one of the most popular revenue models. Here, a (platform) gets  a commission from each transaction . A marketplace charges a percentage or fixed fee for its services when the customer pays the supplier.

Example: Uber

Affiliate model

Let's discuss this business model on the example of Amazon Associates—Amazon's affiliate marketing program.

The affiliate model in the online world is based on  customized affiliate links . In Amazon's case, if you're a content creator, publisher, or blogger, you can share products available on Amazon with your audience. You then earn money for each qualifying purchase or customer action (signing up for a free trial program etc.) made through your link.

You're happy because you get up to 10% off every transaction. The more engaged your audience is, the more you can get. Amazon's happy because more traffic is generated and more products are sold.

Example: Amazon Associates

One-time payment model

One-time payment is as simple as it sounds. You offer a product the user must  pay only once  to obtain it.

Once you have decided on which business models to use, you can move on to define your total revenue model.

To count the total revenue, you must add  money obtained from your revenue model and additional revenue streams  (peripheral income), that is, the money you get outside your core activities.

Additional revenue channels could be:

• Paid ads (you make money on ads displayed in your app),
• one-time payments inside your app,
• consulting,
• selling digital products,
• affiliates,

The next thing you should do is calculate the cost structure. Here you must include  fixed and variable costs . Things to incorporate in your cost structure might be:

• product development,
• marketing and sales,
• recruitment,
• maintenance,
• infrastructure (office etc.)
• operating costs,
• management fee,
• customer acquisition cost,
• customer retention cost,

Now you know your revenue and costs, you can summarize all you know so far. In this step, you  subtract your costs from the money earned to see if the initial assumptions about your business actually make sense and if the startup can be profitable.

The last step you take is developing your growth model. Create  a decent Excel table with predictions for the next 24 months . You want to answer the question:  How do I plan to grow my business, and what do I need to make it possible?

Remember that while your revenue grows, your costs will grow as well. 

Costs might grow differently than your revenue; sometimes, costs will grow much slower than the revenue (and that's the perfect scenario).

In your growth model, you need to  think very broadly and analyze how each action you take will interact with other factors .

Try to predict how much money you need to invest in acquiring new users monthly. But you can't stop here! Because these new users will generate new costs, right? Let's look at an example.

I invest 10,000 USD to generate 1,000 new users over the next 3 months. These 1,000 new users will make my monthly turnover grow by 50,000 USD. However, these 1,000 new users will force me to hire new people for my team. That will cost me 10,000 USD monthly...

...and so it goes.

Useful metrics you must take into consideration when calculating your growth model are:

• Customer acquisition cost (CAC) = how much you spend to acquire new customers. (By the way, we recently published a post on  startup customer acquisition in 2022 . Check it out!)
• Customer retention cost   (CRC)  = how much you spend to keep one existing customer buying.
• Customer lifetime value (CLV) =  the total income you can expect from a customer over the whole period of your relationship.
• Conversion rate (CR) =  the conversion rate of a website is the percentage of visitors that complete a desired goal (a conversion) out of the total number of visitors.
• Monthly recurring revenue (MRR)  = the stable and predictable portion of your startup's revenue for one month.

And that's it for the business model. Now you have an overview of what a business model is and know the following:

• why you should create one,
• that you can combine multiple revenue models within one product,
• what the most popular business models for startups are,
• what 5 elements your business model should consist of.

Remember that not every business will find the same model successful. Choose those that will let you successfully launch your product and achieve long-term success.

Good luck with creating your business model!

Article author

Ewelina Lech

Startup Evangelist

Seasoned content specialist with a focus on fintech, digital health, AI, and product development. Always striving to provide insightful and accessible writing, with valuable industry insights and trends for professionals and enthusiasts alike.

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How To Create A Business Model In Seven Steps

Define the problem you’re going to solve, then define the customers for which the problem will be solved. Next, identify the customer and the problem. After that, define a set of possible solutions. After, define a set of possible monetization strategies for that solution, test, and choose your business model .

Table of Contents

A business model design in seven steps

Time needed:  1 day

How to create a business model in one day and seven simple steps

The most valuable asset any organization has is its business model .

Indeed, that is the way all the moving parts of the organization fit together to create a value chain.

The aim of the value chain is value creation for several players in that industry, market, and so on.

The business model is not static, it changes and evolves along with the scale of the organization.

The type of  business model you designed for your company will not work if your company scales. You’ll need to rethink and redefine it.

This is even more evident in companies that are trying to innovate.

When those organizations create a new technology or an innovative approach to existing industries, it is critical to understand who are the players involved in that industry and how you’re creating value for them.

In this blog, we covered the business models  of many organizations.

For instance, Google’s massive success is strictly connected to its business model .

The company managed to create a balance between several players in the publishing and information industry where each of those players gets back some value (economic and not) from having a relationship with Google .

Where do you start when it comes to creating a business model ?

Related : Successful Types of Business Models You Need to Know

It’s all about business model design

The primary aim of a business model is to create a sustainable chain, able to unlock value for several players in a market, industry, or niche .

Therefore, this value chain will start from a value proposition , a promise you make to the key players and partners in that market, industry, or niche depending on where you start.

For instance, when PayPal started out it didn’t look to dominate the whole market. It started from a niche .

As Pether Thiel put it in his book, Zero to One:

The most successful companies make the core progression—to first dominate a specific niche and then scale to adjacent markets—a part of their founding narrative.

Indeed, PayPal began by identifying its most valuable partner, what at the time they called “power user.”

That was a choice driven by its business model design .

Therefore, instead of focusing on generically offering a service for everyone, PayPal focused on acquiring and attracting as many power users as possible.

Those power users were mostly on another platform that had already scaled up: eBay.

Thus, PayPal focused all its effort on acquiring those power users from eBay , fast!

Only after PayPal had drafted, tested, and validated a clear value proposition for a small , yet critical group of power users, it could move on to take larger and larger segments of that market.

What is a value proposition?

At its most basic level, a value proposition is a promise you make as an organization to deliver something (either monetary or advantage) to a critical player you have in our industry.

For instance, when Google started it showed right away it was capable of offering 10x of search results, at a faster speed and more relevant to users.

However, had Google kept its search engine primarily focused on providing paid results, it would not have taken off.

Instead, Google focused on offering relevant paid results but also a bunch of organic results.

In short, Google managed to index and rank the web pages from blogs, journals, news sites and any other website that made those pages available to Google for its index.

In exchange for that content, Google offered back visibility as qualified traffic toward those sites.

Indeed, search engines back then (at the end of the 1990s) were not focused on offering quality traffic.

Thus, most of the audience you got back to your site might have been quite relevant to your business.

Google instead, with its dominant search engine allowed publishers, and businesses (small and large) to gain customers.

That sealed an implicit deal “Me (Google) will send you qualified traffic that helps you grow your business if you (publisher, business, or whoever publishes on the web) offer me your content to be indexed.”

We might call that an implicit contract, which is the beginning of a value chain.

In fact, from this sort of contract part of the Google business model has been built. Imagine the scenario where Google was not attractive enough to provide qualified traffic to content producers.

They would have stopped offering their content for free by blocking access to the search engine.

Instead, they allowed Google to index their pages because the visibility they got was too attractive.

A business model is also about how you make money but how you make money isn’t your business model

One of the biggest misconceptions of the business model is to confuse it with the monetization strategy or the revenue model of the company.

While this is an essential piece of the puzzle, it is just one of the components of a successful business model .

In this blog, we’ve discussed at great length how companies make money  as a way to start the discussion of a business model .

However, a business model implies the understanding of

operations, customer acquisition and retention, supply chain management, and the cost above and revenue aspects

According to the business model you designed over the years for your organization there will be a piece that plays a more critical role compared to others.

For instance, a vital component of the Coca-Cola business model is its distribution strategy .

For other companies like McDonald’s, the key to its business model success is the heavily franchised restaurants that helped the company scale up all over the world.

Each company will develop a unique  model  among the many types of business models which is what makes it thick in the long run!

What principles should I follow to create and design a business model?

Developing a deep understanding of your business model implies asking a few critical questions. For instance, some of those questions might be:

• What value do I offer my potential customers? Or what problem do I solve with my product/service?
• How do I charge my customers?
• What does my acquisition cost look like?
• What channels can I tap into to find my ideal customer?
• Did I create a predictable revenue stream ? If not what can I do to generate that?

Your business model will be based on a few critical assumptions about who your customers are, how your product or service should look like, what are the favorite channels to reach them, and a few others.

Those assumptions will be tested as soon as you start kicking off your operations.

Your main concern should be just that. You need to check those assumptions as quickly as possible. 

Steve Blank has identified 17 principles in his  Customer Development Manifesto :

• There Are No Facts Inside Your Building, So Get Outside
• Pair Customer Development with Agile Development
• Failure is an Integral Part of the   Search for the Business Model
• If You’re Afraid to Fail You’re Destined to Do So
• Iterations and Pivots are Driven by Insight
• Validate Your Hypotheses with Experiments
• Success Begins with Buy-In from Investors and Co-Founders
• No Business Plan Survives First Contact with Customers
• Not All Startups Are Alike
• Startup Metrics are Different from Existing Companies
• Agree on Market Type – It Changes Everything
• Fast, Fearless Decision-Making, Cycle Time, Speed and Tempo
• If it’s not About Passion, You’re Dead the Day You Opened your Doors
• Startup Titles and Functions Are Very Different from a Company’s
• Preserve Cash While Searching. After It’s Found, Spend
• Communicate and Share Learning
• Startups Demand Comfort with Chaos and Uncertainty

I suggest you read this manifesto over and over again. This should be the first step!

What tools can you use to design and create your business model?

One of the most used tools to design and create a business model has revolved around the customer development manifesto above.

However, it is essential to keep in mind that this manifesto was the fruit of an era where venture capital had become scarce compared to the dot-com bubble at the end of the 1990s.

Those tools for business modeling have been developed in that context. Thus, those are not a one-size-fits-all toolbox but rather work better in a context where capital is scarce, and you need to test your business model assumptions as quickly as possible. In that context three primary tools are:

• Business model canvas.
• Lean startup canvas.
• Customer development canvas.

Those tools can be used by entrepreneurs in the phases of the business model generation:

• Map the business model hypotheses.
• Test these hypotheses with customer feedback.
• Iterative this process.

The result will be an incremental development of a product that will reach a minimally viable version .

The better the product, based on customer feedback, the larger the audience it will reach.

Lean makes sense when capital is scarce and when you need to keep burn rates low.

Lean was designed to   inform the founders’ vision  while they operated frugally at speed. It was not built as a focus group for consensus for those without deep convictions .

Is the lean startup still a valuable model?

As Steve Blank has pointed out in an HBR article entitled “ Is the Lean Startup Dead? “

I realized it was time for a new startup heuristic: the amount of customer discovery and product-market fit you need to find is inversely proportional to the amount and availability of risk capital.

In other words, the more risk capital that is available on the market the least the lean startup model might work.

The reason is, that if you have massive risk capital, you won’t need to test all your assumptions.

Quite the opposite, you’ll need to execute them fast.

Also, one of the primary logic of the lean startup is to burn cash at the slowest rate possible, while evolving (so-called pivoting) your business model .

If money is not an issue, then why go for the lean startup?

Steve Blank went further:

Rather than the “first mover advantage” of the last bubble ,  today’s theory is that  “massive capital infusion owns the entire market.”

Therefore, if you secured a massive injection of money, then your aim might be primarily toward growth , rather than profits.

In that context, the lean startup might not work!

Are capital moats sustainable?

When a company or startup has a substantial capital allocate for growth , that is when this injection can become a short-term competitive advantage.

However, as companies finance growth through artificial injection of capital, those also become extremely risky, because many of the assumptions underlying the business model can’t be tested organically, thus leaving the company’s foundations weak.

An example of this excess of use of capital as a competitive moat has been WeWork , which has proved one of the most disastrous business endeavors of the last decade.

Thus, capital moats and technological moats need to be balanced with careful business model testing and organic validation in the marketplace!

Key Highlights

• This step is the foundation of your business model . It involves identifying a specific problem that your product or service aims to solve.
• Problems can be functional (solving a practical need) or emotional (addressing a psychological desire or pain point).
• Defining the problem clearly helps you focus on delivering value to your target audience.
• Once the problem is defined, it’s important to identify the individuals or groups who are facing this problem. These are your potential customers.
• Group your potential customers into categories, keeping it to a maximum of three types. Each type may have distinct characteristics and needs.
• From the categories of potential customers and the identified problems, narrow your focus to one key customer type and one specific problem.
• This step helps prevent spreading your resources too thin and allows you to concentrate on understanding your primary audience and addressing their primary need.
• Brainstorm a range of solutions that could address the key problem for your chosen customer type.
• List up to ten solutions. Then, evaluate these solutions based on feasibility, cost, time, and resources required.
• Narrow down the list to three solutions that are viable given your constraints.
• For the solution you’ve chosen, consider how you’ll monetize it. Determine how your business will generate revenue from providing the solution to your target customers.
• Brainstorm up to five potential monetization strategies. These could include subscription models, one-time purchases, freemium offerings, etc.
• Focus on the two strategies that can be tested quickly and efficiently.
• This step involves practical validation of your selected solution and monetization strategies.
• Test your product or service with real customers to gather feedback. Evaluate how well your monetization strategies perform in real-world scenarios.
• Based on the feedback and data collected, choose the most effective solution and monetization strategy combination.
• With a validated solution, monetization strategy , and a clear understanding of your target audience, you have the foundation of your business model .
• Your business model is the blueprint that outlines how your company will create, deliver, and capture value in the market.
• Continuously monitor and refine your business model as you gather more insights from customers and adapt to changing market conditions.

Create Your Business Model Idea In Less Than A Minute!

With our Business Model Idea generator, you can craft the perfect business model idea, in less than a minute, by leveraging AI, to help you find the first version of the building blocks needed to build a successful business model !

FourWeekMBA Business Toolbox

Business Engineering

Tech Business Model Template

Web3 Business Model Template

Asymmetric Business Models

Business Competition

Technological Modeling

Transitional Business Models

Minimum Viable Audience

Business Scaling

Market Expansion Theory

Speed-Reversibility

Asymmetric Betting

Growth Matrix

Revenue Streams Matrix

Revenue Modeling

Pricing Strategies

Other business resources:

• What Is Business Model Innovation And Why It Matters
• Successful Types of Business Models You Need to Know
• What Is A Heuristic And Why Heuristics Matter In Business
• What Is Bounded Rationality And Why It Matters
• The Complete Guide To Business Development
• Business Strategy: Definition, Examples, And Case Studies
• Blitzscaling Business Model Innovation Canvas In A Nutshell
• What Is a Value Proposition?
• What Is a Lean Startup Canvas?
• What Is Market Segmentation?
• Marketing Strategy: Definition, Types, And Examples
• Marketing vs. Sales
• What is Growth Hacking?

More Resources

About The Author

Gennaro Cuofano

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