Business Model Canvas

Business Model Canvas (BMC)

The Business Model Canvas is a strategic management template used for developing new business models and documenting existing ones. Remember this is a living document and will change and grow as your business does.

 

The BMC is divided into nine sections:

1. Customer Segments
  • For whom are we creating value?
  • Who are our most important customers?
  • Considerations:
    • Mass market
    • Niche market
    • Segmented
    • Diversified
    • Multi-sided platform
2. Value Propositions
  • What value do we deliver to the customer?
  • Which customer problems are we solving? What needs are we satisfying for them?
  • What products and services are we offering to each customer segment?
  • Characteristics:
    • Newness
    • Performance
    • Customization
    • "Getting the job done"
    • Design
    • Brand/Status
    • Price
    • Cost Reduction
    • Risk Reduction
    • Accessibility
    • Convenience/Usability 
3. Channels
  • Through what channels do our customer segments want to be reached?
  • How are we currently reaching them?
  • Which ones work best? Which are most cost-efficient?
  • How are we integrating them with customer routines? 
  • Channel Phases:
    • How do we raise awareness about our company's products and services?
    • How do we help customers evaluate our organization's value proposition?
    • How do we allow customers to purchase specific products and services?
    • How do we deliver a value proposition to customers?
    • How do we provide post-purchase customer support?
4. Customer Relationships
  • What type of relationship does each of our customer segments expect us to establish and maintain with them?
  • Which ones have we established?
  • How are they integrated with the rest of our business model?
  • How costly are they?
  • Examples:
    • Personal assistance
    • Dedicated personal assistance
    • Self-service
    • Automated services
    • Communities
    • Co-creation
5. Revenue Streams
  • For what calue are our customers really willing to pay?
  • For what do they currently pay?
  • How are they currently paying?
  • How much would they prefer to pay?
  • How much does each revenue stream contribute to overall revenues?
  • Types:
    • Asset sale, usage, subscription fees, lending/renting/leasing, licensing, brokerage feed, advertising
  • Fixed Pricing
    • List price, product feature dependent, customer segment dependent, volume dependent
  • Dynamic Pricing
    • Negotiation, yield management, real-time-market 
6. Key Resources
  • What key resources do our value propositions require? Our distribution channels? Customer relationships? Revenue streams?
  • Types of Resources:
    • Physical
    • Intellectual (brand/patents, copyrights, data)
    • Human
    • Financial
7. Key Activities
  • What key activities do our value propositions require? Our distribution channels? Customer relationships? Revenue streams?
  • Categories:
    • Production
    • Problem solving
    • Platform/network
8. Key Partners
  • Who are our key partners? Who are suppliers?
  • Which key resources are we acquiring from partners?
  • Which key activities do partners perform?
  • Motivations for partnerships:
    • Optimization and economy
    • Reduction of risk and uncertainty
    • Acquisition of particular resources and activities 
9. Cost Structure
  • What are the most important costs inherent in our business model?
  • Which key resources are most expensive?
  • Which key activities are most expensive?
  • Is your business more:
    • Cost driven (leanest cost structure, low price value proposition, maximum automation, extensive outsources)
    • Value driven (focused on value creation, premium value proposition)
  • Sample characteristics:
    • Fixed costs (salaries, rent, utilities), economies of scale, variable costs, economies of scope

 

Blank Version  Annotated Version