the business model canvas template

The Business Model Canvas

The Business Model Canvas is a strategic management and entrepreneurial tool. It allows you to describe, design, challenge, invent, and pivot your business model. This method from the bestselling management book Business Model Generation is applied in leading organizations and start-ups worldwide.

the business model canvas template

The Business Model Canvas enables you to:

  • Visualize and communicate a simple story of your existing business model.
  • Use the canvas to design new business models, whether you are a start-up or an existing businessManage a portfolio of business models
  • You can use the canvas to easily juggle between "Explore" and "Exploit" business models.

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The Business Model Canvas

Mastering business models

A self-paced online course with 
Alex Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur.

Are you trying to improve your existing business model? Or trying to create a new one that can compete in today’s market?

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Business Model Canvas Template

Determine and align your business priorities in a simple and visual way with the Business Model Canvas Template.

Trusted by 65M+ users and leading companies

About the Business Model Canvas Template

The Business Model Canvas template, designed by Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur, provides a strategic and powerful way to understand your business. The Business Model Canvas (BMC)  displays a business model, and it contains nine blocks: fill in each one using stickies, links, sketches, pictures, and videos. Use this business model template collaboratively with your team to clearly explain and visualize your business.

How to use a Business Model Canvas template: 9 key elements

The canvas provides nine key business elements to illustrate, summarize, and track. The nine building blocks of a BMC template are:

1. Key partners

List the key partnerships your business leverages or relies upon for success. Include the resources or value your business gets from these partnerships.

2. Key activities

Summarize the key activities that allow your business to provide services and deliver on your value proposition.

3. Key resources

List the key resources your business relies upon or uses in order to operate and provide services.

4. Key propositions

Summarize the different value propositions that set your business apart from your competition.

5. Customer relationships

Define and describe the primary relationships you have with your customers, including how you interact with them, how these interactions differ among different types of customers, what different customer needs are, and the level of support the different customers receive.

6. Channels

Detail how your customers are reached, how your services are provided, your different distribution channels, and how your value proposition is delivered.

7. Customer segments

Define the ideal customer personas your value proposition is intended to benefit, then describe the key differences between these segments and potential steps in the customer journey.

8. Cost structure

Identify the primary costs associated with operating your business and providing your services, then detail the relationship between these costs and other business functions.

9. Revenue streams

Describe how your business generates revenue through the delivery of your value proposition.

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When do you use the Business Model Canvas template?

Business Model Canvases are not intended to serve in place of a business plan . Instead, the BMC template is used to summarize and visually illustrate the most important information of a business model and to provide centralized ongoing clarity.

This canvas is appropriate for illustrating existing business models, regardless of whether the business is new. The BMC template is also appropriate for visualizing new business models for startups, as it helps organize and consolidate ideas around your key functions. Keep in mind that the Business Model Canvas should be reviewed periodically, as all the factors listed can change over time.

5 Benefits of creating a Business Model Canvas online

Filling in the BMC template makes it easy to visually and collaboratively outline the core aspects of your business's unique value proposition. Here are a few benefits of using the template:

1. Provides a structure for ideation

The Business Model Canvas is extremely useful for structuring your business model visually. This helps at different stages of defining your business canvas and makes it easy to keep up-to-date as strategies shift.

2. Focuses you on your value proposition

It can be easy to get distracted by the varying factors involved in running a business. The value proposition is at the heart of the entire Business Model Canvas template, so you can continually focus on why your business exists. You should use your value proposition as a guiding star to give you direction as you fill out all other parts of the canvas.

3. Fast to complete

Whether or not your business model is clearly defined or you are testing out different business models, the BMC template can be completed quickly and helps you generate new business ideas. This allows for quicker feedback, quicker ideation, and faster iteration.

4. Provides a holistic view of your business

With the Business Model Canvas, you can see how all of the elements of your business are interrelated and inform or affect each other. This provides you with a better understanding of how your business operates as a system or ecosystem.

5. Gives you a central document to share externally

Once you’ve filled out your Business Model Canvas template, you can share it widely, get feedback, and make any needed updates. Because the visual presentation is easy to grasp and understand, teams, stakeholders, advisors, and partners should find the canvas relatively straightforward and easy to understand.

Can I customize the template to suit my business or add more details?

Yes, you can customize the BMC to match your specific business needs and add additional notes or details as necessary.

How often should I update or review the BMC for my business?

The Business Model Canvas (BMC) is a dynamic tool that should be reviewed and updated regularly to reflect changes in your business model or market.

Can I use the BMC template for both startups and established businesses?

Yes, the BMC is suitable for both startups and established companies. It's a versatile tool that can be used for business model development, refinement, and innovation at any stage.

Is there a way to link external resources or documentation directly in the Business Model Canvas template?

Yes, in Miro, you can embed external links directly onto the canvas. This is particularly useful if you want to provide more detailed information or references for specific model sections or business cases.

Can I export my Business Model Canvas to share with stakeholders not using Miro?

Absolutely! Miro provides multiple export options for your canvas. You can save your Business Model Canvas as an image (PNG, JPEG), a PDF, or even a CSV file for the data.

Are there any integrations available to enhance my use of the Business Model Canvas template in Miro?

Yes, Miro offers a suite of integrations with popular tools and platforms to streamline your workflow. For example, you can integrate with tools like Slack for team communication, Google Drive for document storage, or Jira for project management. Using these integrations, you can seamlessly bring in external data, notify team members of updates, or even automate specific tasks directly within your Business Model Canvas board.

Get started with this template right now.

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UX Project Canvas Template

Works best for:.

User Experience, UX Design, Market Research

Inspired by Alexander Osterwalder's 2005 business model canvas, the project canvas will help your team visualize the big picture of your UX and design projects, providing a convenient structure that holds all of your important data. This innovative tool enables you to transform an idea into a project plan, stimulating collaboration and communication between collaborators. Unlike alternative models, the project canvas is a simple interface. There are few startup costs, and employees can easily be brought up to speed to start using the canvas quickly.

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Go-to-Market Strategy Template

Marketing, Desk Research, Strategic Planning

It doesn’t matter how innovative or effective a new product is — if it doesn’t get noticed and adopted by the right audience, the product won’t get off the ground. That’s where your Go-to-Market Strategy comes in. It’s a single resource that houses all of your research, insights, and data, and includes your business plan, target audience, marketing approach, and sales strategy. A GTM is especially important for any startups who grow fast, have to make split-second decisions, and have to be fully in sync.

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App Development Canvas Template

Market Research, Product Management, User Experience

Ever noticed that building a successful app requires lots of players and moving parts? If you’re a project manager, you definitely have. Lucky for you, an app development canvas will let you own and optimize the entire process. It features 18 boxes, each one focusing on a key aspect of app development, giving you a big-picture view. That way you can fine-tune processes and get ahead of potential problems along the way—resulting in a smoother path and a better, tighter product.

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SWOT Analysis Template

Decision Making, Strategic Planning, Prioritization

When you’re developing a business strategy, it can be hard to figure out what to focus on. A SWOT analysis helps you hone in on key factors. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Strengths and weaknesses are internal factors, like your employees, intellectual property, marketing strategy, and location. Opportunities and threats are usually external factors, like market fluctuations, competition, prices of raw materials, and consumer trends. Conduct a SWOT analysis whenever you want to explore opportunities for new businesses and products, decide the best way to launch a product, unlock your company’s potential, or use your strengths to develop opportunities.

DIGITAL 3C ANALYSIS -web

3C Analysis Template

Marketing, Strategic Planning

The 3C Analysis Template is a powerful tool that can help you analyze your business environment, identify opportunities for growth, and guide your business strategy. By using the template, you can collaborate with your team in real time, customize the template to fit your needs, and save time, making it an essential tool for any business looking to stay ahead of the competition.

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BCG Matrix Template

Strategic Planning

Use the BCG matrix template to make informed and strategic decisions about growth opportunities for your business. Assign your portfolio of products to different areas within the matrix (cash cows, dogs, question marks, stars) to prioritize where you should invest your time and money to see the best results.

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DISCOVER MORE RESOURCES

Beside the Business Model Canvas (BMC) we have developed a wealth of complimentary business modelling tools, resources and templates for startup founders and enterprise executives who want to introduce lean methods into their businesses. Check our template library and feel free to use them for your work.

Download more resources No cost, no registration required.

We have created our resources in the template library as a service to the entrepreneur community. This is why we provide them under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , unless marked otherwise. Like more than two (2) million people so far, you are free to use and adapt the content for your own purposes as long as you visibly acknowledge Neos Chronos as the source in any derivative work. In practical terms this means that you are free to use and adapt this Business Model Canvas Template as long as you do not remove our copyright notice, and you do not restrict the rights you received from us when sharing the result with others.

You are welcome to link back to this page if you found it useful. This is the easiest form of attribution and it helps us reach more people.

EXPLORE OUR SERVICES

If you want to make the most out of your brand new Business Model Canvas Template, then one of the following personalised services may be for you. At Neos Chronos we have helped over 120 startups progress in their entrepreneurial journey and our advisors created over £150 million of sales revenue for the companies they have served.

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10 Free Business Model Canvas Templates in Word and ClickUp

Haillie Parker

February 13, 2024

The foundation of a successful business is an effective business model—your organization won’t be able to get off the ground without one!

At the same time, creating your business model is no walk in the park, and you’ll likely need to lean on some or all of your resources in the development process. One of the most accessible and time-saving resources in this area is a business model canvas template, and if you don’t have one yet or are seeking a new one, you’ve come to the right place!

Follow along as we dive into the top FAQs, benefits, and features of the best business model canvas templates and 10 downloadable examples for any type of business.

What is a Business Model Canvas Template?

Elements of a business model canvas template, 1. business model canvas template by clickup, 2. startup business model canvas template by clickup, 3. lean canvas template by clickup, 4. business planning template by clickup, 5. business planning document template by clickup, 6. lean business plan template by clickup, 7. business ideation template by clickup, 8. clickup business brainstorming template, 9. business model canvas template for microsoft word, 10. blank business model canvas template for microsoft word.

Business model canvas templates are pre-built and customizable tools to outline and visualize your business model on a single page. These documents quickly define your company’s unique value proposition , target audience, revenue, cost, resources, key partnerships, and more.

Without a template, developing your business model canvas can be a lengthy and difficult process. Plus, business model canvas templates reduce the margin for error and ensure you’re thinking strategically, working efficiently, and meeting your stakeholder’s expectations.

Business model canvas templates are also great resources to share with the entire team and keep everyone aligned on your organization’s long-term goals.

There are tons of simple, accessible, and free business model canvas templates available for virtually every business management software —but not all templates are created equally! Here are five must-have features to look for before downloading:

  • Multiple views to customize the structure of your business model plan and how you visualize it
  • Collaboration features to involve the team, stakeholders, and other departments
  • Ease of use and simplicity to ensure you’re using the template correctly
  • Flexibility to accommodate different company sizes, industries, and business models
  • Multiple integrations to bring context and information from other work tools into your template

10 Business Model Canvas Templates

Searching for the perfect business model canvas template can be an overwhelming process.

Instead of fishing through pages of links or resorting to the trial-and-error method, start here with 10 of the best business model canvas templates for ClickUp and Microsoft. 

Business Model Canvas Template by ClickUp

The Business Model Canvas Template by ClickUp empowers teams to create new business models with ease on a collaborative Whiteboard . The template starts with nine main color-coded segments to structure your business model canvas:

  • Key Partners
  • Key Activities
  • Value Proposition
  • Customer Relationships
  • Customer Segments
  • Key Resources
  • Cost Structure
  • Revenue Stream

Defining these segments will help you develop every element of your business model and give your organization the foundation to thrive. This template also prompts you to indicate the company you’re creating the business model for, along with the designer involved and the date of creation. You can also specify the version name and number if you plan on creating multiple iterations of a business model using this template. And since ClickUp Whiteboards provide an infinite canvas, you’ll never run out of space developing your ideas.

Startup Canvas Whiteboard Template by ClickUp

Startups have unique planning requirements and need a tool that can build a solid foothold for the new company. The Startup Canvas Whiteboard Template by ClickUp was designed with this in mind, and why ClickUp itself is one of the best tools for startups in the planning phase. 

This template includes everything you need to gauge the feasibility of your startup business based on various parameters. The template includes 13 segments that cover nearly every aspect of your startup to help you fully realize your vision for the business. Easily name your organization’s key partners, the problem your business or product will solve, your target market, objectives, equipment costs, the key factor to your success, and more. 

This beginner-friendly Whiteboard template allows you to create a concise summary of your business, what you want to achieve with it, and how you can succeed. It can also serve as a skeletal roadmap for a more comprehensive business plan as your company grows.

Lean Canvas Template by ClickUp

The Lean Canvas Template by ClickUp helps business leaders identify the most crucial and dangerous assumptions in their organization. It’s especially helpful when launching a new product or service, as it presents all ideas and potential problems in an organized, easy-to-understand list. Another great resource for startups, this template isn’t just for the planning phase—you can use it multiple times to organize any area of your business throughout its lifecycle.

A little different than the Whiteboard diagrams we saw above, this template applies a pre-made List to your Workspace with three five views including ClickUp’s unique Form view , Kanban-like Board view , and Table view . Using these views, managers can choose how they visualize the issues at hand and can categorize them based on factors like customer segment, cost, metrics, channels, and more.

In this template, you’ll also find a detailed Getting Started Guide ClickUp Doc to support your setup process, three custom statuses, and eight Custom Fields to access key information quickly and directly from your tasks.

If you’re starting a new business idea, the Business Planning Template by ClickUp will help you develop a thorough business plan that leaves no areas overlooked. This details all tasks you and the team must complete and keep everything organized on a clear timeline .

This template will immediately prompt you to plug in your organization’s information, deadlines, and projects into ready-made tasks arranged on an interactive list, Kanban board, or table. With four custom statuses and three Custom Fields to add references, approvals, and sections to each task, this template is somewhat simpler to learn than the previous one but includes a comprehensive Business Plan ClickUp Doc to built-out your strategy.  

Ready to learn more about business strategy? Use this template along with another strategic planning template to ensure you’re taking the proper course of action.

Business Plan Doc Template by ClickUp

If you’re not ready to put your business model plans into action, start with the Business Planning Document Template by ClickUp to fully outline and visualize your business strategy. What’s unique about this template is that it’s specifically and only for ClickUp Docs. And while it’s intuitive to learn and start using quickly, it’s by no means a simple one-pager !

The formatted Doc guides you from the top down. Starting with your company name, overview, background, and team, you’ll soon be prompted to define key metrics and research including:

  • Your marketing analysis
  • Sales and marketing strategy
  • Operational strategy

And more! Plus, you can link tasks directly in your Business Plan Doc and turn any text into an action item, helping you act on new ideas the moment they come up. And with an automatically saved version history, collaborative live editing, and assigned comments, your Doc will remain updated and act as a referrable source of truth throughout the development of your business proposal and model.

Lean Business Plan Template by ClickUp

For something a bit less extensive than our other business plan and Whiteboard templates, you can make the most of your resources with this Lean Business Plan Template by ClickUp . 

In this template, you’ll have access to multiple views depending on your preferred layout including a dynamic List, a pre-built Kanban board, and multiple Help Docs . Within each view, you’ll find convenient sections for all of your key information including your plan summary, business model canvas, prioritized tasks, or notes.

In your plan summary, you can categorize your tasks by five different custom statuses, add multiple assignees for cross-functional teams , set deadlines, attach Docs, and more. This template will establish the bare bones of a business plan as you and your team get things done, working toward your business goals.

Business Ideation Template by ClickUp

Need the perfect tool to practice and develop your ideation techniques ? Apply the Business Ideation Template by ClickUp to start mapping out new concepts. It’s also a great resource to have on hand during group discussions or brainstorming sessions . 

The template presents users with an Ideation Diagram that includes different segments to help categorize and organize ideas. You can jot down all ideas based on whether they’re process, product, or people-oriented. The legend indicates each category, and the Pool of Ideas segment will allow you and others to add certain general ideas that you can categorize later.

The entire diagram is highly visual and organized using ClickUp’s digital whiteboard software to capture and develop ideas the moment you have them.

Business Brainstorming Template by ClickUp

Especially if you rely on ClickUp as brainstorming software , the Business Brainstorming Template by ClickUp will help you nurture new ideas. 

This template allows you to categorize ideas based on:

  • What you love
  • What you know
  • What people need
  • What people will pay for 

Include multiple people on your Whiteboard diagram and use collaborative detection to see viewing your work and edit alongside each other without overlap.

This unique visual aid will make everyone feel like they’re actively contributing to discussions and brainstorming sessions, even if you work asynchronously. You can also take this template a step further and use your completed diagram to prioritize newer ideas and determine what’s worth exploring further.

Business Model Canvas Template for Word

Another option to help develop your business model is the Microsoft Word Business Model Canvas Template. It’s similar to ClickUp’s business model canvas templates and allows for simple organization of the various facets of your company.

Using this basic template, you can establish multiple key details about your business model including key partners and suppliers, your value proposition, and relationships. Identify the channels you’ll need to use to reach your customers, along with the resources required for each activity. In addition, you can add information about revenue streams and cost structure.

This tool is free to download and allows for instant use through Microsoft Word. If simplicity is something you’re looking for from your business model canvas template, this is a good place to start.

Business Model Canvas Word Template

Looking for a different Word template to build your next business plan? This Blank Business Model Canvas Template is a little more complex and flexible than the previous document—it’s also free to download!

This template gives you and members of your team a centralized view of your business model, keeping everyone on the same page, literally and figuratively. It takes the segments from the template above and presents them in a diagram format. You can view all key partners, activities, and more in organized sections and add details in the form of sticky notes. Choose from different formatting options, including colors, fonts, and arrangements to optimize how you present your data.

Find the right business model canvas template for your team

Choosing the right business model template is essential for developing a successful plan that aligns with your business goals and objectives. With a variety of options available, it can be overwhelming to find the ideal template that fits your specific requirements.

ClickUp’s extensive Template Library offers a range of customizable templates to streamline your business planning process and achieve your goals. Plus, you can access any template, hundreds of productivity features , and over 1,000 integrations for free when you sign up for ClickUp today .

Questions? Comments? Visit our Help Center for support.

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Free Business Model and Business Model Canvas Templates

By Joe Weller | November 26, 2018

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In this article, you’ll find the most comprehensive business canvas and business model templates in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PDF formats. Document, outline, and manage your unique business structure to ensure you are optimizing your target market, key resources, value proposition, and more.

Direct Sales Business Model Template

Direct Sales Business Model Template

Strategize on sales and distribution tactics and plan for your organization’s unique sales pipeline with this template. With room to document distribution models, pricing models, partner strategy, and sales management, you can easily create an effective sales business model. Download this template in Microsoft Excel, Word, or PDF formats.

Download Direct Sales Business Model Template

Excel | Word | PDF  | Smartsheet

Pay-Per-Use Business Model Template

Pay Per Use Business Model Template

Designed for business structures that rely on pay-per-use customers, this business model template allows you to track the success of your organization and strategize on future plans. With sections to document and track year-over-year paying customers, customer growth, premium paying customers, and net new customers, you can stay on top of the success — or areas of improvement — in your pay-per-use business model.

Download Pay-Per-Use Business Model Template

Excel | Smartsheet

Business Model Canvas Template

Business Model Canvas Template

This template is designed to analyze and review current business models or to plan and document a strategy for new business models. Use this template to document the key details of your business plan, including key partners and activities, value proposition, and strategic channels. This template is available for customization and download in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PDF formats.

Download Business Model Canvas Template

Excel | Word | PDF

Franchise Business Model Template

Franchise Business Model Template

Use this template to create a targeted business model for franchises in order to illustrate potential success or highlight current profits. This template includes areas for documenting executive summaries and company descriptions, product or service descriptions, management structure, and more. This free template is available in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PDF formats.

Download Franchise Business Model Template

Freemium Business Model Template

Freemium Business Model Template

This template provides a business model for companies that have a freemium pricing strategy. It helps you enumerate key products or services that the organization should upcharge for. Use this template to document critical details of your freemium business, such as cost structure, customer segments, and revenue streams.

Download Freemium Business Model Template

Subscription Business Model Template

Subscription Business Model Template

Outline subscription details, monitor business growth, and keep track of the highest producing revenue streams with this business model template. This template offers space to document and track new subscription members, premium subscription members, and total yearly paid revenue. Download and customize this Microsoft Excel template based on your business needs.

‌ Download Subscription Business Model Template - Excel

Startup Business Model Template

Startup Business Model Template

Create a traditional business model and detail all key aspects of your organization with this startup business model template. This template allows you to document the components of your startup that you want to highlight, such as executive summaries, company descriptions, marketing plans, and financial information. This template is available for download and customization in Microsoft Word.

Download Startup Business Model Template

Collective Business Model Template

Collective Business Model Template

Gather, document, and report on all the key details of your business with this collective business model template. Use this template to share the core components of your organization, such as key partners, resources, and activities, as well as customer segments and cost structures.

Download Collective Business Model Template

Inclusive Business Model Template

Inclusive Business Model Template

This free template includes space to document the most fundamental building blocks of your company, so you can create a comprehensive business model. Document and communicate key details, such as products or services, cost structures, revenue streams, and more. This template is available for download in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PDF formats.

Download Inclusive Business Model Template

Open Source Business Model Template

Open Source Business Model Template

Use this template to plan and record a comprehensive business model for open source projects. This template includes sections to document everything from problems and solutions to unique value propositions and customer channels. It is available for download in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PDF formats.

Download Open Source Business Model Template

Consulting Business Model Template

Consulting Business Model Template

Geared toward businesses in the consulting field, this template lets you construct a comprehensive overview of your organization’s business model. Customize the details of this template to fit your needs. The template includes sections for company descriptions, mission statements, finances, key business metrics, and more.

Download Consulting Business Model Template

Small Business Model Template

Small Business Business Model Template

This template is perfect for small businesses who want to map out their business model, either at the beginning stages of their business, or as their business grows. Use this template to include the most important high-level details, such as company description, market analysis, organization information, and financial projections.

Download Small Business Business Model Template

Harvard Business Model Template

Harvard Business Model Template

Use this business model template, influenced by the Harvard Business School, to create the most comprehensive and detailed overview of your business. With space to include key details, like partners, business activities, resources, and value propositions, this template allows you to customize your business plan and share the details among your team.

Download Harvard Business Model Template

SaaS Business Model Template

SaaS Business Model Template

Leverage this template to accurately explain, build out, and model your SaaS business plan. This template is especially helpful in mapping out key resources, like developers, software value propositions, and revenue streams based on usage. Download this template, available in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PDF, and customize it based on the details of your company.

Download SaaS Business Model Template

Lean Business Model Template

Lean Business Model Template

To eliminate waste and provide the best value to the customer of a lean business, use this template to document and track the core components that contribute to your organization’s success. With room to include potential problems and solutions, cost structure, and unique customer segments, this template allows you to model and perfect the ideal lean business.

Download Lean Business Model Template

Service Business Model Template

Service Business Model Template

This template is designed to analyze and review business models related to the service industry. Use this template to document the key details of your business plan, including key partners and activities, value propositions, and strategic channels. This template is available for customization and download in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PDF formats.

Download Service Business Model Template

Affiliate Business Model Template

Affiliate Business Model Template

Use this preformatted template to plan, track, and assess the business model of an affiliate business in order to keep all details in check. With space to record key details, such as market segmentation and targeting, marketing strategy, business operation, and more, this template gives you the structure to maintain a successful affiliate business. This template is available for download in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PDF formats.

Download Affiliate Business Model Template

What Is a Business Model Canvas?

A business model canvas is a strategic management document that assists you in developing business models of all kinds, from lean to startup to subscription models. It is a purely visual chart that identifies and describes core business elements, like value propositions, market segments, and customers.

What Is a Business Model Canvas Used For?

Typically a one-page document, a business model canvas grants a high-level overview of the business structure and operation and describes the overall value of an organization. Not only is it a strategic tool for developing a new business, but it’s also a way to upgrade or analyze an already-active business. A business model canvas brings clarity, strategy, and simplicity to a business plan, especially regarding areas that are usually difficult to describe.

Why Is a Business Model Canvas Important?

A business model canvas is important because it helps provide a company with clarity, focus, and strategy. It offers a detailed structure of what the business does, how it should perform, and what markets or customer groups it should target.

What a Business Model Canvas Can Help an Organization Do

A business model canvas not only increases the transparency of the business plan by supplying a single, flexible explanation of the business and its strategy, but also helps a business or organization to do the following:

Describe, design, or redesign a business model

Organize new thoughts and ideas about how a business can increase its success

Enable both new and existing organizations to increase their focus on the operations and processes that run their business

Provide a platform to explore new options for a business, test any assumptions, and discover new opportunities

Devise new strategies for a business

Look at a business with a critical eye, identifying areas of improvement or areas of great success

Reevaluate any unique aspects of a business that are working and fine tune those aspects in order to improve an overall business strategy

Discover opportunities to grow or improve upon existing processes

Provide either a general guideline or a detailed layout of a business, depending on its structure

Identify specific instructions on how to achieve a new or improved business plan

Assess potential trade-off opportunities

Align marketing strategies and other business activities

Enable a structured conversation about a business model and an operation and management strategy that can include stakeholders, key team members, and external resources

Present strategic analyses, like a market analysis, customer analysis, or operational analysis

Develop new insight on customers and what they are seeking from a business

Describe the relationships between new initiatives and how a company can achieve those initiatives simultaneously

Who Created the Business Model Canvas?

Business theorist Alexander Osterwalder created the business model canvas following his earlier work on business model ontology.

The Core Structures of Business Models

Based on his analysis, Osterwalder proposed that all businesses share similar modeling, using the following core structures:

Infrastructure : This includes key business activities, key resources, and key partners that the business leverages on a regular basis.

Offering : The concept of offering deals with the unique value proposition of a business, which is what distinguishes one business from another.

Customers : This includes customer segments, channels, and customer relationships, all of which drive the strategy and overall success of a business.

Finances : Finances include both the cost structure and the revenue streams that drive the profit of a business.

When Was the Business Model Canvas Invented?

Alexander Osterwalder invented the business model canvas in 2008, following his work on business model ontology. Since 2008, business experts have created many variations on Osterwalder’s original business model canvas, including ones that are industry specific.

What Do You Include in a Business Model Canvas Template?

A business model canvas has a few main components that build out the structure, organization, and strategy of a business. The components include the following:

Key Activities : The key activities identify the crucial steps and activities a business must perform in order to deliver on its propositions and continue to succeed. As a business changes and grows, it must discover new techniques to perform better, provide better services or products, and consider how these key activities help to drive the value proposition.

Key Resources/Partners : The key resources delineate the strategic assets needed to achieve core business goals and maintain a more targeted and successful approach than one’s competitors. Three core business products make up the key resources: product, scope, and infrastructure.

Value Proposition : This is the driving force of the business, as it identifies the uniqueness of a business’s offering (i.e., what differentiates it from other competitors). The value prop works to pinpoint the needs of the customer and deliver on those needs with the company’s own product or service.

Channels : The channels signify the various media used to communicate the value prop to the appropriate customers. Channels also identify where and how you will sell your product and to what customers.

Customer Segments : This refers to the way in which customers interact with the business through the product or service lifecycle and which type of market a customer might engage with. Types of markets can include niche, mass, segmented, diversified, or multi-sided.

Cost Structure : The cost structure of a business model canvas pairs together how key activities will drive costs and determines how well the costs are aligned with the value prop. It is at this time that businesses must determine other key cost decisions, like using a fixed, variable, cost-driven, or value-driven structure and figuring out how the scope and scale of the business relate to the costs and revenue.

Revenue Streams : This determines the way a company generates revenue from each customer segment. Revenue streams can come in the form of asset sales, usage or subscription fees, lending, leasing, renting, licensing, brokerage fees, and advertising. A business determines its revenue streams based on its overall structure.

What Is a Business Model Canvas Report?

A business model canvas report is a roll-up of all the key details described in a business model canvas. The report aims to describe each component in further detail, providing commentary on both why a company is structured the way it is and how it plans to attain that structure.

What Is a Lean Canvas Template?

A lean canvas template is a one-page business plan that summarizes a business and breaks it down into nine key elements. Those elements include problems, solutions, key metrics, value propositions, advantages, channels, customer segments, cost structures, and revenue streams.

Why Have a Business Model Canvas?

Businesses and organizations should have a business model canvas in order to break down the key components of a business and discuss what is and isn’t working. This process will help you identify problem areas, improve on certain aspects, and continue to grow, generate revenue, and succeed.

Tips For Creating a Business Model Canvas

The best way to get started is by gathering a core group comprised of key team members and stakeholders (ideally around 3-5 people) and drawing out a canvas on paper or creating a canvas digitally.

Allow yourself plenty of undisturbed time to start mapping out a high-level overview of the business and its structure. Connect the core building blocks of your business, like market segments and target customers, and brainstorm how to achieve the most success.

Make sure to keep on open mind and separate the current from the ideal state of the business. After you have completed your canvas, review it and share it with your team to collect further ideas or comments. Ask team members to look for missing details, both in the design and structure of the canvas.

Once you have completed the canvas review, test your new plan and analyze it periodically to ensure it is working for your business.

Examples of Successful Business Models

As you begin to create your own business models and business model canvases, use the following resources to help you create the best business model for your organization.

Score’s Business Plan Template for Startups

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Business Plan Tool

The $100 One-Page Business Plan

LawDepot’s WYSIWYG Business Plan Template

Santa Clara University’s My Own Business Plan Template

Rocket Lawyer’s Business Plan Templates by State

Move Beyond Your Business Model Canvas with Real-Time Work Management in Smartsheet

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The Smartsheet platform makes it easy to plan, capture, manage, and report on work from anywhere, helping your team be more effective and get more done. Report on key metrics and get real-time visibility into work as it happens with roll-up reports, dashboards, and automated workflows built to keep your team connected and informed. 

When teams have clarity into the work getting done, there’s no telling how much more they can accomplish in the same amount of time.  Try Smartsheet for free, today.

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FigJam Look at the big picture with our business model canvas example

Starting with a basic business model canvas and expanding out into action plans, SWOT analyses, and workflow charts, FigJam templates give you a bird’s eye view of your existing business.

example of FigJam design elements

Business model canvas template

Collectively brainstorm new business models or chart the ones you already use.

Better business models. No blank canvases.

If you’re trying to build a business plan but feeling bogged down by the blank screen, take a page from FigJam. Customize our business model canvas example, complete with widgets and designs straight from Figma.

Start fresh: Brainstorm and build out your business model using input from your entire team.

Refresh what you have: Take your current business model from your brain to the board—cleaned up and clearly documented.

Streamline and solidify: Use this visual representation to identify what business idea works and what doesn’t.

sections within a business model

FigJam Model best practices with your business.

Create a collaborative culture from day one when you build your BMC on FigJam. Use widgets—like polls and alignment charts—to quickly get feedback from your team, marketers, researchers, and more.  And keep everyone engaged and contributing using cursor chat, stamps, and emotes.. Plus, seamless integration with Figma makes it a breeze to hand off ideas to design.

Build your business using all the available tools

With a free business model canvas template as well as roadmap and action plan templates, you can lay the groundwork for your company’s growth.

the business model canvas template

Pros and cons list

A simple and effective tool for decision making.

the business model canvas template

Mind mapping template

Help your team land on the best idea.

the business model canvas template

Other templates from the community

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What is the business model canvas?

Our high-resolution business model canvas is an open-ended brainstorming platform, already set up with the key elements of a solid business model—all you have to do is fill in the blanks alongside your team.

A business model canvas outlines the core components of a business plan, including the main problem, value proposition, cost structure, and channels. By clearly laying out each aspect of the business model, you can better plan for all the steps that come next while staying true to your established vision.

What is the cost structure of a business model canvas?

The cost structure of a business is the sum of its operating expenses, whether fixed or variable. When pinpointing your structure, you’ll want to consider how economies of scope and scale can benefit your revenue stream and overall company growth.

How do you fill out a business model canvas?

Start by working within our free business model canvas template. Think big-picture first, then you can dive into the nitty-gritty as you flesh out key activities, main revenue streams, key resources, and more.

Begin by homing in on what’s most important: what sets you apart and who you serve. Brainstorm around user personas, customer pain points, and ways that your products or services offer value to your target customer. Then, you can ideate around key partners, resources, and revenue streams that can help you connect to your customer base.

Other templates you might like

the business model canvas template

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Business Model Canvas: Explained with Examples

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Got a new business idea, but don’t know how to put it to work? Want to improve your existing business model? Overwhelmed by writing your business plan? There is a one-page technique that can provide you the solution you are looking for, and that’s the business model canvas.

In this guide, you’ll have the Business Model Canvas explained, along with steps on how to create one. All business model canvas examples in the post can be edited online.

What is a Business Model Canvas

A business model is simply a plan describing how a business intends to make money. It explains who your customer base is and how you deliver value to them and the related details of financing. And the business model canvas lets you define these different components on a single page.   

The Business Model Canvas is a strategic management tool that lets you visualize and assess your business idea or concept. It’s a one-page document containing nine boxes that represent different fundamental elements of a business.  

The business model canvas beats the traditional business plan that spans across several pages, by offering a much easier way to understand the different core elements of a business.

The right side of the canvas focuses on the customer or the market (external factors that are not under your control) while the left side of the canvas focuses on the business (internal factors that are mostly under your control). In the middle, you get the value propositions that represent the exchange of value between your business and your customers.

The business model canvas was originally developed by Alex Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur and introduced in their book ‘ Business Model Generation ’ as a visual framework for planning, developing and testing the business model(s) of an organization.

Business Model Canvas Explained

What Are the Benefits of Using a Business Model Canvas

Why do you need a business model canvas? The answer is simple. The business model canvas offers several benefits for businesses and entrepreneurs. It is a valuable tool and provides a visual and structured approach to designing, analyzing, optimizing, and communicating your business model.

  • The business model canvas provides a comprehensive overview of a business model’s essential aspects. The BMC provides a quick outline of the business model and is devoid of unnecessary details compared to the traditional business plan.
  • The comprehensive overview also ensures that the team considers all required components of their business model and can identify gaps or areas for improvement.
  • The BMC allows the team to have a holistic and shared understanding of the business model while enabling them to align and collaborate effectively.
  • The visual nature of the business model canvas makes it easier to refer to and understand by anyone. The business model canvas combines all vital business model elements in a single, easy-to-understand canvas.
  • The BMC can be considered a strategic analysis tool as it enables you to examine a business model’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges.
  • It’s easier to edit and can be easily shared with employees and stakeholders.
  • The BMC is a flexible and adaptable tool that can be updated and revised as the business evolves. Keep your business agile and responsive to market changes and customer needs.
  • The business model canvas can be used by large corporations and startups with just a few employees.
  • The business model canvas effectively facilitates discussions among team members, investors, partners, customers, and other stakeholders. It clarifies how different aspects of the business are related and ensures a shared understanding of the business model.
  • You can use a BMC template to facilitate discussions and guide brainstorming brainstorming sessions to generate insights and ideas to refine the business model and make strategic decisions.
  • The BMC is action-oriented, encouraging businesses to identify activities and initiatives to improve their business model to drive business growth.
  • A business model canvas provides a structured approach for businesses to explore possibilities and experiment with new ideas. This encourages creativity and innovation, which in turn encourages team members to think outside the box.

How to Make a Business Model Canvas

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create a business canvas model.

Step 1: Gather your team and the required material Bring a team or a group of people from your company together to collaborate. It is better to bring in a diverse group to cover all aspects.

While you can create a business model canvas with whiteboards, sticky notes, and markers, using an online platform like Creately will ensure that your work can be accessed from anywhere, anytime. Create a workspace in Creately and provide editing/reviewing permission to start.

Step 2: Set the context Clearly define the purpose and the scope of what you want to map out and visualize in the business model canvas. Narrow down the business or idea you want to analyze with the team and its context.

Step 3: Draw the canvas Divide the workspace into nine equal sections to represent the nine building blocks of the business model canvas.

Step 4: Identify the key building blocks Label each section as customer segment, value proposition, channels, customer relationships, revenue streams, key resources, key activities, and cost structure.

Step 5: Fill in the canvas Work with your team to fill in each section of the canvas with relevant information. You can use data, keywords, diagrams, and more to represent ideas and concepts.

Step 6: Analyze and iterate Once your team has filled in the business model canvas, analyze the relationships to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges. Discuss improvements and make adjustments as necessary.

Step 7: Finalize Finalize and use the model as a visual reference to communicate and align your business model with stakeholders. You can also use the model to make informed and strategic decisions and guide your business.

What are the Key Building Blocks of the Business Model Canvas?

There are nine building blocks in the business model canvas and they are:

Customer Segments

Customer relationships, revenue streams, key activities, key resources, key partners, cost structure.

  • Value Proposition

When filling out a Business Model Canvas, you will brainstorm and conduct research on each of these elements. The data you collect can be placed in each relevant section of the canvas. So have a business model canvas ready when you start the exercise.  

Business Model Canvas Template

Let’s look into what the 9 components of the BMC are in more detail.

These are the groups of people or companies that you are trying to target and sell your product or service to.

Segmenting your customers based on similarities such as geographical area, gender, age, behaviors, interests, etc. gives you the opportunity to better serve their needs, specifically by customizing the solution you are providing them.

After a thorough analysis of your customer segments, you can determine who you should serve and ignore. Then create customer personas for each of the selected customer segments.

Customer Persona Template for Business Model Canvas Explained

There are different customer segments a business model can target and they are;

  • Mass market: A business model that focuses on mass markets doesn’t group its customers into segments. Instead, it focuses on the general population or a large group of people with similar needs. For example, a product like a phone.  
  • Niche market: Here the focus is centered on a specific group of people with unique needs and traits. Here the value propositions, distribution channels, and customer relationships should be customized to meet their specific requirements. An example would be buyers of sports shoes.
  • Segmented: Based on slightly different needs, there could be different groups within the main customer segment. Accordingly, you can create different value propositions, distribution channels, etc. to meet the different needs of these segments.
  • Diversified: A diversified market segment includes customers with very different needs.
  • Multi-sided markets: this includes interdependent customer segments. For example, a credit card company caters to both their credit card holders as well as merchants who accept those cards.

Use STP Model templates for segmenting your market and developing ideal marketing campaigns

Visualize, assess, and update your business model. Collaborate on brainstorming with your team on your next business model innovation.

In this section, you need to establish the type of relationship you will have with each of your customer segments or how you will interact with them throughout their journey with your company.

There are several types of customer relationships

  • Personal assistance: you interact with the customer in person or by email, through phone call or other means.
  • Dedicated personal assistance: you assign a dedicated customer representative to an individual customer.  
  • Self-service: here you maintain no relationship with the customer, but provides what the customer needs to help themselves.
  • Automated services: this includes automated processes or machinery that helps customers perform services themselves.
  • Communities: these include online communities where customers can help each other solve their own problems with regard to the product or service.
  • Co-creation: here the company allows the customer to get involved in the designing or development of the product. For example, YouTube has given its users the opportunity to create content for its audience.

You can understand the kind of relationship your customer has with your company through a customer journey map . It will help you identify the different stages your customers go through when interacting with your company. And it will help you make sense of how to acquire, retain and grow your customers.

Customer Journey Map

This block is to describe how your company will communicate with and reach out to your customers. Channels are the touchpoints that let your customers connect with your company.

Channels play a role in raising awareness of your product or service among customers and delivering your value propositions to them. Channels can also be used to allow customers the avenue to buy products or services and offer post-purchase support.

There are two types of channels

  • Owned channels: company website, social media sites, in-house sales, etc.
  • Partner channels: partner-owned websites, wholesale distribution, retail, etc.

Revenues streams are the sources from which a company generates money by selling their product or service to the customers. And in this block, you should describe how you will earn revenue from your value propositions.  

A revenue stream can belong to one of the following revenue models,

  • Transaction-based revenue: made from customers who make a one-time payment
  • Recurring revenue: made from ongoing payments for continuing services or post-sale services

There are several ways you can generate revenue from

  • Asset sales: by selling the rights of ownership for a product to a buyer
  • Usage fee: by charging the customer for the use of its product or service
  • Subscription fee: by charging the customer for using its product regularly and consistently
  • Lending/ leasing/ renting: the customer pays to get exclusive rights to use an asset for a fixed period of time
  • Licensing: customer pays to get permission to use the company’s intellectual property
  • Brokerage fees: revenue generated by acting as an intermediary between two or more parties
  • Advertising: by charging the customer to advertise a product, service or brand using company platforms

What are the activities/ tasks that need to be completed to fulfill your business purpose? In this section, you should list down all the key activities you need to do to make your business model work.

These key activities should focus on fulfilling its value proposition, reaching customer segments and maintaining customer relationships, and generating revenue.

There are 3 categories of key activities;

  • Production: designing, manufacturing and delivering a product in significant quantities and/ or of superior quality.
  • Problem-solving: finding new solutions to individual problems faced by customers.
  • Platform/ network: Creating and maintaining platforms. For example, Microsoft provides a reliable operating system to support third-party software products.

This is where you list down which key resources or the main inputs you need to carry out your key activities in order to create your value proposition.

There are several types of key resources and they are

  • Human (employees)
  • Financial (cash, lines of credit, etc.)
  • Intellectual (brand, patents, IP, copyright)
  • Physical (equipment, inventory, buildings)

Key partners are the external companies or suppliers that will help you carry out your key activities. These partnerships are forged in oder to reduce risks and acquire resources.

Types of partnerships are

  • Strategic alliance: partnership between non-competitors
  • Coopetition: strategic partnership between partners
  • Joint ventures: partners developing a new business
  • Buyer-supplier relationships: ensure reliable supplies

In this block, you identify all the costs associated with operating your business model.

You’ll need to focus on evaluating the cost of creating and delivering your value propositions, creating revenue streams, and maintaining customer relationships. And this will be easier to do so once you have defined your key resources, activities, and partners.  

Businesses can either be cost-driven (focuses on minimizing costs whenever possible) and value-driven (focuses on providing maximum value to the customer).

Value Propositions

This is the building block that is at the heart of the business model canvas. And it represents your unique solution (product or service) for a problem faced by a customer segment, or that creates value for the customer segment.

A value proposition should be unique or should be different from that of your competitors. If you are offering a new product, it should be innovative and disruptive. And if you are offering a product that already exists in the market, it should stand out with new features and attributes.

Value propositions can be either quantitative (price and speed of service) or qualitative (customer experience or design).

Value Proposition Canvas

What to Avoid When Creating a Business Model Canvas

One thing to remember when creating a business model canvas is that it is a concise and focused document. It is designed to capture key elements of a business model and, as such, should not include detailed information. Some of the items to avoid include,

  • Detailed financial projections such as revenue forecasts, cost breakdowns, and financial ratios. Revenue streams and cost structure should be represented at a high level, providing an overview rather than detailed projections.
  • Detailed operational processes such as standard operating procedures of a business. The BMC focuses on the strategic and conceptual aspects.
  • Comprehensive marketing or sales strategies. The business model canvas does not provide space for comprehensive marketing or sales strategies. These should be included in marketing or sales plans, which allow you to expand into more details.
  • Legal or regulatory details such as intellectual property, licensing agreements, or compliance requirements. As these require more detailed and specialized attention, they are better suited to be addressed in separate legal or regulatory documents.
  • Long-term strategic goals or vision statements. While the canvas helps to align the business model with the overall strategy, it should focus on the immediate and tangible aspects.
  • Irrelevant or unnecessary information that does not directly relate to the business model. Including extra or unnecessary information can clutter the BMC and make it less effective in communicating the core elements.

What Are Your Thoughts on the Business Model Canvas?

Once you have completed your business model canvas, you can share it with your organization and stakeholders and get their feedback as well. The business model canvas is a living document, therefore after completing it you need to revisit and ensure that it is relevant, updated and accurate.

What best practices do you follow when creating a business model canvas? Do share your tips with us in the comments section below.

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FAQs About the Business Model Canvas

  • Use clear and concise language
  • Use visual-aids
  • Customize for your audience
  • Highlight key insights
  • Be open to feedback and discussion

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Amanda Athuraliya is the communication specialist/content writer at Creately, online diagramming and collaboration tool. She is an avid reader, a budding writer and a passionate researcher who loves to write about all kinds of topics.

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What is a business model canvas? Overview with template

the business model canvas template

In 2013, I co-founded a startup in the Indian online gifting industry with three friends. It was my first involvement with a startup. Startups are fascinating — they’re small, agile, and quick. However, another key feature of startups is their ability to creatively solve problems.

What Is A Business Model Canvas Overview With Template

At that time, we aimed to target India’s gifting market, which was more than 90 percent offline. We had plans to establish an online shop selling a wide variety of gifts. But before we got started, we decided to document our idea. Amidst many templates, we discovered the business model canvas, a lean tool for outlining business models. It was neat, straightforward, and free. This tool brought remarkable clarity to our idea.

Despite shutting down the startup in 2015, I gained a wealth of knowledge during those two years. One major takeaway was the tools and techniques I learned along the way. The business model canvas was one of them. Even after seven years, I still use the business model canvas in my role as a product manager.

In this blog post, we’ll explore how product managers and entrepreneurs can effectively use a business model canvas.

What is a business model canvas?

The business model canvas is a template introduced by Alexander Osterwalder in 2005 as part of his Ph.D. studies under the supervision of Yves Pigneur. The business model canvas outlines nine crucial elements of a business model in an easy-to-understand visual template: customer segments, value proposition, channels, customer relationships, revenue streams, key activities, key resources, key partnerships, and cost structure.

Various companies, including startups, scale-ups, and large software organizations, have utilized this template since its inception to simplify their business strategy and improve their understanding of the overall business structure. However, before we delve into what a business model canvas entails, it’s important to comprehend why simplifying business strategy and structure is essential.

The last company I was part of employed 10,000 individuals. It ran more than 20 different businesses, each generating millions in revenue. When operating on such a large scale, it’s vital to have a clear strategy that outlines the business models. This strategy should define who the customers are, identify key partners, elaborate on the value proposition, and explain the cost structure, among other things.

The strategic blueprint serves as a go-to source of information whenever confusion arises. While this is true for large corporations, it’s equally applicable to smaller scale-ups and startups. It’s crucial to understand the business strategy and models from the onset. This comprehension aids in crafting a framework that can be applied when tackling complex issues or determining priorities.

This is where the business model canvas proves invaluable. It assists in laying out business models in a straightforward, user-friendly format.

What are the 9 components of the business model canvas?

The business model canvas comprises nine key elements:

Customer segments

Value proposition, customer relationships, revenue streams, key activities, key resources, key partnerships, cost structure.

9 Components Of A Business Model Canvas

These components cover the three main areas of a business: desirability, viability, and feasibility. The nine components also aim to bring transparency and understanding to a broad audience, which can include upper management and internal teams such as engineering, design, product management, marketing, sales, legal, and customer service.

Collectively, these elements capture the essence of a business model. They help map the relationship between these elements and how they intertwine with one another. Let’s take a more in-depth look at each element.

Everything starts with the customers, which is why this is the first element of the business model canvas. This component identifies the different customer segments a company targets. These can vary across business models.

the business model canvas template

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the business model canvas template

For example, while working at Zalando (one of Europe’s largest fashion eCommerce companies), there were multiple business models. One focused on end customers, while another focused on partners selling products on Zalando. The business model canvas helps outline these customer segments in a single snapshot.

Try to avoid being too detailed. Mention who the partners are, but there’s no need to note the demographics, age, gender, etc., of the customer segment unless required.

This term refers to the unique advantage or value a business provides. It’s what sets the business apart from competitors. This could be a product or a service that the business uses to solve a customer’s problem.

For instance, Uber’s value proposition is its ability to help customers travel from point A to point B on demand.

Channels are the various ways through which a business intends to interact with customers and/or partners. For Airbnb, their website and apps are the primary channels. But they also leverage social media, offline hoardings, email marketing, and community forums to reach their audience.

This element addresses the various ways a business interacts with customers to improve satisfaction and the overall experience. Monitoring customer feedback and how they interact with a company’s product is critical in a competitive landscape.

Amazon, a company that prioritizes customer focus, includes 24/7 customer support, personalized recommendations, regular newsletters, ratings and reviews, Amazon Prime membership, and community engagement as part of its customer relationships.

This component lists the different ways a company plans to generate revenue. For Google, revenue streams include advertising, the Google Play Store, Google Cloud, and hardware sales.

This section includes all necessary activities needed to keep the business functioning smoothly and to deliver value to all users. Microsoft’s key activities, for example, include software development, hardware development, cloud computing, gaming, research and development, and VR.

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As the name implies, key resources are the essential tangible and intangible resources needed to keep the business operational. These resources incur costs, making their documentation vital. An online gift-selling company would require a website/app, collaborations with manufacturers, and marketing capabilities.

This element focuses on the partnerships or collaborations a business might have with other companies to better serve customers, reduce risks, and increase profits. For Facebook, key partners include regular users who generate content, advertisers, and influencers who create content at scale.

This element outlines the costs and expenses associated with a business. For companies like Google and Facebook, costs can be substantial given their value propositions. While it may be difficult to capture the cost structure of these giants in a small space, it becomes easier and beneficial for smaller companies.

For example, McDonald’s cost structure would include manufacturing costs, service-based costs (such as employee costs), franchise costs, and infrastructure costs.

What are the benefits of using a business model canvas?

Indeed, using a business model canvas offers many advantages for businesses of all sizes. To summarize, some of the key benefits include:

Benefits Of Using A Business Model Canvas

Visual representation

A business model canvas provides a visual overview of all the critical elements of a business. This allows stakeholders to see how these elements relate to each other, facilitating understanding and decision-making.

The visual nature of the canvas makes it accessible to various stakeholders, including top management, engineers, designers, customer service, and operations teams.

Clear collaboration, communication, and alignment

Developing and managing products often require the input and collaboration of multiple stakeholders . A business model canvas provides a clear, concise tool for aligning all these parties, promoting better communication and collaboration. It also helps product managers secure buy-in from stakeholders at an early stage, reducing risks and fostering better alignment, especially in a cross-functional environment.

Strategic long-term thinking and analysis

By design, a business model canvas encourages long-term strategic thinking. It helps identify business strengths and weaknesses, facilitates brainstorming new ideas and improvements, and shapes long-term strategies to better serve customers.

Flexibility

Businesses and ideas evolve, and a business model canvas accommodates these changes. It offers a flexible template that can be easily modified, often featuring version numbers to track document evolution. This flexibility supports an iterative approach, ensuring the canvas captures all necessary information as the business evolves.

Business model canvas template

The internet is replete with various business model templates. A quick Google search will return 34,200,000 results. Here’s a quick template that I created on Google Sheets:

Business Model Canvas Template

Click here to access the business model canvas template. You can click File > Make a copy to download the canvas and customize it for your business.

Example of successful use of the business model canvas in product management

Here’s an example of a business model canvas for Facebook:

Business Model Canvas Facebook

How do I create a business model canvas for my business?

After you fill out the nine components we went over earlier, there are some other key points to keep in mind to successfully create a business canvas model.

Involve all the stakeholders early on

Since a business model canvas has elements ranging from tech to marketing, sales, and customer service, it’s important to involve these stakeholders right at the start. This reduces the risk and helps to bring everyone on the same page.

Keep it simple

Don’t use complex sentences while explaining the pointers under every element. Use simple and short words. Simplicity will make it easier for the audience to consume the information effectively.

Be data-driven

Let every pointer included in the business model canvas be data-driven. This will help lay down a strong foundation for long-term decision-making.

Focus on an iterative approach

It’s difficult to come up with a business model canvas right at the first go. Hence, it’s important to keep an iterative approach and let the document evolve depending on the feedback from the contributors. You can use versioning to keep track of all the changes.

Consider external factors

Currently, the growth of many businesses is slow and it’s projected to be the same for the entire year. It’s important to consider these external factors while coming up with a business model canvas since it helps to consider factors that might not be in control of a business.

Conclusion and key takeaways

A business model canvas can be a very effective tool if used right away. Product managers can use this tool before starting a product or a feature. It can help them have clarity on the idea before the actual development work starts.

Also, since it involves all the major stakeholders right at the start, a business model canvas can help mitigate risks early on. It’s a great tool for validating business ideas, products, or a feature.

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Business Model Canvas triple bottom line

Business model canvas.

The holy grail of design thinking tools..

The business model canvas is a great tool to help you understand a business model in a straightforward, structured way. Using this canvas will lead to insights about the customers you serve, what value propositions are offered through what channels, and how your company makes money. You can also use the business model canvas to understand your own business model or that of a competitor! The Business Model Canvas was created by Alexander Osterwalder, of Strategyzer.

the business model canvas template

11 building blocks.

1. Customer segments . List  your most important (future)  segments. Look for the segments that provide the most revenue.

2. Value proposition . W hat are your products and services? What is the job you get done for your customer?

3. Revenue streams . List your top three revenue streams. If you do things for free, add them here too.

4 .  Societal and environmental benefits.

What are you giving back to your community and planet? 

5 . Channels . How do you communicate with your customer? How do you deliver the value proposition?

6 . Customer relationships . How does this show up and how do you maintain the relationship?

7 . Key activities . What do you do every day to run your business model?

8 . Key resources . The people, knowledge, means, and money you need to run your business.

9 . Key partners . List the partners that you can’t do business without (not suppliers).

10 . Cost structure . List your top costs by looking at activities and resources.

11. Societal and environmental costs.

What’s the negative impact of your business model?  

Your step-by-step guide.

Before you start..

You can learn a lot from your competition. Choose some competitors and map their business models. Armed with this information you’ll have deep insight into what customers want and what they are willing to pay for. You’ll have a clearer picture of just how customers’ needs are met across the entire industry, not just in your company. And, you’ll uncover vital information about how other businesses, maybe even very successful businesses, have created their own spaces in the market.

Get the right team of 3-5 people together.

Grab a large chunk of wall space.

Print or draw the canvas on a big sheet of paper.

Have plenty of sticky notes and markers ready.

Allow yourself 45-60 minutes of undisturbed time.

1. High level.

Start by mapping out the business on a high level: only the most important, vital aspects of the business model.

2. Connect the building blocks.

Link up the building blocks: every value proposition needs a customer segment and a revenue stream! When everything is on the board, take a step back. Have a short break. Did you miss anything? Forget something?

Pro tip: if you have multiple customer segments it is best to pick a colour for each segment in the post-it notes you use. That way you easily see if for each segment there is a value proposition and a revenue stream.

3. Current state.

Don’t mix ideas for a future state with what is going on right now, and don’t mix different departments!

Pro tip: if you work for a large organization you might find varying value propositions and business models. In that case ask the different departments to map out their own business models. You can compare them afterwards.

Take a step back check if every customer segment is linked to a value proposition and a revenue stream. Make sure everything on the left side of the canvas is needed to support the right side of the canvas. Everything else can go.

Rank your business model’s performance (0: bad, 10: excellent) for each of the following questions:

How much does switching costs prevent your customers from churning?

How scalable is your business model?

Does your business model produce recurring revenues?

Do you earn before you spend?

H ow much of the work can be done by others?

Does your business model provide built-in protection from competition?

On what cost structure is your business model based?

5. Next steps.

Pro tip: have an artist visualize your business model. It helps to create impact when sharing the model and it makes it easier for others to become connected. Checklist :

Take a snapshot picture of your business model canvas for easy to share future reference .

Ask team-members discuss the business model with others .

Trigger team-members to actively look for 1-2 blind spots .

Filter out the design criteria .

Test your assumptions .

Need some extra brainpower for your business model canvas?

Meet stefan. he is your expert..

Stefan Buijsingh

  • Create your own canvas

Create a new Business Model Canvas

The Business Model Canvas was proposed by Alexander Osterwalder based on his earlier book: Business Model Ontology . It outlines nine segments which form the building blocks for the business model in a nice one-page canvas. You can find a detailed explanation in his bestselling book "Business Model Generation".

If you want to try it a Business Model Canvas without entering your email address, please use our Canvanizer 2.0 Business Model Canvas Demo for a first impression.

the business model canvas template

Canvas Title:

Description :

Your Name :

More about the Business Model Canvas

The Business Model Canvas reflects systematically on your business model, so you can focus on your business model segment by segment. This also means you can start with a brain dump, filling out the segments the spring to your mind first and then work on the empty segments to close the gaps. The following list with questions will help you brainstorm and compare several variations and ideas for your next business model innovation.

Key partners

  • Who are your key partners/suppliers?
  • What are the motivations for the partnerships?

Key activities

  • What key activities does your value proposition require?
  • What activities are important the most in distribution channels, customer relationships, revenue stream…?

Value Proposition

  • What core value do you deliver to the customer?
  • Which customer needs are you satisfying?

Customer Relationship

  • What relationship that the target customer expects you to establish?
  • How can you integrate that into your business in terms of cost and format?

Customer Segment

  • Which classes are you creating values for?
  • Who is your most important customer?

Key Resource

  • What key resources does your value proposition require?
  • What resources are important the most in distribution channels, customer relationships, revenue stream…?

Distribution Channel

  • Through which channels that your customers want to be reached?
  • Which channels work best? How much do they cost? How can they be integrated into your and your customers’ routines?

Cost Structure

  • What are the most cost in your business?
  • Which key resources/ activities are most expensive?

Revenue Stream

  • For what value are your customers willing to pay?
  • What and how do they recently pay? How would they prefer to pay?
  • How much does every revenue stream contribute to the overall revenues?

the business model canvas template

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Business Model Canvas (BMC) Template, Examples & Full Guide PPT

A product is only as good as the Business Model (BM) that supports it, and creating an innovative product requires an equally innovative BM. The Business Model Canvas is an easy visual tool your team can use to conceptualize and iterate the key aspects of your Business Model.

Business Model Canvas Template

Get the Full Package for FREE & OpenSource

  • Get instant access to this model including a full presentation, related tools and instructions!
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  • Completely FREE and OpenSource!

Stefan F.Dieffenbacher

Table of Contents

Business owners and entrepreneurs need all the tools they can get. At Digital Leadership, we believe the most powerful tool you can use is a Business Model Canvas. With it, you can solidify business plans and identify opportunities before investing potentially wasteful time and resources. A Business Model Canvas solidifies your business strategy and helps identify gaps in your intended activities. It’s more detailed than a value proposition canvas and is more likely to grant useful insights.

In this article, we discuss the various elements of the Business Model Canvas and explore why it can be such a useful tool for recognizing innovation and getting the most out of your resources.

  • Download The Business Model Canvas Template PPT (PowerPoint) Format : Business Model Canvas .pptx

At Digital Leadership, we understand the unique challenges businesses face and offer tailored solutions to address their specific needs. We provide business model strategy service as a catalyst for fostering innovation and adaptability within the Business Model Canvas.

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BMC Meaning: What is Business Model Canvas (BMC)

Business Model Canvas serves as a strategic management and entrepreneurial tool, enabling the description, design, challenge, invention, and pivoting of a business model. Derived from the bestselling management book, Business Model Generation, this approach is widely employed in both established organizations and startups globally.

Business Model Canvas Template

Your download is now available!

You can now access the complete Business Model Canvas Package, including a full presentation, related models and instructions for use.

Business Model Canvas Template

When you design a Business Model, it is useful to lay out the assumptions or hypotheses that animate your business in a structured way. A Business Model Canvas helps you to do just that. The canvas helps you to easily understand your current Business Model, formulate business strategy and business goals , design a new Business Model, see if you have missed anything important, and compare your model to others.

The Canvas provides a framework or template for analyzing the distinct parts of your business operations. By using a Business Model Template , you ensure that you’re considering the entire way you do business.

Business Model Canvases are intended to be dynamic templates to which you can return to iterate current business plans or experiment with potential new ventures.

For a more hands-on approach, also check out our article on business model canvas examples , where we showcase real-world applications of the Business Model Canvas and its impact on businesses.

To dig into Business model canvas and its Building Blocks work with data-driven Personas. Our book, How to Create Innovation , discusses Personas at length. It’s a system that builds examples, of customers, based on the information you’ve gathered about their habits and identities. Personas help you understand who your customers are as people within their broad segments so you can better reach them and bring them value.

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The History and Building Blocks of the Business Model Canvas

The tool we’ve designed for this purpose is an iterated canvas based on the original Business Model Canvas created by Alexander Osterwalder “Strategyzer” and popularized by the Lean Startup movement. The Business Model Canvas is the most commonly used tool for developing BM. It draws on Michael Porter’s Value Chain maps and Peter Drucker’s theories of the firm (among other sources).

The Business Model Canvas has become the preferred tool for both start-ups and corporations since it allows a team to easily understand, discuss, and evaluate a Business Model, as well as to rapidly design or redesign a new one. It is attractive because it condenses years of business school knowledge and management consulting practice into a single page (with some straightforward questions to help you fill in each section).

So, once you start prototyping the product, form a parallel workstream that focuses on the business dimensions of your offering. The best way is to build a Business Model Canvas for each of the ideas and to conduct a validation of the most critical points that you identify with the help of the canvas.

These building blocks are the pieces of your business that allow it to function. One of the strengths of the Business Model Canvas is that it gives you a clear picture of which of these elements are within your control, and which are not. There’s no value judgment there—in fact, there are building blocks that, though they are essential to our success, are not part of our Core Activities and should not necessarily be under our control. Let’s take a look at these Building Blocks to better understand how they function within the broader Business Model Canvas.

(1) Key Resources

List your Key Resources, which can be categorized into physical, financial, intellectual property and unique people skill sets. Particularly focused on the core and differentiating strengths or capabilities that you may be able to leverage. One of the strangest realities of business leadership is that we often fail to recognize all of our available resources. Their placement in the Business Model Canvas ensures that we give them full consideration from multiple angles.

(2) Key Activities

Consider everything you and your team do during the day, and identify which of these activities are central—vital—to the progress of your business. For example, one of your people may spend part of the day responding to customer emails instead of developing a new product. Which of these is a Key Activity , and which may be better addressed using a third party?

Your Key Activities should never be outsourced: they’re far too important. But other, tangential activities that are necessary though not at the core of your business (copy machine maintenance, for example) can be handled by contractors or other outside entities.

(3) Key Partners

In an interconnected world, leveraging relationships with ecosystem partners has become increasingly important because it allows you to focus on your relative strengths. Think about the four different types of partnerships, including strategic alliances between non-competitors, coopetition (strategic partnerships between competitors), joint ventures to develop new businesses, and buyer-supplier relationships to assure reliable supplies.

Without your Key Partners , your Core Activities would be impossible. Relationships with your Key Partners, therefore, are vital to your success and should be nurtured and cared for appropriately.

(4) Cost Structure

For any business model, effectively managing the cost structure is crucial, but some business models are specifically designed around low-cost structures, as exemplified by “no frills” airlines.

Consider how you manage costs, and which costs are necessary and which are not. Identifying where all the resources are going will help you understand where you can best innovate.

(5) Distribution Channels

Rarely does a company deliver its goods or services to customers without some sort of third-party distribution channels.

Because they are often beyond our control, understanding the role Distribution Channels play in how we deliver value to our customers is important to understanding the overall Business Model.

(6) Customer Relationships

What type of customer relationship do you have? Think about options such as self-service, personal assistance, communities or Single Point of Contact.

Different businesses have different relationships with their customers, but they should never be positioned in opposition to each other. As much as you can, find ways to ensure that your business and your customers are on the same team. That’s what customers expect, and they’ll reward businesses that find ways to operate in this manner.

The clearest way of ensuring proper attention is paid to Customer Relationships is through the Jobs to be Done framework , which is a major segment of the UNITE eXtended Business Model Canvas , as we’ll soon discuss.

(7) Customer Segments

For whom are you creating value? For which customer segments and representative (data-driven) Personas? Who is your most important customer?   

(8) Revenue Streams

Revenue Streams outline how you earn money. What price is each of your Customer Segments truly willing to pay? Identify each possible Revenue Stream per Customer Segment. Think hard about the possible pricing mechanisms per Revenue Stream.

Surprisingly, pricing can often be a source of differentiation! Pricing mechanisms can include auctioning, bargaining, fixed-list prices, market- or volume-dependent prices, or yield management.

A Business Model can also involve transactional revenues resulting from one-time customer payments (e.g., a sale) or recurring payments (e.g., a subscription).

(9) Value Proposition

Value Proposition Canvas

Download the Complete eXtended Business Model Canvas Package, including instructions for putting it to work for you today.

The UNITE eXtended Business Model Canvas marries classic Business Model thinking with the latest understanding of what drives innovation. By highlighting a company’s successes, refining its aim, and incorporating business goals, decision-makers can properly affect lasting change to more fully realize the business’s potential for growing the value it brings to customers. It’s a powerful tool to employ when considering your overall business strategy , from day one, through years and years of business success.

We believe the UNITE eXended Business Model Canvas is the natural development of modern theories of business and innovation. While the ideas that form its underpinnings are complex, putting the Canvas to work for you is surprisingly easy. As such, no matter how much experience you have in business or innovation, you’ll be able to use the Canvas to expand your understanding of your business and its position in the world.

Understanding the Differences Between the Business Model Canvas and the Extended Version

The UNITE core Business Model Canvas describes how an organization creates, delivers, and captures value. But because it’s valuable to understand a Business Model using a wider view, the eXtended Business Model Canvas includes extra elements.

The UNITE eXtended Business Model Canvas contextualizes an organization’s Business Model by describing its underlying drivers: the customers’ needs, and the business’s team, including their structures, values, and culture. These are often under-considered by people close to the business. (It’s rather like being so close to a mountain that you don’t understand the mountain as a whole.)

Additionally, the eXtended Business Model Canvas helps you understand and articulate your Unfair Advantage , which is admittedly not part of a Business Model but is useful to help you enhance your competitive advantage. This approach is not like different business models which fail to offer a truly comprehensive, contextualized view of all your concerns and key activities.

How Does the Extended Business Model Canvas Work?

Like other Business Model Canvases , the eXtended Business Model Canvas template is a visual representation of a complete business. By completing each of the template’s pieces, you’ll gain a better understanding of the total Business Model you’re using, with a special focus on identifying and acting upon your organization’s unfair advantage in the marketplace. The template is positioned in a way that clarifies the relationships between each of your business’s pieces.

Indeed, the simple process of completing an eXtended Business Model Canvas is a valuable experience. For existing businesses, the Canvases can reveal opportunities for innovation and competitive advantage that managers may have not otherwise noticed.

Why Should Every Business Use the Business Model Canvas?

We believe in the efficacy of the Business Model Canvas and the process of completing canvases. There are many good reasons why every business should use the Business Model Canvas.

Those reasons include:

Easy to Use

Most of the sections of the Business Model Canvas can be completed with little-to-no additional work. When the person completing the Canvas doesn’t have the necessary information on hand, it should be a simple matter to collect.

If the information isn’t available, that’s a signal that you have some important holes in your business visibility.

Covers All Aspects of Your Business

The Business Model Canvas is extensive but simple. The Canvas reaches into all corners of your Business Model, including areas we don’t often consider for innovation opportunities.

Helps Communicate Your Business Model

A business’s operations can be opaque. The Canvas helps shed light on all the business’s shadowed places.

Because of the Canvas’s visual nature, it’s extremely useful for communicating your Business Model. That’s helpful any time you’re courting additional investment or deciding which direction to take your innovation.

The Business Model Canvas and The UNITE Models: A Complementary Approach for Innovation and Transformation

The Business Model Canvas (BMC ) and the UNITE Models represent complementary approaches for driving innovation and transformation within organizations, offering unique perspectives and tools to address various aspects of business strategy , design, and implementation. Let’s explore how these approaches work together synergistically:

The UNITE Value Proposition Canvas

The V alue Proposition Canvas is a part of the larger Business Model Canvas . It helps to project, test and build the business Value Proposition in a more structured and reflective way, just as the Business Model Canvas helps you do so during the process of designing a Business Model.

The Value Model is central to the Business Model because it summarizes your core Value Proposition(s) and related offerings as part of the overall Product System.

The Value Proposition Canva s is a fairly simple tool that allows you to establish a logical starting point for building and testing a product or service.

The canvas allows for managing and enhancing existing Value Propositions, as well as for creating new ones. The great strength of the tool is that it will encourage you to empathize with your customers and translate customer needs into a product or solution which solves an important but underserved Job to be Done .

The UNITE Organizational Culture Canvas

Organizational Culture Canvas

You can now access the complete Orga nizational Culture Canvas Package, including a full presentation, related models and instructions for use.

Culture Canvas

We created the Organizational Culture Canvas in collaboration with more than 30 experts from academia and industry to identify and map the key aspects of an organization’s culture. When we set out to understand, describe, discuss, question, shape, and renew our organizational culture, we need a tool that will render culture understandable, tangible, and actionable.

The Culture Canvas is such a tool. It enables a group to immediately understand the most important factors and how they interact. Although we will focus on applying the Organizational Culture Canvas to the field of innovation, you can apply this canvas to any type of organization.

Use the UNITE Culture Canvas to establish values, principles, rules, and rituals that support your team in developing this habit.

The UNITE Jobs to Be Done

Jobs to be Done Customer's Job Statement

You can now access the complete Job To Be Done Customer’s Job Statement Package, including a full presentation, related models and instructions for use.

Jobs-to-be-Done Statement_Map

If we as marketers, decision-makers, or product developers want to improve business results, we have to understand the jobs that arise in the lives of our customers, for which they hire certain solutions. Understanding who these people are in the wrong unit of analysis.

What we really want to know is what they are trying to get done. Unsurprisingly, the underlying theory behind this is called Jobs to be Done (JTBD). At the centre of the theory is the “job”: a “job” is the fundamental problem a customer needs to resolve in a given situation.

The JTBD concept is the revolution in how we think about business. Instead of conceiving a product or service and then stalking an audience, we look at customers first and build a business around their needs. While no investment is ever guaranteed, developing business models in this way at least has, at its core, a customer who might be looking for a problem’s solution already. We can build our success around customers’ motivation to relieve their pain points.

Jobs to be Done offers two key insights:

  • A mental model and a structured approach to understanding the needs of your customers (looking good instead of weight management, good entertainment instead of TV, leisure instead of a sailboat, etc.) and which criteria they use to measure the outcome.                                                                                
  • A methodology to identify the most important but underserved customer needs in a quantifiable and verifiable way. Basically, it helps you understand what outcomes customers truly value, but are not yet able to achieve.                                                                                                                    

JTBD takes the guesswork out of innovation by offering a precise understanding of where you can innovate to solve a big unmet need and your progress towards a successful outcome.

Most innovations fail since they try to solve an unknown problem for an unknown customer. Through Jobs to be Done , you can eliminate bias and data noise, and instead precisely focus on needs that are unmet, innovative potential that already has a prospective audience.

Frequently Asked Questions

1) what are the 9 components of the business model canvas.

The nine components of the Business Model Canvas are:

  • Customer Segments
  • Value Propositions
  • Customer Relationships
  • Revenue Streams
  • Key Resources
  • Key Activities
  • Key Partners
  • Cost Structure

2) What are the 4 types of business models?

The four types of Business Models are:

  • Business-to-Business
  • Business-to-Consumer
  • Subscription

3) What makes up a good business model canvas?

A good Business Model Canvas offers a complete view of your overall business strategy , identifies weaknesses in how you intend to deliver value, and points to opportunities for innovation and growth.

4) How do the Business Model Canvas and UNITE Models complement each other?

By building on each other, the Business Model Canvas and the UNITE Models offer a complete view of your operations to remove blind spots and highlight opportunities for continued growth.

the business model canvas template

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the business model canvas template

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To help you personalize them to your exact business requirements, you can download fully editable versions of the UNITE models available (PowerPoint format)!

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PS: did you know that you are also getting hi-res print-ready versions for your workshops?

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Each month we host our exclusive, invitation-only webinar series where one of our industry-leading experts updates our members on the latest news, progress and concepts around business strategy, innovation and digital transformation, as well as other related topics. 



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Come and be a part of engaging discussions where your unique concerns are heard and addressed.

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If you are occasionally looking for a sparring partner or you need limited support, then this option will be ideal for you. Coaching sessions are 1-2 hours where we can discuss any challenge or opportunity you are currently facing.

If you need a few more hours outside of this provision, then these could be billed transparently.

Unlimited video call support! – it’s like always making the right decision!

We believe support shouldn’t be limited. Because we typically find that the occasional hour just doesn’t cut it – particularly if you and your team are in the midst of a large and complex project.

Your time with Stefan is therefore unlimited (fair usage applies) – in his function as coach and sparring partner. That does mean that you will still have to do the work – we cannot take that off you, unless you hire us as consultants. But you will get valuable strategic insight and direction to make sure you are always focusing your efforts where they will lead to the best results.

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In addition to your monthly 1-1 live coaching sessions with Stefan, you will also get unlimited support from him via email and WhatsApp messaging (fair usage applies). This not only allows you to get valuable strategic direction in your calls, but also gives you instant access to expert help as you work through your plans each month.



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As a welcome gift, you will receive the both the digital and physical version of our book “How to Create Innovation”, which covers numerous relevant resources and provides additional deep dives into our UNITE models and concepts.


The print version will be shipped out to you on sign-up. The digital version will be emailed to you, and comes in PDF and EPUB formats, ideal for your computer, Kindle, Tablet or other eReading device.

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Simply fill out the below form and book in a time for our initial session that works for you. This initial session is free, no strings attached, and is where we can discuss your Blueprint needs more in-depth before moving forward.

the business model canvas template

Stefan F. Dieffenbacher

Founder of digital leadership.

the business model canvas template

Adam D. Wisniewski

Partner for it strategy & business alignment.

the business model canvas template

Get in touch with Digital Leadership

Speak to our team today to find the best solution for your business to grow and scale.

We are here to support you across the entire lifecycle in all topics related to #digital, #innovation, #transformation and #marketing!

the business model canvas template

Stefan F. Dieffenbacher Founder of Digital Leadership

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Create Business Model Canvas Templates Online

If you want to start a new business, use these free editable business model canvas templates from edit.org to state the basic aspects of your project..

Did you have a great idea or you are planning on starting a new company ? If so, this is the time to translate that idea to a Business Model Canvas . With this document, you will be able to learn how to create an effective business model and describe the basic aspects of your new project.

Templates for startups to edit online and for free

Create a Business Model Canvas with Edit.org editable templates

Having the key points of your project specified before starting is fundamental since you will better understand its reason for being, the future performance and the means you are going to count on at the beginning.

All the Business Model Canvas sections are related to each other, and it is crucial to define them and translate them into a document . Here you have some examples of templates you can edit in a few seconds. In our editor, find dozens of templates with different designs ready to customize online and completely free by inserting your your logo or changing the corporate colors. Use the final result to make others understand your business .

Startup canvas model

How to customize a Business Model Canvas template online with Edit.org

  • Click on any image of this article or go to the editor to get started
  • Select the template you want to edit
  • Customize it with images, texts, elements, and logo
  • Save the changes and download the composition in JPG, PNG or PDF format
  • Print it or share it on social media

Parts of a Business Model Canvas explained

  • Key partners.  Who are or will be your key suppliers or partners? Are you going to make a partnership agreement? A win-win deal can benefit your project a lot. 
  • Key activities . Write here the bullet points of your day-to-day routine. ¿What is the main activity your firm is going to carry out?
  • Key resources.  At this point, we will describe which resources your business needs. They can be: financial resources (how much capital do we need, whether we are going to borrow or need investors), human resources (how many staff we will need to develop our project), physical resources (if we need machinery, computers, office premises, etc.) or intellectual resources (brands and trademarks). 
  • Value propositions.  Which benefits and advantages do your product or service have? It is perhaps one of the most fundamental points in which we will define if the product exists or not in the market, if it is of good quality, or if it offers better characteristics compared to competitors. Also, we can enumerate if the product or service differentiates by price, quality, or target segment.
  • Relationship with customers.  How do you relate to your clients? It can be face-to-face, by phone, or online such as by email. You can also use a software program with which the client himself can solve his doubts through automated processes. The more channels the client has, the greater the satisfaction.
  • Channels . It is related to the previous point. Which are the channels with which you are going to convey your messages?
  • Customer segments.  In this section, we will have to define our client through a customer persona. It can be the case your product adapts to multiple market niches. It is crucial to be realistic in this section since one of the usual mistakes is to believe everyone is going to buy your product.
  • Cost structure.  Here we will define which are the costs that we will have in our project: initial costs (such as a vehicle or a computer), variable costs (such as material purchases, which increase when buying more material), fixed costs (staff, supplies, rentals, etc.), or costs in terms of economies of scale (higher sales means lower expenses).
  • Sources of income.  In this section, you must describe how the project obtains revenues: cash charges for selling a product (like in product stores), monthly payments from users (like Netflix), by using telephone lines, etc. Your project can mix several sources of income, that will make your model much healthier.

Canvas business model

At the end, you will have understood your business much better , and it will easier to make decisions. Now try to select one of the Canvas Model templates and start editing it. You can download it the final result for free in JPG, PNG or PDF and print it. Try Business Model Canvas templates from Edit.org now!

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What is the Business Model Canvas (BMC)?

Business Model Canvas is a strategic management and lean startup template for developing new or documenting existing business models.  It is a visual chart with elements describing a firm's or product's value proposition, infrastructure, customers, and finances  It assists firms in aligning their activities by illustrating potential trade-offs.

Here's an illustration of the canvas and its components:

  • Value Proposition
  • Customer Segments
  • Key Activities
  • Customer Relationships
  • Key Resources
  • Key Partners
  • Cost Structure
  • Revenue Strucure

Some of the Questions Owners Have to Answer

  • What unique value do you provide to your customers?
  • What problems do you solve?
  • Who is your target market?
  • How do you reach your target market?
  • What are customers really ready to pay for?

How to Get More Help on the BMC?

More information can be gained at this discussion on its evolution as a planning tool.

A lot more information  and guidance is available at Strategyzer.com and Canvanizer.com - the latter has the capability for developing a canvas online and sharing it with others, such as your SCORE mentor!  

Fine Tuning Your Business - BMC Learn how to use the Business Model Canvas, a tool that allows you to capture the key ingredients of your plan on a single page, using a rigorous, thoughtful process.

Inside Sales Transformation - Process & Metrics Companies spend on average, 7-15% on sales. A properly staffed, trained, motivated and rewarded inside salesforce empowered with digital technologies can cut sales cost significantly! Find out how...

Copyright © 2023 SCORE Association, SCORE.org

Funded, in part, through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.

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Business Model Canvas [+ Template]: How-to & Examples

Home » Business Model Canvas   | 🕑 

the business model canvas template

Gust de Backer

November 6, 2023.

Business Model Canvas (BMC)

The Business Model Canvas is your complete business on 1 a4’s sheet…

How do you make sure you keep an overview in the chaos and also innovate in time?

In this article, I’ll show you:

  • What the Business Model Canvas is
  • How to fill in the Business Model Canvas
  • And I’ll show you how to innovate the Business Model Canvas

Let’s get started…

Table of Contents

Business Model Canvas

The business model describes in concrete terms how an organization creates value, delivers it and how it makes money from this.

There are 9 blocks that the Business Model Canvas consists of:

Business Model Canvas

Here, the left part of the canvas focuses on efficiency and the right part on value:

We are now going to cover the 9 different components…

1. Customer segments

An organization serves one or more customer segments.

Customer segments describe the different people or organizations that your company wants to reach and serve.

No business can survive without customers, to better connect with customers it is useful to divide the group of customers into different target groups.

A customer segment can consist of demographic characteristics:

Geographical characteristics:

But also from other types of characteristics:

  • Digital intelligence
  • Mileage awareness

Beyond the customer segment, it is also useful to consider what type of market you want to enter:

  • New market ( blue ocean )
  • Existing market ( red ocean )
  • New segment in an existing market (niche)

2. Value proposition

A company must solve a problem with a clear value proposition.

The value proposition block describes how a product creates value for a specific customer segment, or in other words shows the benefits your company delivers to the customer.

The value proposition is the reason why customers choose one company over another.

There are basically 11 types of value propositions you can offer:

  • Newness : something that is not possible at the moment. You create a market and push the boundaries of what is currently possible.
  • Performance : you are going to do something better or faster than the existing competition.
  • Customization : personalizing an experience.
  • Getting the job done : you focus on a sub-activity of the customer and you take this completely out of their hands.
  • Design : if you respond to the form or functionality of your product, we talk about the design.
  • Price : if you play on price then you focus on the segment in a market that is not willing to pay extra to your competitors. It is important that the market is large enough.
  • Brand/status : if people want to show that they are wearing your brand, you play on brand and status.
  • Cost reduction : you save the customer costs.
  • Risk reduction : You reduce the risk of something for the customer.
  • Accessibility : you provide access to something a customer previously had little to no access to.
  • Convenience/usability : the convenience for a user or customer.

3. Channels

Value propositions are delivered using communication, distribution and sales channels.

The channels describe the way a company communicates with the customers and how it actually delivers the value proposition. Thus, there are 3 types of channels involved:

  • Communication channels
  • Distribution channels
  • Sales channels

So each channel offers one or more touchpoints, you could map these in the way below:

IKEA Customer Journey Touchpoints

Here, of course, you can also differentiate between direct (owned) and indirect (partner) channels.

Tip : use the Pirate Funnel Canvas to map out the customer journey figures.

4. Customer Relationships

An organization must establish and maintain relationships with each customer segment.

This section describes the type of relationship you have with the customer, these can range from personal to automated.

The motivation for having a relationship with a (potential) customer can be as follows:

  • Customer acquisition
  • Customer retention
  • Selling more (up-selling)

There are several types of relationships you can have with the customer:

  • Personal assistant : the customer can have contact with a person, this can be through call centers, email or perhaps on location.
  • Own personal assistant : one or more people in your company are assigned to a specific customer. This is the most in-depth customer relationship you can have and usually involves a longer period of time.
  • Self-service : ensuring that customers can help themselves.
  • Automated service : automated processes that ensure the customer is helped.
  • Community : an online community that shares knowledge and helps others along the way can also be a form of service.
  • Co-creation : helping users to strengthen the relationship by thinking or collaborating on a product or service.

5. Revenue stream

A revenue stream occurs when the value proposition is successfully delivered to the customer.

The revenue stream represents the money a company makes from a customer segment. In this, it is important to ensure that the revenue stream closely matches the value the customer receives.

There are quite a few revenue models and pricing strategies you can choose, but these are the most common:

  • Hourly rate : you get paid by the hour.
  • Transaction model : you get paid per sale.
  • Subscription model : you get paid on a periodic basis each time.
  • Advertising model : you make money selling advertising space.
  • Rental model : you make money from renting out something.
  • Consumption model : you make money from the amount a user consumes.
  • Mediation model : you make money from referring users or matching supply and demand.
  • Production model : you produce something on behalf of a party.
  • Donation model : you make money from donations.
  • Freemium model : you offer a free version first and then make money from the paid version.

6. Core Resources

The key resources needed to keep the business running.

The resources you need to create and deliver your value proposition, reach a market, maintain customer relationships and make money are your core resources. These resources can be:

  • Intellectual
  • Or be rented/purchased from external partners

7. Core Activities

The main activities that the company engages in.

The most important tasks a company does to make the business model work are core activities. Core activities can consist of 3 different categories:

  • Manufacturing : designing making and delivering a product in specific quantities, is often used by manufacturing companies.
  • Problem solving : solutions to specific customer problems, is often used by service related companies.
  • Platform/network : networks, matchmakers, software and even brands can serve as a platform. For example, VISA is a platform for businesses, customers and banks.

8. Key Partners

Partners who provide key activities or resources.

The network of suppliers and partners that help realize your business model are your key partners.

It is important to have partners because they allow your company to optimize its business model, reduce risk, and help you get additional resources.

There are 4 types of partnerships:

  • Strategic partnership between non-competitors.
  • Coopetition , strategic partnership with a competitor.
  • Joint venture to attract new business.
  • Buyer-supplier to maintain reliable inventory.

There are three types of motivations you may have for entering into a partnership:

  • Optimization and economy of scale : a partnership to reduce costs, because a company simply cannot produce all the resources itself.
  • Reduction of risk and uncertainty : to reduce risk in a highly competitive market.
  • Acquisition of specific resources and activities : attract more opportunities to you by partnering with different companies, this may be in terms of knowledge, licenses or access to customers.

9. Cost Structure

Different components in the Business Model Canvas will create costs.

All costs in a business model that are necessary to keep the business running fall into the cost structure.

There are two types of cost structures:

  • Cost-driven : business models that focus on reducing costs whenever possible. Often the cost-driven cost structure comes in combination with a value proposition where a company claims to be the cheapest, this may include a lot of automation and/or a lot of outsourcing.
  • Value-driven : these companies are less concerned with cost and focus on creating value. This cost structure is often used with premium value propositions and/or when a lot of personalization is involved.

A cost structure has 4 different characteristics:

  • Fixed costs : costs that are always the same regardless of the volume of products or services.
  • Variable costs : costs that are related to the volume in which products or services are delivered.
  • Economies of scale : cost advantages that a firm gets when it produces or purchases more volume.
  • Economies of scope : cost advantages a company gains from having a large scope of activities. For example, think of offering multiple products because you already have the marketing or distribution channels in place.

Business Model Canvas examples

Business Model Canvas Tesla

How to manage the Business Model Canvas

First, download the Business Model Canvas:

Business Model Canvas (BMC) Template

Goede keus! Check je mail voor de resources...

Make sure the company understands the value of the Business Model Canvas and establish a team to work with it.

Immerse yourself and your team in the market and the organisation so you have enough knowledge to fill in the Business Model Canvas.

Complete several Business Model Canvases and test your assumptions where possible.

Implement the Business Model Canvas you have chosen.

Continuously evaluate if your Business Model Canvas is up-to-date, adjust where possible and try to innovate in time.

Business Model Canvas innovation

Innovate in your Business Model Canvas in the following ways:

  • Unmet demand in a market : find a market in which you can fulfill an unmet demand.
  • Bring something new to the market : bring a new technology, product or service to the market or leverage existing intellectual property.
  • Improve the market : improve or disrupt an existing market.
  • Create a market : create a new market.

There are several challenges involved here:

  • Finding the right model.
  • Testing the model before launching on a large scale.
  • Getting the market to adopt the new model.
  • Continuously adjusting the model in response to feedback from the market.
  • Dealing with uncertainty.

In this you can distinguish between:

The exploit’s part it’s biggest risk is not innovating in time and in the explore part uncertainty is the biggest risk. In addition, it is important to pursue the right culture, think for example of ‘The Culture Map’ .

And now you…

Now I’m curious, how far along are you with your business?

Are you at the point of innovating the Business Model Canvas (BMC) or have you yet to draft your first BMC?

Let me know in a comment.

P.S. if you would like additional help let me know at [email protected]

Frequently Asked Questions

The Business Model Canvas describes in concrete terms how an organisation creates value, delivers it and how it makes money from it.

You use the Business Model Canvas to map out your entire business, it is also easier to talk to stakeholders about your business if you can present it on 1 a4’s.

Core activities are the activities that keep your business running.

You can describe a Business Model in a Business Model Canvas, using 9 blocks to map out your complete business.

The BMC helps companies to understand their business, using 9 blocks you have concrete insight in the most important parts in your business. The BMC helps stakeholders to understand your business in an easy way.

You start with the customer segments, then you move to the value proposition, then you move to the channels, customer relationships, revenue stream, core resources, core activities, key partners, and conclude at the cost structure.

the business model canvas template

I try to help business surpass their growth ceiling with my content.

Sounds interesting?

Let’s connect on LinkedIn!

Business Model Canvas | Business Strategy | Market Research | Marketing and Sales | Pricing Strategy | Product-market Fit | Revenue Models | TAM SAM SOM Model | Treacy and Wiersema | Value Proposition Canvas

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Gust’s Must-Reads 👇🏼

  • TAM SAM SOM
  • Value Proposition
  • Brainstorming
  • Decision Making Unit
  • Product-Market Fit
  • North Star Metric
  • Market Research
  • Customer Development
  • Growth Hacking
  • Brand Identity
  • Customer Journey
  • Account-Based Marketing

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21+ business model canvas (bmc) templates – pdf, doc, ppt.

To build up new strategies for your company, free PSD format  business model canvas templates are very helpful. They help the businessmen to analyze and judge the current models that are running in the small business. You can outline key activities and key resources like healthcare, cost structure, HR, supply chain channels, coaching, marketplace value propositions, and other components. These blank templates can be easily downloaded and designed for MS Word format  so that the models are done for free.

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  3. 50 Amazing Business Model Canvas Templates ᐅ TemplateLab

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VIDEO

  1. Business Model Canvas [BMC] ตัวช่วยสรุปแผนธุรกิจไว้ในหน้าเดียว

  2. How Can I Use the Business Model Canvas for Startup Success?

  3. Business model canvas/ اهم جوانب المشروع الي لازم تدرسها

  4. BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS

  5. Business Model Canvas video

  6. Mengungkap Rahasia Kesuksesan Bisnis: Mengenal Business Model Canvas

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  1. Business Model Canvas

    Download 1 min read topics Business Model Canvas Business Models The Business Model Canvas is a strategic management and entrepreneurial tool. It allows you to describe, design, challenge, invent, and pivot your business model.

  2. Create a Business Model Canvas Online

    It's easy with free templates from Canva's online business model canvas creator. You can brainstorm with your team and personalize it with fun design elements and interesting fonts and tools. More than 20 professional types of graphs to choose from Professionally designed templates to fast-track your workflow

  3. Business Model Canvas Template

    1. Key partners List the key partnerships your business leverages or relies upon for success. Include the resources or value your business gets from these partnerships. 2. Key activities Summarize the key activities that allow your business to provide services and deliver on your value proposition. 3. Key resources

  4. Business Model Canvas Template in Word (DOCX)

    Download the editable Business Model Canvas (BMC) template in Word (DOCX) from Neos Chronos, a service that offers business modelling tools, resources and templates for entrepreneurs and startups. The BMC is a tool to help you create and evolve your business model with lean methods.

  5. Business Model Canvas Template

    The business model canvas template clearly identifies the key elements that make up a business. Additionally, it simplifies a business plan into a condensed form. In this way, the business model canvas template acts like an executive summary for the business plan.

  6. 10 Free Business Model Canvas Templates in Word and ClickUp

    Business model canvas templates are pre-built and customizable tools to outline and visualize your business model on a single page. These documents quickly define your company's unique value proposition, target audience, revenue, cost, resources, key partnerships, and more.

  7. Free Business Model Canvas Templates

    Business Model Canvas Template This template is designed to analyze and review current business models or to plan and document a strategy for new business models. Use this template to document the key details of your business plan, including key partners and activities, value proposition, and strategic channels.

  8. Make a Business Model Canvas (How-tos, Examples, Tips)

    Making a business model canvas: How-tos, templates, and tips Discover how to make your business idea more competitive and viable with a solid business model. Explore free templates, best practices, and tips to create a business model canvas online from Canva. Make a business model canvas Jump to: Overview How-to Templates Best Practices FAQ

  9. Business Model Canvas: The Definitive Guide and Examples

    Before 2004, entrepreneurs suffered from prolonged and cumbersome business plans. Alexander Osterwalder facilitated the creation of a business model by introducing the Business Model Canvas (BMC).. By definition, it's a visual template that illustrates various objects of a business model.Osterwalder's original canvas includes nine elements, which we will have explained below in the article.

  10. Business Model Canvas Example

    Start by working within our free business model canvas template. Think big-picture first, then you can dive into the nitty-gritty as you flesh out key activities, main revenue streams, key resources, and more. Begin by homing in on what's most important: what sets you apart and who you serve. Brainstorm around user personas, customer pain ...

  11. Business Model Canvas: Explained with Examples

    Updated on: 12 December 2022 | 15 min read Exploring Business Model Canvas? Create one using a template Learn how to create a business model Key building blocks of the business model canvas Got a new business idea, but don't know how to put it to work? Want to improve your existing business model? Overwhelmed by writing your business plan?

  12. What is a business model canvas? Overview with template

    Overview with template Aniket Parihar Entrepreneur. Product Manager. Writer. I enjoy the process of building digital products that customers are willing to pay for. Table of contents What is a business model canvas? What are the 9 components of the business model canvas? Customer segments Value proposition Channels Customer relationships

  13. Business Model Canvas Template: Free ready to customize

    The business model canvas template makes sure to concisely gather all necessary information about your business plan in a way that is easy to share and understand. It covers its fundamental aspects and allows you to summarize them through illustrations and short descriptions. You can either use it as a guide when creating your business plan or ...

  14. Free customizable business model canvas templates

    Skip to start of list. 656 templates. Create a blank Business Model Whiteboard. Mood Board Whiteboard in Red Yellow Brainstorm Style. Whiteboard by Canva Creative Studio. Project Plan Planning Whiteboard in Blue Purple Modern Professional Style. Whiteboard by Canva Creative Studio.

  15. Free download Business model canvas

    1. Customer segments. List your most important (future) segments. Look for the segments that provide the most revenue. 2. Value proposition. W hat are your products and services? What is the job you get done for your customer? 3. Revenue streams. List your top three revenue streams. If you do things for free, add them here too. 4.

  16. Business Model Canvas

    The Business Model Canvas is a strategic management template used for developing new business models and documenting existing ones.

  17. Create a new Business Model Canvas

    The Business Model Canvas reflects systematically on your business model, so you can focus on your business model segment by segment. This also means you can start with a brain dump, filling out the segments the spring to your mind first and then work on the empty segments to close the gaps.

  18. Business Model Canvas (BMC) Template, Examples & Full Guide PPT

    Business Model Canvas Template The History and Building Blocks of the Business Model Canvas (1) Key Resources (2) Key Activities (3) Key Partners (4) Cost Structure (5) Distribution Channels (6) Customer Relationships (7) Customer Segments (8) Revenue Streams (9) Value Proposition UNITE-Value_Proposition_Canvas

  19. Create Business Model Canvas Templates Online

    Create Business Model Canvas Templates Online If you want to start a new business, use these free editable Business Model Canvas templates from Edit.org to state the basic aspects of your project. Create my business canvas See the designs Did you have a great idea or you are planning on starting a new company?

  20. Business Model Canvas (BMC)

    Business Model Canvas is a strategic management and lean startup template for developing new or documenting existing business models. It is a visual chart with elements describing a firm's or product's value proposition, infrastructure, customers, and finances It assists firms in aligning their activities by illustrating potential trade-offs.

  21. Business Model Canvas [+ Template]: How-to & Examples

    The business model describes in concrete terms how an organization creates value, delivers it and how it makes money from this. There are 9 blocks that the Business Model Canvas consists of: Business Model Canvas. Here, the left part of the canvas focuses on efficiency and the right part on value: Business Model Canvas Explained.

  22. 21+ Business Model Canvas (BMC) Templates

    Free Online Business Model Canvas Template. Details. File Format. PDF; Size: 4.3 MB Download Now. If you want ideas on the important points to e discussed in your business model, this simple template would be helpful with its coverage on all the mandatory points- the pictorial illustrations carry the fun quotient.

  23. Business Sakhi on Instagram: "Are you a woman dreaming of starting your

    At Business Sa..." Business Sakhi on Instagram: "Are you a woman dreaming of starting your own business, but unsure where to begin? At Business Sakhi, we believe हर घर एक Entrepreneur - A Women Entrepreneur!