Business Model Canvas

Clearly map out your business idea

Business Model Canvas

Clearly map out your business idea

Have a great idea for starting a business, but don't really know how to map it out?
 This is where the Business Model Canvas comes into its own. It helps you define your idea more clearly and forms the perfect basis for developing your business plan.

What is the Business Model Canvas?

The Business Model Canvas is a visual chart for strategically mapping out your business model. Using nine building blocks, you describe your organisation, your target group, your customers, your suppliers and your earnings model.

This business model comprises four components:

  • Your customers (right side)
  • Your value proposition (middle)
  • Your infrastructure (left side)
  • Your finances (bottom)

The Business Model Canvas is a visual chart for strategically mapping out your business model. Using nine building blocks, you describe your organisation, your target group, your customers, your suppliers and your earnings model.

This business model comprises four components:

  • Your customers (right side)
  • Your value proposition (middle)
  • Your infrastructure (left side)
  • Your finances (bottom)

The Business Model Canvas is a visual chart for strategically mapping out your business model. Using nine building blocks, you describe your organisation, your target group, your customers, your suppliers and your earnings model.

This business model comprises four components:

  • Your customers (right side)
  • Your value proposition (middle)
  • Your infrastructure (left side)
  • Your finances (bottom)

The nine building blocks of the Business Model Canvas

The Business Model Canvas enables you to map out the foundations of your business on the basis of nine components, giving you a better view of your resources and your strengths and weaknesses.

What problem are you solving or which needs are you satisfying? Why should someone choose your company and not a competitor’s?

Who are your customers? Your answer to this question determines your target group. Are you targeting private individuals or professionals? What is the gender, age and purchasing power of your target group?

How do you communicate with your customers? Which channels do you use to deliver your product or service to your customers? List your communication, sales and distribution channels.

For example, bricks-and-mortar shops, a web store, social media, human intermediaries, etc. Think about your house style as well.

How do you attract customers and how do you retain them? How do you raise awareness of your offering? Each customer segment requires a different approach.

What are your revenue streams? Indicate how much turnover each product or service generates. Also think about how you want to achieve that turnover. How many customers do you need to achieve it? What price are you charging?

What do you need to run your business? Is it only physical resources, such as a computer, an office or machinery? Or do you need people to work for you, as well? Money is also a resource.

In this section, you list all the activities that make your business model work (for example, production, marketing and sales).

In this section, you describe which suppliers and partners are essential for making your business a success. For example, an accountant, a communications agency, employees, etc. Indicate why you want to work with them.

In this section, you list all the costs that are necessary to run your business (include both fixed and variable costs).

Get started

When you’re ready to create your own Business Model Canvas, download the template below (Dutch version only). You’ll also see useful tips with additional information. Start by describing everything as precisely as possible and link the building blocks to each other.

Download a free example (Dutch)

Take a critical look at your existing business

If you’ve been running your business for a while, use the Business Model Canvas to take a fresh critical look at it. This will ensure you continue to respond to the needs of the market and always stay one step ahead of your competitors.

 

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