The Business Model Canvas Explained

Startup entrepreneurs usually groan when we mention business planning.  If you are thinking of starting a business, then using the business model canvas strategy takes a lot of stress out of organizing your thoughts and will make writing your business plan a lot easier.  A business model canvas is shaping and evolving your business idea into what it will look like as a launched company.  It helps you sketch and map out your ideas.

All you need is a large whiteboard or sheet of paper and lots of post-it notes or a spreadsheet.  It’s like playing in the sandbox.   You get your entrepreneurial team together to brainstorm what your business will look like before you actually go to the bank for funding.  You can test this with your potential customers and then go back to your canvas if it doesn’t sound like a great idea.

The business model canvas strategy is the brainchild of Dr. Alexander Osterwalder of Switzerland and has been used by many consulting companies, colleges and entrepreneurs worldwide.  For those who love to read, Osterwalder has written a best selling book on the subject.

The basic idea is that businesses have 9 elements at their core, 5 are related to the customers and four are back office activities. All the blocks are inter-related.

Starting a New Business post COVID-19 Pandemic

In the spring 2020 if you are starting a new business, one of the major considerations is how can you deliver your service safely in this new business environment.  Although companies are slowly getting back to work, the new normal isn’t normal at all!   Many businesses will have an online element to leverage additional sales.  Selling online will be the next normal, just as meetings on line have become the next normal since the beginning of the pandemic.  Are you going to include an online strategy when you start your new business?   Read our recent blog for some easy ideas to launch a business online

And if you were thinking of starting a business before the Corona virus hit, you probably need to re-think your business model canvas relative to the kind of customers you will have (front end) and what kind of internal structure (back end) you will need to service your clients.  You may find you need to both widen your customer base and strengthen your back end structure to include an online presence and automation.   But we are getting ahead of ourselves here.  First we need to understand the mapping of the Business Model Canvas!

Business Model Canvas Video

This 2 minute video by Strategyzer explains how this business model works.

 

9 Blocks of the Business Model Canvas

Here’s what the 9 blocks look like.   The blocks in red are customer facing and the others are internal activities.

These 9 blocks are divided into:

5 Front Facing (related to Customer)

  • Customer Segments (types of customers)
  • Value Proposition (what makes you different from your competitors)
  • Channels (distribution, how the products get to the customers)
  • Customer Relationships (where are the connections to the customer)
  • Revenue Streams (where does the Company get it’s income from)

4 Back Facing (internal business workings)

  • Key Resources (people, manufacturing)
  • Key Activities (what does your Company do to produce the goods and/or services)
  • Key Partnerships (what other companies or people are key to your business)
  • Cost Structure (what makes up the costs of your products)

how to keep your small business alive during the pandemic

 A Business Model Canvas Example

Now let’s say we are thinking of starting a new company, a specialty take-out restaurant for paleo meals and gluten free snacks.  What are the 5 customer related activities for this type of Company?

Front Facing Customer Related Activities

Customer Segments:

  • Anyone in the local community who is gluten intolerant. Research showed that 1/3rd of Canadians are gluten intolerant.   Out of a population of around 900,000 residents, 300,000 people could possibly buy these products and are the target market of consumers.
  • Athletes who are in training at a cross-fit gym. Cross fit gyms often have a 30 day challenge, where they encourage participants to eat the paleo diet to see the effect on fitness and weight.
  • Firefighters, paramedics and police officers, all who work long shifts but want to keep in shape by eating healthy foods and snacks.

Value Proposition:

  • Convenience of buying meals to take to work or home
  • Foods are made from healthy ingredients and contain no refined sugars
  • Can have a 30 day meal plan developed around food preferences
  • Can pick up fresh or frozen meals/snacks
  • Learn how to cook this food in cooking classes

Channels:

  • Direct to the consumer (pick up from the restaurant directly)
  • Through cross fit gyms
  • Home/work delivery
  • Order from the web
  • Cooking classes

Customer Relationships:

  • Cross fit gyms and their members
  • Celiac Association
  • Individuals in the firefighter, police and paramedic community who work long shifts

Revenue Streams:

  • In store sales
  • Cooking classes
  • On line orders
  • Bookings from Gym members for paleo challenge diets

Back Facing – Internal Related Activities

Key Resources

  • Owners of similar paleo restaurant in nearby city
  • Pool of students for part time help
  • Branding with cross fit community
  • Social Media

Key Activities

  • Development of recipes
  • Marketing via social media, with focus on Facebook
  • Changing menu daily
  • Packaging meals for meal plans
  • Sourcing hormone free proteins and non-modified grains
  • Cooking and baking

Key Partnerships

  • Wholesale food suppliers
  • Cross Fit Gyms
  • Organic food suppliers
  • Other paleo takeouts in neighbouring communities
  • Other businesses in plaza (cross sell)

Cost Structure

  • Per portion costing
  • Sales and Marketing costs
  • Loyalty club acquisition costs
  • Packaging
  • Cooking Class Setup

NEXT STEP – TEST THE BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS

Test the model by talking to customers and refining it if it doesn’t look like it’s working.   This can be used for mapping any kind of business, even on-line models.  Once you have your business model canvas refined, next you can develop a business plan.  Although some in the business community believe a business plan is obsolete, if you are looking for financing, you still need a business plan. We have made that process easy to understand.   Head over to our blog for how to put one together. If you are looking for a complete business start up guide, we have a book for that!

For financing a business, if you have equity in your home, you can often find ways to re-finance to find the seed money you need to start a business without having to qualify for a bank loan.  If you are in Ontario, seek out an independent financial firm, such as Blackmore Levy Group to help you find that seed money.

BUT WHAT IF I DON’T EVEN HAVE A BUSINESS IDEA?

To be successful in a business, you must have a passion for your product or service because being an entrepreneur is hard work. What are you passionate about.  Write a list of all the things you like to do and are good at.  Could one of these be something you can turn into a business idea?  If you are still coming up blank, first stretch your idea muscle.  There is a great 5-step plan by Jonathan Chan of Foundr that explains how to find ideas.  Check it out here

Or if you need help with your business startup,contact us today for a 30 minute complimentary conversation via skype or Zoom or  Whatsapp.  Perpare your questions and we will answer them!

Check out our other posts that might help you.

5 Easy Ways to Get Your Business Online

3 Easy and Powerful Steps to Branding Your Company

How To Create a Successful Business Plan for 2020

7 Skills Women Need To Start A Business