Most companies own and operate many different businesses

Each business may have a different business model:

An automobile company offers a product as its core business model; but most companies also offer after-sales-service, another, the solutions business model, in its portfolio.

A marketing consulting company uses a service-work-for-hire business model; but many also sell the results of surveys as products, a different business model (the product business model) in the company’s overall portfolio.

 

An industry may accommodate a variety of business models

Most industrial contexts consist of companies that operate different business models.

In the Finance industry, companies enable customers to borrow and lend money through a product business model (bank) and a matchmaking business model (peer to peer).

In the Media industry, companies can engage in both a multi-sided business model (advertisement) and a product business model (films, games) in creating entertainment value.

 

The typical SME owner offers consulting services (work-for-hire) as well as a product. Software designers commonly offer both.

  • The typical SME owner offers consulting services (work-for-hire) as well as a product. Software designers commonly offer both.
  • A marketing consulting company uses a work-for-hire business model; but many also sell the results of surveys as products, a different business model in the company’s overall portfolio.
  • Apple has a portfolio: Apple tablet (product business model); Apple store (market); Free apps (platform business model with advertising support to pay for the offering).

Discover other Business Model pathways

Explore all four business model pathways for developing your business. Each describes an ideal model of how a business can engage with its customer, deliver value, and monetize the result.

All business models