Skills
skills/melodic-software/claude-code-plugins/business-model-canvas

business-model-canvas

SKILL.md

Business Model Canvas

Design and analyze business models using Osterwalder's Business Model Canvas and Lean Canvas. Creates structured 9-block canvases for business model innovation, startup validation, and strategic planning.

What is a Business Model Canvas?

A Business Model Canvas (BMC) is a strategic management template for developing new or documenting existing business models. It's a visual chart describing a firm's value proposition, infrastructure, customers, and finances.

Aspect Business Model Canvas Lean Canvas
Creator Alexander Osterwalder Ash Maurya
Focus Established businesses Startups, early-stage
Emphasis Value creation & delivery Problem-solution fit
Key Difference Key Partners, Key Resources Problem, Solution, Unfair Advantage

The 9 Building Blocks

Business Model Canvas Blocks

┌─────────────────┬─────────────────┬─────────────────┬─────────────────┬─────────────────┐
│ Key Partners    │ Key Activities  │ Value           │ Customer        │ Customer        │
│                 │                 │ Propositions    │ Relationships   │ Segments        │
│ Who helps us?   │ What do we do?  │                 │                 │                 │
│                 │                 │ What value do   │ How do we       │ Who do we       │
│                 ├─────────────────┤ we deliver?     │ interact?       │ serve?          │
│                 │ Key Resources   │                 │                 │                 │
│                 │                 │                 ├─────────────────┤                 │
│                 │ What do we      │                 │ Channels        │                 │
│                 │ need?           │                 │                 │                 │
│                 │                 │                 │ How do we       │                 │
│                 │                 │                 │ reach them?     │                 │
├─────────────────┴─────────────────┴─────────────────┴─────────────────┴─────────────────┤
│ Cost Structure                                      │ Revenue Streams                   │
│ What does it cost?                                  │ How do we earn?                   │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────────────┘

Block Definitions

Block Question Examples
Customer Segments Who are our most important customers? Mass market, Niche, Segmented, Diversified
Value Propositions What value do we deliver? What problems do we solve? Newness, Performance, Customization, Price
Channels How do we reach and deliver to customers? Direct, Indirect, Own, Partner
Customer Relationships How do we interact with each segment? Personal, Automated, Self-service, Communities
Revenue Streams How does each segment pay? Asset sale, Subscription, Licensing, Advertising
Key Resources What do we need to deliver our value proposition? Physical, Intellectual, Human, Financial
Key Activities What must we do well? Production, Problem Solving, Platform/Network
Key Partnerships Who helps us? Strategic alliances, Suppliers, Joint ventures
Cost Structure What are our major costs? Fixed, Variable, Economies of scale/scope

Workflow

Phase 1: Preparation

Step 1: Define Context

## Canvas Context

**Organization:** [Company / Product / Initiative]
**Purpose:** [New business / Innovation / Documentation / Pivot]
**Scope:** [Entire business / Product line / Service]
**Date:** [ISO date]
**Facilitator:** canvas-facilitator

Step 2: Gather Inputs

Before filling the canvas:

  • Existing business plans, strategy documents
  • Customer research, personas
  • Competitive analysis
  • Financial data (if documenting existing model)

Phase 2: Fill the Canvas (Right to Left)

Start with Customer Segments (demand side), then move to Value Proposition and infrastructure (supply side).

Step 1: Customer Segments

## Customer Segments

| Segment | Description | Size | Priority |
|---------|-------------|------|----------|
| [Name] | [Who are they? Demographics, needs] | [Market size] | Primary/Secondary |

**Questions to answer:**
- For whom are we creating value?
- Who are our most important customers?
- What are their jobs-to-be-done?
Segment Types
Type Description Example
Mass Market Large group, similar needs Consumer electronics
Niche Market Specialized, specific needs Luxury goods
Segmented Distinct segments, related needs Banks (retail vs wealth)
Diversified Unrelated segments Amazon (retail + AWS)
Multi-sided Interdependent segments Platforms (users + advertisers)

Step 2: Value Propositions

## Value Propositions

| Segment | Value Proposition | Type | Differentiation |
|---------|-------------------|------|-----------------|
| [Segment] | [What value delivered?] | [Type] | [Why us over competitors?] |

**Questions to answer:**
- What value do we deliver to each segment?
- Which customer problems are we solving?
- What bundles of products/services do we offer?
Value Proposition Types
Type Description
Newness New, previously unavailable
Performance Better performance
Customization Tailored to needs
Getting the Job Done Helps complete a task
Design Superior design
Brand/Status Status or brand value
Price Lower price
Cost Reduction Reduces customer costs
Risk Reduction Reduces customer risks
Accessibility Makes available to new users
Convenience Easier to use

Step 3: Channels

## Channels

| Phase | Channel | Type | Effectiveness |
|-------|---------|------|---------------|
| Awareness | [How do customers learn about us?] | Own/Partner | High/Med/Low |
| Evaluation | [How do they evaluate?] | Own/Partner | High/Med/Low |
| Purchase | [How do they buy?] | Own/Partner | High/Med/Low |
| Delivery | [How do we deliver?] | Own/Partner | High/Med/Low |
| After Sales | [How do we support?] | Own/Partner | High/Med/Low |

Step 4: Customer Relationships

## Customer Relationships

| Segment | Relationship Type | Purpose | Cost |
|---------|-------------------|---------|------|
| [Segment] | [Type] | Acquisition/Retention/Upselling | High/Med/Low |
Relationship Types
Type Description
Personal Assistance Human interaction
Dedicated Personal Specific rep assigned
Self-Service No direct relationship
Automated Services Automated personalization
Communities User communities
Co-creation Customers help create value

Step 5: Revenue Streams

## Revenue Streams

| Segment | Revenue Type | Pricing Model | % of Revenue |
|---------|--------------|---------------|--------------|
| [Segment] | [Type] | Fixed/Dynamic | [Percentage] |
Revenue Types
Type Description Pricing
Asset Sale Selling ownership rights List price, Volume, Negotiation
Usage Fee Pay per use Per unit, Tiered
Subscription Recurring payment Monthly, Annual
Lending/Renting Temporary access Time-based
Licensing Permission to use IP Per license, Royalty
Brokerage Intermediation fee Commission
Advertising Display ads CPM, CPC, CPA

Step 6: Key Resources

## Key Resources

| Resource | Category | Source | Strategic Importance |
|----------|----------|--------|---------------------|
| [Resource] | Physical/IP/Human/Financial | Own/Lease/Partner | Critical/Important/Supporting |

Step 7: Key Activities

## Key Activities

| Activity | Category | Importance | Insource/Outsource |
|----------|----------|------------|-------------------|
| [Activity] | Production/Problem Solving/Platform | Critical/Important | Insource/Outsource |

Step 8: Key Partnerships

## Key Partnerships

| Partner | Type | Motivation | Resources Provided |
|---------|------|------------|-------------------|
| [Partner] | Strategic Alliance/Coopetition/JV/Supplier | Optimization/Risk/Acquisition | [What they provide] |
Partnership Motivations
  • Optimization and Economy of Scale - Reduce costs
  • Reduction of Risk and Uncertainty - Share risk
  • Acquisition of Resources and Activities - Gain capabilities

Step 9: Cost Structure

## Cost Structure

| Cost Category | Type | Driver | % of Total |
|---------------|------|--------|------------|
| [Cost] | Fixed/Variable | [What drives it] | [Percentage] |

**Cost Focus:** ☐ Cost-Driven ☐ Value-Driven

Phase 3: Analysis and Validation

Step 1: Check Coherence

Check Question Pass?
Value-Customer Fit Does value proposition address segment needs? ☐
Channel-Segment Fit Do channels reach segments effectively? ☐
Revenue-Cost Balance Do revenues exceed costs? ☐
Resource-Activity Alignment Do resources support key activities? ☐
Partnership Logic Do partnerships fill capability gaps? ☐

Step 2: Identify Risks

## Business Model Risks

| Block | Risk | Likelihood | Impact | Mitigation |
|-------|------|------------|--------|------------|
| [Block] | [Risk description] | H/M/L | H/M/L | [Action] |

Lean Canvas (Alternative)

For startups and early-stage ventures, use Lean Canvas which replaces some blocks:

BMC Block Lean Canvas Block Why the Change
Key Partners Problem Focus on problem validation
Key Activities Solution Focus on solution validation
Key Resources Key Metrics Measure what matters
Customer Relationships Unfair Advantage Competitive moat

Lean Canvas Template

## Lean Canvas: [Product/Startup]

**Date:** [ISO date]
**Iteration:** [1, 2, 3...]

### Problem (Top 3)
1. [Most critical problem]
2. [Second problem]
3. [Third problem]

**Existing Alternatives:** [How do customers solve this today?]

### Customer Segments
**Early Adopters:** [Who will use first?]

### Unique Value Proposition
**Single, clear message:** [One sentence that explains why you're different and worth attention]

**High-Level Concept:** [X for Y analogy, e.g., "Uber for dog walking"]

### Solution (Top 3 Features)
1. [Feature addressing Problem 1]
2. [Feature addressing Problem 2]
3. [Feature addressing Problem 3]

### Channels
[Path to customers - how will you reach early adopters?]

### Revenue Streams
[Revenue model, pricing, lifetime value]

### Cost Structure
[Customer acquisition costs, hosting, people, etc.]

### Key Metrics
[The numbers that tell you how you're doing]

### Unfair Advantage
[Something that cannot easily be copied or bought]

Output Formats

Narrative Summary

## Business Model Summary: [Organization]

**Date:** [ISO date]
**Analyst:** canvas-analyst
**Type:** Business Model Canvas / Lean Canvas

### Executive Summary
[2-3 sentence summary of the business model]

### Customer Focus
- **Primary Segment:** [Description]
- **Value Delivered:** [Core value proposition]
- **Channels:** [Primary channels]

### Value Creation
- **Key Activities:** [Core activities]
- **Key Resources:** [Critical resources]
- **Key Partners:** [Strategic partners]

### Financial Model
- **Revenue Model:** [How money is made]
- **Cost Structure:** [Major cost drivers]
- **Unit Economics:** [Key metrics]

### Risks and Opportunities
| Type | Description | Priority |
|------|-------------|----------|
| Risk | [Top risk] | High |
| Opportunity | [Top opportunity] | High |

### Recommendations
1. [Priority recommendation]
2. [Secondary recommendation]

Structured Data (YAML)

business_model_canvas:
  version: "1.0"
  date: "2025-01-15"
  organization: "Acme Corp"
  analyst: "canvas-analyst"
  type: "business_model_canvas"  # or "lean_canvas"

  customer_segments:
    - name: "SMB Owners"
      description: "Small business owners seeking efficiency"
      size: "5M in target market"
      priority: primary
      jobs_to_be_done:
        - "Manage invoicing"
        - "Track expenses"

  value_propositions:
    - segment: "SMB Owners"
      proposition: "Automated bookkeeping that saves 10 hours/week"
      type: convenience
      differentiation: "AI-powered categorization"

  channels:
    - phase: awareness
      channel: "Content marketing"
      type: own
      effectiveness: high
    - phase: purchase
      channel: "Website"
      type: own
      effectiveness: high

  customer_relationships:
    - segment: "SMB Owners"
      type: self_service
      purpose: retention
      cost: low

  revenue_streams:
    - segment: "SMB Owners"
      type: subscription
      pricing: "fixed"
      amount: "$29/month"
      percentage: 85

  key_resources:
    - name: "AI/ML Platform"
      category: intellectual
      source: own
      importance: critical

  key_activities:
    - activity: "Platform development"
      category: production
      importance: critical
      insource: true

  key_partnerships:
    - partner: "Accounting Firms"
      type: strategic_alliance
      motivation: acquisition
      provides: "Referrals, expertise"

  cost_structure:
    focus: value_driven
    costs:
      - category: "Engineering"
        type: fixed
        percentage: 40
      - category: "Cloud hosting"
        type: variable
        percentage: 15

  validation:
    value_customer_fit: true
    channel_segment_fit: true
    revenue_cost_balance: true

Mermaid Diagram

flowchart TB
    subgraph Partners["Key Partners"]
        P1[Partner 1]
        P2[Partner 2]
    end

    subgraph Activities["Key Activities"]
        A1[Activity 1]
        A2[Activity 2]
    end

    subgraph Resources["Key Resources"]
        R1[Resource 1]
        R2[Resource 2]
    end

    subgraph VP["Value Propositions"]
        V1[Value 1]
        V2[Value 2]
    end

    subgraph CR["Customer Relationships"]
        CR1[Relationship 1]
    end

    subgraph CH["Channels"]
        CH1[Channel 1]
        CH2[Channel 2]
    end

    subgraph CS["Customer Segments"]
        CS1[Segment 1]
        CS2[Segment 2]
    end

    Partners --> Activities
    Resources --> VP
    Activities --> VP
    VP --> CR
    VP --> CH
    CR --> CS
    CH --> CS

    subgraph Costs["Cost Structure"]
        C1[Cost 1]
        C2[Cost 2]
    end

    subgraph Revenue["Revenue Streams"]
        Rev1[Revenue 1]
        Rev2[Revenue 2]
    end

When to Use

Scenario Use Business Model Canvas?
New venture planning Yes - full canvas
Startup validation Yes - Lean Canvas preferred
Business model innovation Yes - explore alternatives
Strategic planning Yes - document current state
M&A analysis Yes - compare models
Product line analysis Partial - focused canvas

Integration

Upstream

  • stakeholder-analysis - Identify customer segments
  • swot-pestle-analysis - Environmental context
  • journey-mapping - Customer experience insights

Downstream

  • Requirements - Feature requirements from value propositions
  • Financial modeling - Revenue and cost projections
  • Roadmaps - Initiative prioritization

Related Skills

  • stakeholder-analysis - Customer and partner analysis
  • swot-pestle-analysis - Strategic context
  • value-stream-mapping - Operational efficiency
  • capability-mapping - Organizational capabilities
  • decision-analysis - Business model decisions

Interactive Workflow

Arguments

  • <business-description>: Description of the business, startup, or initiative to model

  • --mode: Canvas type (default: bmc)

    • bmc: Full Business Model Canvas (~8K tokens)
    • lean: Lean Canvas for startups (~6K tokens)
    • quick: Rapid single-pass canvas (~3K tokens)

  • --output: Output format (default: both)

    • yaml: Structured YAML for downstream processing
    • mermaid: Mermaid diagram visualization
    • both: Both formats

  • --dir: Output directory (default: docs/analysis/)

Step 1: Parse Arguments

Extract business description, mode, and output format from arguments.

If no description provided, ask the user: "What business, product, or initiative would you like to create a canvas for?"

Default mode is bmc. Default output is both.

Step 2: Load Business Model Canvas Skill

Invoke the business-analysis:business-model-canvas skill to access:

  • 9-block canvas structure
  • Block definitions and examples
  • Value proposition types
  • Revenue model patterns
  • Lean Canvas adaptations

Step 3: Execute Based on Mode

BMC Mode (Full Business Model Canvas)

Work through all 9 blocks interactively (right-to-left order):

Demand Side (Start Here):

  1. Customer Segments: Who are the most important customers?

    • Segment types: Mass market, Niche, Segmented, Diversified, Multi-sided

  2. Value Propositions: What value do we deliver to each segment?

    • Value types: Newness, Performance, Customization, Price, Convenience

  3. Channels: How do we reach and deliver to customers?

    • Phases: Awareness, Evaluation, Purchase, Delivery, After-sales

  4. Customer Relationships: How do we interact with each segment?

    • Types: Personal, Dedicated, Self-service, Automated, Communities

  5. Revenue Streams: How does each segment pay?

    • Models: Asset sale, Usage fee, Subscription, Licensing, Advertising

Supply Side:

  1. Key Resources: What do we need to deliver value?

    • Types: Physical, Intellectual, Human, Financial

  2. Key Activities: What must we do well?

    • Types: Production, Problem Solving, Platform/Network

  3. Key Partnerships: Who helps us?

    • Types: Strategic alliances, Coopetition, Joint ventures, Suppliers

  4. Cost Structure: What are major costs?

    • Focus: Cost-driven vs Value-driven

After filling all blocks, validate coherence:

  • Does value proposition address segment needs?
  • Do channels reach segments effectively?
  • Do revenues exceed costs?

Lean Mode (Startup Canvas)

Adapted blocks for early-stage ventures:

  1. Problem (replaces Key Partners): Top 3 problems to solve
  2. Solution (replaces Key Activities): Top 3 features
  3. Key Metrics (replaces Key Resources): Numbers that matter
  4. Unfair Advantage (replaces Customer Relationships): Cannot be copied

Shared blocks: Customer Segments, Value Proposition, Channels, Revenue Streams, Cost Structure

Focus on problem-solution fit and early adopters.

Quick Mode (Rapid Fill)

Single-pass canvas completion:

  1. Start with value proposition and customer segment
  2. Infer other blocks from context
  3. Skip detailed breakdowns
  4. Generate minimal viable canvas
  5. Mark assumptions for later validation

Step 4: Generate Output Artifacts

YAML Output

business_model_canvas:
  version: "1.0"
  organization: "[Business Name]"
  date: "[ISO Date]"
  type: "business_model_canvas"  # or "lean_canvas"
  analyst: "canvas-facilitator"

  customer_segments:
    - name: "[Segment Name]"
      description: "[Who are they?]"
      size: "[Market size estimate]"
      priority: primary  # or secondary

  value_propositions:
    - segment: "[Segment Name]"
      proposition: "[Value delivered]"
      type: convenience  # newness, performance, customization, price, etc.
      differentiation: "[Why us?]"

  channels:
    - phase: awareness
      channel: "[Channel name]"
      type: own  # or partner
      effectiveness: high

  customer_relationships:
    - segment: "[Segment Name]"
      type: self_service
      purpose: retention  # acquisition, retention, upselling

  revenue_streams:
    - segment: "[Segment Name]"
      type: subscription
      pricing: fixed  # or dynamic
      percentage: 80

  key_resources:
    - name: "[Resource]"
      category: intellectual  # physical, intellectual, human, financial
      source: own
      importance: critical

  key_activities:
    - activity: "[Activity]"
      category: production  # production, problem_solving, platform
      importance: critical

  key_partnerships:
    - partner: "[Partner Name]"
      type: strategic_alliance
      motivation: acquisition  # optimization, risk_reduction, acquisition
      provides: "[What they provide]"

  cost_structure:
    focus: value_driven  # cost_driven or value_driven
    costs:
      - category: "[Cost category]"
        type: fixed  # fixed or variable
        percentage: 40

  validation:
    value_customer_fit: true
    channel_segment_fit: true
    revenue_cost_balance: true

Mermaid Output

flowchart TB
    subgraph Partners["Key Partners"]
        P1[Partner 1]
    end

    subgraph Activities["Key Activities"]
        A1[Activity 1]
    end

    subgraph Resources["Key Resources"]
        R1[Resource 1]
    end

    subgraph VP["Value Propositions"]
        V1[Value 1]
    end

    subgraph CR["Customer Relationships"]
        CR1[Relationship 1]
    end

    subgraph CH["Channels"]
        CH1[Channel 1]
    end

    subgraph CS["Customer Segments"]
        CS1[Segment 1]
    end

    Partners --> Activities
    Resources --> VP
    Activities --> VP
    VP --> CR
    VP --> CH
    CR --> CS
    CH --> CS

    subgraph Costs["Cost Structure"]
        C1[Cost 1]
    end

    subgraph Revenue["Revenue Streams"]
        Rev1[Revenue 1]
    end

Summary Report

## Business Model Canvas: [Organization]

**Date:** [ISO Date]
**Type:** Business Model Canvas / Lean Canvas

### Executive Summary

[2-3 sentence summary of the business model]

### Customer Focus

- **Primary Segment:** [Description]
- **Value Delivered:** [Core value proposition]
- **Channels:** [Primary channels]

### Value Creation

- **Key Activities:** [Core activities]
- **Key Resources:** [Critical resources]
- **Key Partners:** [Strategic partners]

### Financial Model

- **Revenue Model:** [How money is made]
- **Cost Structure:** [Major cost drivers]
- **Unit Economics:** [Key metrics]

### Risks and Assumptions

| Block | Assumption | Risk Level |
|-------|------------|------------|
| [Block] | [Assumption] | High/Med/Low |

### Recommendations

1. [Validate assumption X]
2. [Explore channel Y]
3. [Consider partnership Z]

Step 5: Save Results

Save outputs based on format flag:

YAML file:

  • docs/analysis/business-model-canvas.yaml

Mermaid diagram:

  • docs/analysis/business-model-canvas.md

Use --dir to specify a custom output directory.

Step 6: Suggest Follow-Up Actions

After completing canvas:

## Suggested Next Steps

1. **Strategic Context**: Use `/ba:swot-analysis` to understand environmental factors
2. **Value Stream**: Use `/ba:value-stream` to optimize value delivery
3. **Stakeholder Mapping**: Use `/ba:stakeholder-analyze` to identify key relationships
4. **Validation Planning**: Test riskiest assumptions with customers

Version History

  • v1.0.0 (2025-12-26): Initial release
Weekly Installs
15
Repository
melodic-softwar…-plugins
GitHub Stars
38
First Seen
Jan 24, 2026
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