business plan canvas template excel

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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.

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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 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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Business Model Canvas Template [FREE DOWNLOAD]

What is the business model canvas.

The Business Model Canvas is a tool used to visualise nine key elements of business planning.

The business model canvas template allows for a concise, visual overview of the core elements of the business plan to be created.

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Business model canvas guidance notes [free download], what are the nine elements of the business model canvas, 1. value proposition.

This refers to the collection of products and services that a business offers in order to meet the needs and desires of their customers.

Value can be expressed through design, price, performance, customisation, accessibility, technology or any other similar means.

2. Customer Segments

Customers can be segmented based on their different needs, attributes and interests.

3. Channels

Once a business has devised its value proposition and identified its customers it will need to establish the best channels in which to communicate.

4. Customer Relationships

Customer service, care and retention should be at the heart of every business.

5. Key Activities

By this stage the business will now have a fairly good idea of what it hopes to achieve.

6. Key Resources

What resources are required to turn the value proposition into a reality?

7. Key Partners

The term partners does not refer to business partnerships in the traditional sense but rather it refers to any external organisations who the business plans to partner with in order to deliver their value proposition.

8. Cost Structure

It is all very well having a solid value proposition but unless it can be delivered in a financially viable way it will simply not work.

9. Revenue Streams

Businesses need to understand where their income is going to come from and if it is likely to exceed the amount proposed in the cost structure.

What are the Benefits of using the Business Model Canvas?

The most important benefit of using the business model canvas when planning your business activities is that it provides a concise but comprehensive overview of the key topics.

When used in a group setting it may be useful to print out a large business model canvas and use Post It Notes to stick onto the plan.

This can be a great way to initially brainstorm business ideas and financial viability.

The business model canvas is a very popular and useful planning tool that can be used for any business: big, small, new or established.

Old Versions of the Business Model Canvas Still Available for Download...

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Free Business Plan Templates in Excel

By Joe Weller | September 27, 2020

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In this article, we’ve rounded up an extensive list of free business plan templates and samples for organizations of all sizes. You can download all of the plans in Excel. 

Included on this page, you’ll find business plan templates in Excel , business plan checklists in Excel , business plan financial templates in Excel , and more.

Business Plan Templates in Excel

These Excel business plan templates are designed to guide you through each step of a well-rounded strategy that supports your marketing, sales, financial, and operational goals.

Business Plan Template in Excel

This Excel business plan template has all the traditional components of a standard business plan, with each section divided into tabs. This template includes space to provide the executive summary, target audience characteristics, product or service offering details, marketing strategies, and more. The plan also offers built-in formulas to complete calculations for sales forecasting, financial statements, and key business ratios.

Download Business Plan Template

Excel | Smartsheet

One-Page Business Plan in Excel

To check the feasibility of your business concept, use this single-page business plan template. The template allows you to jot down the core details related to your idea. This template also includes room for you to provide concise information about what you do, how you do it, why you do it, who your idea serves, your competitive advantage, your marketing strategies, and your success factors. At the bottom of this one-page plan, you’ll find a table to conduct a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis. Find more downloadable single-page plans and examples at “ One-Page Business Plan Templates with a Quick How-To Guide .”

Download One-Page Business Plan

Excel | Word | PDF | Smartsheet

Sample 30-60-90-Day Business Plan for Startup in Excel

This 90-day business plan is designed for startup companies to develop a 90-day action plan. This template gives you room to outline the following: main goals and deliverables for each 30-day increment; key business activities; task ownership; and deadlines. This template also includes a built-in Gantt chart that adjusts as you enter dates. Visit “ 30-60-90-Day Business Plan Templates and Samples ” to download more free plans.

Download 30-60-90-Day Business Plan for Startup

For more free business plans in a wider variety of formats, visit “ Simple Business Plan Templates .”

Business Plan Checklists in Excel

These business plan checklists are useful for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and business owners who want to organize and track the progress of key business activities.

Business Planning Checklist with Timeline in Excel

Use this checklist to keep your business planning efforts on track. This template enables you to add tasks according to each phase of your plan, assign an owner to each task, and enter the respective start and end dates. The checklist also enables you to create and color-code a visual timeline when you highlight the start and end dates for each task.

Download Business Planning Checklist with Timeline Template

Business Plan Checklist with SWOT Analysis in Excel

Use this business plan checklist to develop and organize your strategic plan. Add the name of the business activity, along with its status, due date, and pertinent notes. This template also includes a separate tab with a SWOT analysis matrix, so you can evaluate and prioritize your company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

Download Business Plan Checklist with SWOT Analysis - Excel

Business Startup Checklist in Excel

This checklist template is ideal for startup organizations. It allows you to list and categorize key tasks that you need to complete, including items related to research, strategic relationships, finance, development, and more. Check off each task upon completion to ensure you haven’t missed or overlooked any important business activities. Find additional resources by visiting “ Free Startup Plan, Budget & Cost Templates .”

‌Download Business Startup Checklist Template

Business Plan Financial Templates in Excel

Use these customizable templates to develop your organization’s financial plan.

Business Startup Costs Template in Excel

Use this template to estimate and track your startup and operational costs. This template gives you room to list line items for both funding and expenses; you can automatically calculate totals using the built-in formulas. To avoid overspending, compare budgeted amounts against actual amounts to determine where you can cut costs or find additional funding.

Download Business Startup Costs Template

Small-Business Budget Template in Excel

This simple business budget template is designed with small businesses in mind. The template helps you track the income and expenses that you accrue on a monthly and yearly basis. To log your cash balances and transactions for a given time frame, use the tab for cash flow recording.

Download Small-Business Budget Template - Excel

Startup Financial Statement Projections Template

This financial statement projections template includes a detailed profit and loss statement (or income statement), a balance sheet with business ratios, and a cash flow statement to analyze your company’s current and future financial position. This template also comes with built-in formulas, so you can calculate totals as you enter values and customize your statement to fit the needs of your business.

‌ Download Startup Financial Statement Projections Template

For additional templates to help you produce a sound financial plan, visit “ Free Financial Templates for a Business Plan .”

Business Plan Marketing and Sales Templates in Excel

Use these downloadable templates to support and reinforce the marketing and sales objectives in your business plan.

Sales Forecast Template in Excel

This sales forecast template allows you to view the projected sales of your products or services at both individual and combined levels over a 12-month period. You can organize this template by department, product group, customer type, and other helpful categories. The template has built-in formulas to calculate monthly and yearly sales totals. For additional resources to project sales, visit “ Free Sales Forecasting Templates .”

Download Sales Forecast Template

Marketing Budget Plan in Excel

This marketing budget plan template helps you organize and plan your campaign costs for key marketing activities, such as market research, advertising, content marketing , and public relations. Enter the projected quantity and cost under each campaign category; the built-in formulas enable you to calculate projected subtotals automatically. This template also includes a graph that auto-populates as you enter values, so you can see where your marketing dollars are going.

Download Marketing Budget Plan Template

Other Business Plans in Excel

Use these business plan templates to conduct analyses and develop a plan of action that aligns your strategy with your main business objectives.

Business Action Plan Template in Excel

Use this basic action plan template to develop a roadmap for reaching your goals. Add a description of each action item, assign the responsible party, and list the required resources, potential hazards, key dates, and desired outcome. You can use this template to develop an action plan for marketing, sales, program development, and more. 

Download Business Action Plan Template

Business Plan Rubric in Excel

Once you complete your business plan, use this rubric template to score each section to ensure you include all the essential information. You can customize this rubric to fit the needs of your organization and provide insight into the areas of your plan where you want to delve more deeply or remove unnecessary details. By following these steps, you can make certain that your final business plan is clear, concise, and thorough.

Download Simple Business Plan Rubric

Competitive Analysis Template in Excel

This template enables you to analyze the competitive landscape and industry for your business. By providing details related to your company and competitors, you can assess and compare all key areas, including the target market, marketing strategies, product or service offerings, distribution channels, and more.

Download Competitive Analysis Template

Excel  | Smartsheet

For additional free templates for all aspects of your business, visit “ Free Business Templates for Organizations of All Sizes .”

Turbo-Charge Your Business Plans with Templates from Smartsheet

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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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Powerful business plan templates

Plan for the future, no matter what your business plans are or the size of your business with these designs and templates. whether it's just one big project or an entire organization's worth of dreams, these templates will keep you and your company on track from ideation to completion..

Put your ideas to work with simple templates for every business plan

Every successful business took a lot of planning to get there, and these templates will be cornerstones of your future success. Whether you're looking to attract new business, pitch your services or reimagine your company, with these simple, customizable templates at your fingertips you can turn complexity into something tangible. These templates can become marketing assets or simply remain internal touchpoints for your team. And as your dreams change, you'll always have this template to refer to – it's easy to change what exists on paper. If you're a small business, focusing on your niche can help you dominate in your field, and you can forge a plan to figure out exactly what that niche might be and how to target your ideal customer . When it's time to share your vision with stakeholders, craft a presentation that outlines your plan succinctly and with style. Let these templates from Microsoft Designer be your partner in business strategy for years to come.

Business Model Canvas Free Template – Excel Spreadsheet Example

  Download the Business model canvas free template – Excel spreadsheet example

How does the Canvas model generate the result for my organization?

Canvas is used to build a business model, which can be used to create a new organization or revise the existing model in a mature company. In the Excel Canvas model, you easily record the proposed idea and identify the variables that influence the business.

Business Plan x Canvas Model

In the past, the possibility of starting a company was usually conditioned by extensive research, summarized in a business plan that could exceed a hundred pages. The Canvas model created in the 2000s by Swiss consultant Alex Osterwalder, enabled the essence of the business proposal to be compiled into a single page so that it can be validated with real customers before receiving major investments, which means discovering the MVP – Minimum Viable Product.

The following aspects will be developed in your Canvas model:

• Partners: main partners, including suppliers.
• Activities: key activity required by the value proposition.
• Resources: key resources to generate value.
• Value Proposal: the real problem the offered solution solves.
• Customer Relationship: type of relationship and segments.
• Channels: channels that reach the target audience.
• Customer Segment: the most important audience for which value is generated.
• Cost Structure: cost of the business model and more costly resources and activities.
• Revenue Flow: the amount currently paid by the public and how much it intends to pay.

Start now! Click here and download the Business Model Canvas Free Template – Excel Spreadsheet Example.

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BONUS : Read the Business Model Canvas how-to guide .

Business Model Canvas Template

The business model canvas helps you re-evaluate your unique value proposition in regard to your customer segments, business activities, cost structure, and revenue streams in a lean one-page diagram. Use Xtensio’s business model canvas template to define your company’s unique value proposition and ongoing business plan.

• Create a clear, concise, and focused business model canvas to highlight how to get your products to the customer and how your business will generate income and profit.
• Define product-market fit and identify customer needs.
• Connect the dots between your value proposition, your customer segments, and revenue streams.
• Streamline planning, development, and execution across your business.

Xtensio is your team space for beautiful living documents. Create , manage and share business collateral, easily. Join the 276,096 changemakers.

How to create a business model canvas with Xtensio

• Click and start editing, no account or credit card required. Follow along with the instructional canvas template details. Add charts, graphs, images, and videos. Drag & drop. Resize. Customize the canvas format however you need. It’s the easiest editor ever.
• Customize everything in the template to match your brand. Define your style guide. Add your (or your client’s) brand fonts and colors. You can even pull colors directly from a website to easily brand your business model canvas and more.
• Work on your value proposition and business models together on the cloud. Add colleagues (or clients) to collaborate on the business model canvas template. Changes automatically save and sync across all devices, in real-time.
• Share a link. Present a slideshow. Embed. Download a PDF/PNG. The business model canvas seamlessly adapts to your workflow. No more jumping from tool-to-tool to design different types of deliverables.
• Reuse and repurpose. Save your own custom business model canvas template. Or copy and merge into other documents.

Follow along step-by-step with the Business Model Canvas how-to guide .

What is a business model canvas template?

The business model canvas was proposed by Alexander Osterwalder based on his book: Business Model Ontology . The template provides the structure of a business plan in a concise, 9-segment canvas that outlines business elements to describe how your company plans to bring in revenue streams.

New business ideas, startups and evolving companies use business models to identify key resources, target their ideal customer segment, outline key partners and structure their main revenue stream. A well-developed business model canvas will help streamline planning, development, and execution across your business. It should align everyone’s goals and reduce discrepancies among the numerous people who contribute to your business goals.

What are the 9 parts of a business model?

There are 9 building blocks in the business model canvas that outline key business drivers. These building blocks are key elements in understanding how your business can make money.

• Key Partnerships: Who would you like to have as your business partners, suppliers, or collaborators on your business idea?
• Key Activities: Identify the key steps you need to take in order for your business to deliver on its promises and make sure development rolls out smoothly. What actions or activities do your value propositions require you to make?
• Key Resources: Identify your key resources and find your differentiating factor among your competitors. What strategic assets do you need to launch and operate your business?
• Unique Value Proposition: Your value proposition should clearly and immediately express the value that your service or product provides to the customer. What is your business promising to its audience, and how does your product or service stand out? If you have multiple customer segments you may have a few different value propositions.
• Customer Relationships: Determine how your customers will interact with your products and services (internet, phone, in-person). Then write down guidelines for creating, maintaining, and growing your customer relationships.
• Distribution and Marketing Channels: These are the different channels your team uses to communicate, sell, or provide service for customers.
• Customer Segments: Who are your key customers? Investigate your customer needs and problems to identify what channels are ideal for each of your customer segments.
• Cost Structure: This section will go over the costs connected with your business model and identify cost drivers. What will the cost of launching and maintaining your new products and services be? Consider how your key activities contribute to costs and whether these costs are in line with your value propositions.
• Revenue Streams: How will your business make money? Where is your company driving new business and income from?

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What is the Business Model Canvas?

Download the free business model canvas template, history of the business model canvas, structure of the business model canvas template, example of a business model canvas, additional resources, business model canvas template.

The executive summary of a business

The business model canvas is a strategic planning  tool used by managers to illustrate and develop their business model. 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.

Corporate Finance Institute®’s Corporate & Business Strategy Course has more tools that you can use to manage and improve your business!

Enter your name and email in the form below and download the free template now!

The business model canvas template was originally introduced by Alexander Osterwalder in his 2004 thesis, “The Business Model Ontology – A Proposition in a Design Science Approach”. Since then, the business model canvas template has been taught at business schools and iterated upon to fit more niche businesses.

There are nine main building blocks in the business model canvas template:

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

The following is a breakdown of each of these nine elements. These elements all link and work with each other to ensure the success of the business.

#1. Key Partners

Key partners are the companies or people your business works with to create a strategic relationship. A few examples of key partners are suppliers or distribution partners in the supply chain .

Here are a few things to consider about key partners:

• What key resources does your company receive from these partners?
• What key activities are performed by these partners?
• What is your company’s motivation for working with these key partners? Is there something specific that only they can provide? Do they help lower costs?

#2. Key Activities

Key activities are specific activities or tasks that are fundamental to the operation of your business. An example of a key activity would be the procurement of fresh produce in bulk for a restaurant.

Here are a few things to consider about key activities:

• What key activities are necessary to deliver your value proposition ?
• What activities set your company apart from others?
• How do your revenue streams , distribution channels , and customer relationships differ from competitors? How do your key activities affect these?
• Do you need to procure specific niche resources?
• Do you need to streamline to keep costs and prices low?

#3. Key Resources

Key resources are the assets necessary to operate and deliver your value proposition. For example, a diamond mining company cannot operate without mining equipment . Alternatively, an automotive company cannot operate without the human capital and expertise that goes into designing cars.

Here are a few things to consider about key resources:

• What specific assets are necessary to operate your business and deliver your value proposition ?
• What resources do your distribution channels and revenue streams need to function?
• What resources are needed to maintain customer relationships and customer satisfaction ?
• Does your company require significant capital or human resources?

#4. Value Propositions

Value propositions are arguably the most important element of the business model canvas template. The value proposition determines the fundamental offering the company is trying to give its customers. It is the primary driver of business operations. For example, Spotify’s value proposition,  “Music for everyone.” , eloquently states its mission and offering. Spotify wants to be a music streaming platform that has music selections for everyone.

Here are a few things to consider about value propositions:

• What exactly is your company trying to give to customers?
• What problem is your company trying to solve and what needs are your company satisfying?
• How do you offer something different that satisfies the demands of your  customer segments (e.g. price, quality, design, status, etc.)?

#5. Customer Relationships

Customer relationships are the different types of interactions a company has with its customers. For example, a designer suit company will provide significant help for the customer, tailoring to their needs and working directly with them to create the suit they want. Conversely, telecommunications companies often have poor reputations and customer relationships as many practice aggressive and predatory sales practices through their call centers. Compared to telecommunications companies, the designer suit company has significantly richer and more fulfilling customer relationships.

Here are a few things to consider about customer relationships:

• What type of relationship does your company have with its customers? For example, do you provide dedicated assistance or are they expected to self-serve their needs through provided support channels?
• How does the business interact with customers and how does this differ between customer segments ?
• Does your company frequently communicate with customers?
• How much support is provided by your company?

#6. Channels

Channels are the different structures and methods that are used to deliver your company’s product and value proposition to its customers. Channels encompass all of a company’s supply, distribution, and marketing channels. It is important to consider all channels of a company and make sure they are functioning cohesively. For example, a company like Amazon needs to consider how its fulfillment centers and shipping services are integrated to send out timely shipments.

Here are a few things to consider about channels:

• How do you deliver your  value proposition ?
• How do you reach your  customer segments ? What channels are used?
• Are your supply, distribution, marketing, and communication channels well-integrated and cost-efficient? Are they being utilized effectively?

#7. Customer Segments

Customer Segments are the different types of customers that a company manages. A company that produces different products will need to interact with different types of customers.

An example of this would be airline companies. Airlines offer tickets for economy, business, and first-class customers. First-class passengers have access to exclusive benefits and luxury travel arrangements. Conversely, economy passengers are provided much less support, thus costing less, but also coming in significantly larger amounts.

Here are a few things to consider about customer segments:

• Who is the main focus of your value proposition? Who are you creating value for?
• Who are your most important customers? What are they like? What do they need? What do they enjoy?
• What are your different types of customers ?
• What is the customer market like? Is your company targeting a small niche community or a mass market?

#8. Cost Structure

The cost structure refers to how a company spends money on operations. It consists of the company’s key costs and the company’s level of focus on costs. If a company is cost-driven, it focuses on minimizing costs and, thus, prices for customers. Alternatively, if a company is value-driven, it focuses on creating value for its customers, with less focus on cost.

An example of this would be a comparison between fashion retailers, Forever 21 and Gucci. Forever 21 is a fast-fashion company focused on delivering the newest styles at low costs – a cost-driven company. Alternatively, Gucci is a luxury brand focused on delivering high-quality clothes and accessories designed with the latest trends in the fashion industry – a value-driven company.

Here are a few things to consider about cost structure:

• What are the key costs in your company’s business model
• What are the major drivers of cost ?
• How do your  key activities and  key resources  contribute to the cost structure?
• How do your costs relate to your  revenue streams?
• Is your company properly utilizing economies of scale ?
• What proportion of costs are fixed and variable ?
• Is your company focused on cost-optimization or value?

Check out CFI’s course on Budgeting and Forecasting to learn more about estimating future cash flows, revenues, and expenses!

#9. Revenue Streams

Revenue streams are a company’s source of cash flows . They are the final element of the business model canvas template. Revenue streams are the different ways your company’s value proposition generates money. A company might have multiple revenue streams. For example, Apple has multiple revenue streams between its variety of products and its services, such as Apple Music.

Here are a few things to consider about revenue streams:

• Does your company have multiple methods of generating revenue ?
• What is the pricing strategy for the products offered by your company?
• Through what  channels do your customers pay?
• Does your company offer multiple forms of payment (up-front, payment plans, financing, etc.)?

Here is a simple example built for an automotive company using our business model canvas template!

Proper financial management is the backbone of any business. Corporate Finance Institute has resources that will help you expand your knowledge, advance your career, and manage the financials of your company! Check out the helpful CFI resources below:

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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. They represent vital aspects of business survival.

What to Begin With?

Once you decided to use the Business Model Canvas approach, you need to prepare the essentials:

• Decide on the team members involved.
• Allocate time
• Prepare the tools.

The necessary tools depend on how you decide to brainstorm:

• Offline. Download a PDF Business Model Canvas template, and take several colored markers, sticky notes, and anything else you may need. For example, if you are brainstorming in a big team, a board is a must for enhanced convenience.
• Online. Choose the platform where you will work with a template. It can be Google Docs, Omnigraffle, or the Stratygizer web app.

Why Choose Business Model Canvas?

What makes The Business Model Canvas stand out in an array of approaches to business model creation? Its 1-page nature drives the following advantages:

• Focus – With all the data presented on a single page, business owners don’t spread themselves too thin. They formulate key elements and eliminate unnecessary ones.
• Density – It’s much better to read one dense piece of paper than look through a 30-page report.
• Flexibility – The canvas is easy to customize; therefore, you can fill out several templates, compare them, and choose the best one.

About the Nine Business Model Canvas Elements

Let’s elaborate on what is behind the nine Business Model Canvas blocks:

1. Customer Segment

Daily operations highly depend on customers and their behavioral patterns. That’s why customer segmentation is a must when creating a business model.

In this block, you need to describe the buyer persona. The description includes the following:

• Demographics (age, gender, etc.)
• Professional status
• Motivation and goals
• Shopping preferences

This is a basic list of points. You can add specific parameters. For example, software developers may identify the preferred device type. Already-established brands can also introduce visitors’ tiers that differentiate people according to their level of connection with a brand.

Read an in-depth article about customer segments here .

2. Value Proposition

A value proposition is a brief description of your product and its ultimate value for a client. In other words, write down in a Business Model Canvas why consumers should buy your goods or services. Ideally, it solves a problem or drives additional value for an end-client.

Keep in mind that the wording should be precise and short. Don’t describe your value proposition in several sentences. Limit it to a single but eloquent phrase. Here is a good example from Maps.me : “Fast, detailed, and entirely offline maps with turn-by-turn navigation – trusted by over 140 million travelers worldwide.”

Read an in-depth article about value proposition here.

3. Distribution Channels

Osterwalder, together with Pigneur, described five phases of channel development.

• Awareness includes channels that establish the initial contact with the target audience and develop the connection. It usually involves marketing channels.
• Evaluation implies allowing potential buyers to try your goods and see the value. Popular channels are free samples, reviews, and case studies.
• Purchase is about when and by what means customers can buy your product. The channels vary significantly depending on the prevalence of online or offline communication.
• Delivery describes how an end consumer receives a product.
• After-sales is usually limited to customer support that provides after-sales service and resolves problems.

Read an in-depth article about distribution channels here.

4. Customer Relationship

A customer relationship strategy determines how your target audience interacts with your brand. You can choose from five types of customer relationships in terms of the Business Model Canvas:

• Personal assistance is a traditional approach where a customer interacts with a personal assistant when contacting your brand. It implies a high level of personal care and deep, meaningful relationships.
• Self-service is the opposite of personal assistance: a brand doesn’t directly communicate with a consumer – instead, the consumer can understand the product via guides and FAQs.
• Automated service involves AI-based suggestions and bots that can provide basic assistance. This type is more engaging than self-service.
• Communities are spaces developed by a brand itself to help the audience understand the product better. A good example is Oracle, which practices the approach.
• Co-creation implies educating the customers via user-generated content.

Read an in-depth article about customer relationships here.

5. Revenue Streams

The next block of the Business Model Canvas is about determining where your revenue comes from. Here, you should consider the buyer’s persona to identify what the target audience is ready to pay for.

There can be several methods of monetization:

• Direct sales : Implies selling your service or product for a fee. It’s common for the majority of industries.
• Advertising : It’s relevant for such niches as blogging or IT platforms. The revenue comes from advertisers who want to reach your audience.
• Freemium : This applies to services only. Some features are free, while premium ones are paid for.
• Subscription : It’s similar to a fee-based monetization. The only difference is that a consumer pays for getting access to the service for a limited time, not forever.

Read an in-depth article about revenue streams here.

6. Key Resources

In the Business Model Canvas, key resources are divided into four categories. Here are they explained:

• Tangible – Any physical resources, from real estate to equipment. The stocks also fall in the category.
• Intangible – Intellectual property like patents, copyrights, licenses, and customer knowledge
• Human – Your employees that make the business run
• Financial – All the finance, regardless of whether it’s an obligation or not. It includes cash, bank loans, grants or donations, and other finances.

Read an in-depth article about key resources here.

7. Key Activities

Key activities included in a canvas are the business activities vital for work. They vary from industry to industry. Some design this block by uniting the activities into one out of three categories:

• Problem-solving

For example, software developers fall in the first category as they design new products, while an IT company with its own taxi service is attributed to the third category.

Read an in-depth article about key activities here.

8. Key Partners

Key partners are parties like suppliers who are vital to flawless business operations. In other words, a company can’t survive without them. There are four categories to include in the Business Model Canvas:

• Supplier – A partner who supplies you with raw materials or finished goods
• Non-competitors – Companies you team up with to leverage their resources: for example, you can source goods from several suppliers
• Joint ventures – Partners who help you fill the gap: enter a new market or reach a new niche. The result of a joint venture is enhanced mutual profitability.
• Coopetition – Partnership between two competitors, which may take place as a merger to market a new product

Read an in-depth article about key partners here.

9. Cost Structure

All the mentioned above blocks of the Business Model Canvas aren’t implemented for free. Startups and enterprises spend money on production and accompanying services. To set realistic revenue goals, a company needs to estimate the costs first.

The costs vary depending on the industry. For example, some businesses have to cover R&D expenditures, together with production and post-service. Others, however, exclude this debit from the template.

Read an in-depth article about cost structure here.

Applications and Analysis

Once the Business Model Canvas is ready, you need to analyze it. For this, you should assess the canvas in terms of three points:

• Is it logical and coherent? Are there are misaligned blocks? If yes, address the issue.
• What can be improved? If you find any mediocre blocks, devote more time to improve them.
• Are there any other ideas to consider? Maybe you can add something to the existing template or design a new one?
• Does my team agree with the canvas? If not, reconsider the arguable moments. To prove your point of view, rely on data and facts.
• Have I taken into account a long-term competitive advantage? If no, address the point. You need to consider the market and competitors when building a business plan.

What to Do After?

After you have examined the canvas, you can integrate it into your daily routine. Here is how it can be utilized:

• Track the changes. Any company evolves with time. A plan helps to make sure that changes don’t contravene core principles.
• Onboard top-management. The model communicates who you are and how you live. Instead of describing everything on your own, you can let new hires read everything.
• Guide the brainstorming. Every time you have a meeting where a team is generating ideas, place the canvas in front. It will help to reject unfit ideas.

Besides, you can use the same technique in other areas. For example, if you have several customers, you can describe an approach to them with the help of the BMS.

Some Tips for Beginners

If you have never created the Business Model Canvas before, comprehending all the above-mentioned data may be hard. Here are five tips that will help to navigate across the template easier:

• Prefer teamwork: It’s better to brainstorm side by side with reliable and competent team members rather than alone. You reduce the risk of designing the canvas from one perspective.
• Work on a whiteboard: The more space you have, the better. It allows the whole team to have a good look at the template and facilitates the process.
• Stock up on stationery: Colored markers and stickers will help you to group the ideas when brainstorming. Otherwise, you risk ending up with an incoherent Business Model Canvas.
• Devote enough time: Don’t allocate half an hour or schedule an important meeting right after the brainstorming. You will need a minimum of one hour for a draft.
• Determine the sequence of blocks to fill in: It’s advisable to start with customer segmentation or value proposition. After that, you can determine the sequence as it’s convenient for you.

Software for Business Model Canvas

If you prefer digital solutions to traditional paper and markers, you can opt for software to create the Business Model Canvas. There are many useful tools on the web. These three, however, are the best:

• Canvanizer. The tool is free, simple, and shareable. It allows collaborative brainstorming in Google Docs. Later, the canvas can be exported to an image or other formats.
• Strategyzer. The free software is more advanced with deep analytics and enhanced user experience. For example, the tool can assess the financial viability of a business idea. It also offers additional modes: for example, a dashboard for Lean Startup development.
• CNVS. The software with a simple interface is easy-to-understand. It allows building not only the BMC but also a Lean and Feature Canvas.

What Are the Benefits of the BMC?

Businesses of all scopes choose the Business Model Canvas approach because of four core benefits:

• Enhanced Visibility. Since the canvas involves visual presentation, it facilitates data comprehension. The team has all the information in front of their eyes; therefore, the analysis and decision-making are much easier.
• Customization. You can change some blocks of the canvas in no time if they don’t match with others. It won’t take several hours to retype and reprint a 40-page report.
• Focus on Value. Typically, the value of the product is at the core. It means that all the other blocks are designed with the end-benefit in mind.
• A Single Message. A team gets a clear message of the operation. The Business Model Canvas eliminates risks of failure because of misunderstandings.

What Does the Business Model Canvas Lack?

Although the Business Model Canvas is a popular and recognizable approach, many critics revolve around it. In particular, some executives criticize the model because of the lack of:

• Competitors
• Market analysis
• Brand mission
• Key priorities

While it may bother some people, in reality, there is nothing wrong. The nature of the BMC doesn’t imply focusing on these aspects. Its ultimate objective is to facilitate the process of crafting business models. And the template includes the core blocks only. After all, the market and competitors’ external outcomes aren’t shaping the company’s inner structure.

Why Should Already-Established Companies Implement the Business Model Canvas?

Traditionally, the canvas approach is the prerogative of startups. But it can also be useful for already-established enterprises. The BMC covers the following tasks: Helps to identify gaps in the model and discover new opportunities.

• Allows comparing your model to competitors to identify competitive advantages
• Enhances a presentation of a company to potential investors
• Allows examining and testing new business models
• It helps to unite the model and eliminate misunderstandings in a team
• Allows recreating the company from scratch

As can be seen, the Business Model Canvas helps to effectively analyze the whole company or particular project, map out possible changes or gaps, and address them.

Real Examples of the Business Model Canvas

Examples help executives to grasp the basics of the BMC better. Here are two examples of canvases from different industries:

Airbnb is a provider of affordable accommodation around the globe. Its canvas may look like this:

• Customer segments – budget tourists, unconventional travelers, locals seeking extra income
• Value proposition – easy and fast booking, huge offer, competitive prices, local lifestyle
• Distribution channels – social media, travel bloggers, word-of-mouth
• Customer relationships – self-service with customer support
• Revenue streams – a fee system, affiliate marketing
• Key resources – a community of both landlords and guests, platform, IT-specialists
• Key activities – user research, customer support, maintenance
• Key partners – tourists and travelers, hosts, investors, payments providers, insurance companies
• Cost structure – marketing, platform maintenance

LinkedIn is a professional social network.

• Customer segments – HR, professionals seeking employment, marketing specialists
• Value proposition – building a professional network of contact, sourcing potential employees, blogging.
• Distribution channels – app stores, website
• Customer relationships – self-service, customer support
• Revenue streams – freemium, marketing, and hiring solutions
• Key resources – platform, IT-specialists, user-generated content
• Key activities – platform maintenance
• Key partners – users, SlideShare
• Cost structure – marketing, maintenance

The Business Model Canvas is one of the numerous approaches to business modeling. For more than fifteen years of existence, it has proved its worth in the corporate community. Despite some critics, the method is effective and illustrates the business plan precisely. Moreover, thanks to its visual feature, it’s easy to comprehend and assess.

Download a Business Model Canvas Template

Download our free tools below to create your own Business Model Canvas right now.

BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS TEMPLATE PDF

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BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS TEMPLATE EXCEL

BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS TEMPLATE WORD

BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS TEMPLATE GOOGLE SHEETS

BUSINESS MODEL CANVAS TEMPLATE GOOGLE SLIDES

You may also be interested in the Value Proposition Canvas template , a complementary tool to the Business Model Canvas.

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Business Model Canvas Template (Excel)

Resource overview.

Use this Microsoft Excel template to define your business model.

Related Resources

Use this template to define your business model.  For background on this approach, read this book:

https://www.amazon.com/Business-Model-Generation-Visionaries-Challengers-ebook/dp/B06X426D4F/

Key sections of the canvas include:

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

This template is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy or read more, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

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Excel Made Easy

Business models canvas 101.

So you have a great idea and you want to create your company, your own startup. This is GREAT.

Starting something on your own, creating value for you, your family and the world is a totally recommendable thing to do. The world has been made by people like you. Entrepreneurs, Self-Made Men, Creators, Builders people that believed an obstacle is just another great challenge to overcome, to solve and put behind them as an achievement. 

If you want to create your own company, you need to know your environment very well and for this we give you a structure that you can follow and use, not only at the moment of creation but also on a regular base in order to assess if you are still on track or already deviating from your target. It helps you define your product, understand better your revenue streams, give you an overview about your customers and competitors, helps you define a good value proposition, decide on your various distribution Channels, focus on you Key Activities, assign correctely your Key Resources, select your Key Partners, define a adequate Cost Structure, makes you think about the Long Term Mission of your business, the strategy to reach it Strategy.

So in order to give your business idea all the chances for a success startup, it is important to go through a few important points that should not be forgotten before starting your race towards success. We also share with you our Excel business model canvas template or business canvas or business plan model for some.

The main part is to define clearly your business idea: this is called the business plan  and part of it is the business model which we are discussing here.

This business model mainly looks at your company, your startup as a cloud or black box that has stuff going in (material from suppliers, money from lenders, workers and their work, market feedback, orders, ...), stuff going out (whatever your are producing, marketing campaigns, salaries, taxes, waste, investments in equipment's, people, consumable, ...) and internal processes that are the heart, lungs and liver of your company (production or creation of your product, finance controlling, creation of marketing campaigns, websites, ...,)

We propose to you here a business model canvas Template that is used very frequently by many companies that want to start, restructure or just see where they stand in terms of their business model. The Business Model Canvas was at first developed by Alexander Osterwalder a Swiss Author and Theorist.

This business model canvas Template is very easy to use and similar to a paper one as it uses the virtual Paper Notes that you can move around the sheet.

Here is the screenshot of the full business model canvas Template sheet. We will explain here under and in the next pages how to use it. Go to the bottom of the page to download it.

We will go through all the blocks in this template.

Value Proposition (just hereunder), Customer , Channels , Revenue Streams , Key Activities , Key Resources , Key Partners , Cost Structure , Long Term, Mission, Strategy , Competition ,

Our Example for the next 7 pages: A cupcake Factory

A business model is made of various parts.

The value proposition.

First you have to know what you want to do (The VALUE PROPOSITION) with your business, your startup or current company and this does not start with "I want to do money", because it has been proven a million time that money has no lasting effect on willpower, pleasure at work, drive, etc...Of course if you have no money at all, then your priority in the short term is to make money to be able to grow bigger. The only way people are driven for the long term is by passion . So your business model has to be driven by a passion and show the banker/investors (if you need some) that your passion will contribute to their well being too. In my case, I am passionate about helping people and seeing that my efforts have produced an added value to these customers. Some are driven by discovering new planets, some by developing new virtual reality glasses, some by creating new medicine, some are feeding of the wellbeing, happiness or contentment they are producing and this is enough to drive them. At the end it is all about you being content even better happy with what you are doing and this leaves a lot of open avenues to explore and create a business. I am writing here and hopefully it will have a positive effect that in return will make me happy.

Happiness is important but making money while being happy is even better. So that is why you have to do something you like but also that other will benefit of.

In the case of a Cupcake factory , the business model value proposition could be written a a few sentence: We provide to our customers a cupcake for every occasion. These are healthy cupcakes (low sugar, low fat, ....) and we guaranty that they are locally produced with local ingredients.

Here the questions you have to answer for the value proposition

What value/products do we deliver to the customer? 

Which customer problem do we solve?

Which product or set of products (can be service too), are we offering to our customers?

Which are the customer problems we are solving (Example: quality, performance, design, branding, strategy, cost reduction, pricing, risk reduction, production efficiency, legal, etc…)

Next: the Customer Segment

if you want to short cut, download the business model canvas Template for Excel from here.

A SWOT Matrix  (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) is also used to define the strategy of your company when used in conjunction with the business model. The SWOT matrix can also be used for personal development, for example to compare yourself to other for a certain situation.

For this purpose we have created this SWOT matrix Template.

Please Tweet, Like or Share us if you enjoyed.

Business Model Canvas Template

Embarking on a business venture is exhilarating yet seldom effortless. Initially deceptive in simplicity, it swiftly reveals multifaceted layers demanding profound contemplation. The array of considerations and avenues to traverse can swiftly overwhelm. Consequently, a structured approach becomes imperative, often initiated by crafting a comprehensive business model canvas. This foundational tool offers clarity, enabling strategic navigation through the intricate journey of entrepreneurship.

What Is a Business Model Canvas?

Build Business Model Canvas for Free

Not to be confused with a business plan, the business model canvas is a cruder, more candid version of a business plan. It may very well be the predecessor as most successful business plans originate from a well-crafted business model canvas.

Functioning as a strategic compass, it spotlights vital business components, fosters informed operation and steers towards a positive trajectory. The construction of a comprehensive business model canvas entails skillfully addressing demanding inquiries, thereby facilitating the meticulous identification, insightful analysis, and strategic optimization of pivotal facets, ultimately paving the path to sustainable success.

It was conceptualized by Swiss business specialist Alexander Osterwalder and Belgian computer scientist Yves Pigneur and is now regarded as one of the most critical tools for building a new business, as well as for upgrading an existing one.

When to Use a Business Model Canvas?

The idea of a business model canvas seems very simple but it is remarkably multifaceted and can be used for numerous applications. A lot of business managers now use a business model canvas template to upgrade their existing business strategies or create new ones that will take the business forward. Many aspiring business owners also use a business model canvas template to lay out their ideas for more efficient planning and eventual implementation.

A slightly less common way of using a business model canvas template is when you want to read into your competitors. Instead of creating your business model, you can then make one for your top industry rivals. Also, while it is meant for summarizing the key elements of a business, it can work just as well for analyzing a product.

What Are the 9 Parts of the Business Model Canvas?

No matter which business model canvas template you end up using, all of them would include the 9 parts of the model, as determined by Osterwalder and Pigneur.

Key Partners

It is impossible to run a business on your own, even for a sole proprietorship. There will always be other entities involved, like vendors and suppliers, advisors and mentors, distributors and delivery service providers, accountants and lawyers – the list goes on. All these are your key partners for your business.

Key Activities

These are all the vital activities that must be carried out so that you can achieve the ultimate goal of your business. These activities are mostly done by you, although your key partners might also have a critical role in some of them. Some of the typical activities are procurement of supplies or raw materials, design and production of products, distribution to various sales channels, and so on.

Key Resources

A key resource is anything owned or controlled by your business that is instrumental in its success. This would include machinery and equipment, formulas and patents, and other business assets that are used in any of the operations. Even your personnel or staff are considered key resources to your business. The list is not confined to tangible items either, because things such as experience and expertise are also among the key resources of a business, and are in fact among the most important ones.

Value Propositions

Many would say that value propositions are the highlight of the business model canvas template, and they won’t be wrong. Value propositions are what you hope to give to your customers. It is based on this single element that strategies are created and business operations are executed. In identifying the core value proposition of your business, you need to figure out what problem you wish to solve for your customers or which of their needs you wish to fulfill.

Customer Relationships

These are all the interactions between your business and the customers. Some businesses are more hands-on in delivering their services, which creates more interactions with the clients and often on a deeper level. Others are not as involved and simply make their services or products available, and let the customers take their pick.

The channels in a business model canvas template pertain to how your business delivers its value propositions to the clients. These are usually composed of a network of multiple parts working together to ensure that the customer’s demands and needs are adequately met.

Customer Segments

While some businesses have a very specific target market, most actually serve a broad range of clientele. In the customer segments section of the business model canvas template, you must list all the types of customers that you aim to serve.

Cost Structure

We now come to the financial aspect of the business. Cost structure refers to all the expenditures of the business and how they are addressed. This is largely dependent on whether your business is cost-driven, where the focus is to minimize costs, or value-driven, where the focus is to maximize value.

Revenue Streams

The revenue streams are the sources of cash flow for your business or simply put, where the money comes from. Not that there could be more than one revenue stream. A good business model canvas template would have several revenue streams to maximize business income. It is also this section that covers the payment methods that your business accepts from customers.

Benefits of Using a Business Model Canvas

Using a business model canvas can do a business a lot of good, although some think it is a redundant process and goes directly to creating the business plan. But if you take the time to use a business model canvas, here are some of the valuable benefits that you can enjoy.

Stay Focused on Core Value

Dozens of things can affect the course of a business. While all these things do have an impact, some of them can distract you from what is important. In using a business model canvas, one of the elements you would identify is the core value proposition, and that is exactly where your focus should be.

Have Structure and Flexibility

A business model canvas template puts all your ideas into an organized format, giving structure to a lot of brilliant but chaotic ideas. At the same time, the model also allows for flexibility, letting you make necessary adjustments if changing situations call for it.

Maintain Transparency

The business model canvas template allows everyone involved in the business to be fully aware of everything in the operation of the business. This makes for a better understanding of all the concepts and processes and allows for more informed team discussions that can further improve the business model.

Business Model Canvas Templates in Boardmix

1. apple business model canvas.

Apple Inc. is a world-renowned technology company that delivers creative and aptly differentiated products for a global audience. The business model utilizes an effective framework, ensuring that the brand maintains its reputation as an industry leader.

This section presents the canvas for Apple’s business model created using the Boardmix productivity platform.

2. Tesla Business Model Canvas

While the Tesla business model canvas may encompass several sections, it fundamentally relies on three distinct pillars: servicing, selling model, and charging network. These core foundations are intricately woven into Tesla’s operational framework, ensuring efficient maintenance and support services, an innovative selling model tailored to the electric vehicle market, and a comprehensive charging network that underpins the convenience of Tesla’s vehicles for customers.

3. Google Business Model Canvas

The diversity that Google offers is in line with the company’s mission of organizing the world’s information. It aims to make data universally accessible to those who need it. The brand keeps winning these days, and it’s all thanks to the highly efficient business model canvas of Google.

Here is an overview of the template brought to you by the Boardmix productivity platform. You can quickly follow the details of this canvas in one glance!

How to Use the Business Model Canvas Template

It is very easy to use the business model canvas template – the challenge lies more in thinking of what to put into each of the sections of the template. Here at Boardmix, our business model canvas template has a single-page layout that clearly shows all the 9 key elements. On the top part of the template, we have the first 7 elements in our list, with the value proposition appropriately in the middle spot. The lower part is reserved for the cost structure and revenue streams.

Step 1: Log in to Your Boardmix Account

To begin, you'll need to access your Boardmix account. Go to the Boardmix website and enter your login credentials. If you don't have an account yet, you can sign up for a new one for free.

Try for Free

Step 2: Search and Choose Business Model Canvas Template

Once you're logged in, head over to the Template library. You can find this in the main dashboard. Search for the business model canvas Template and click to use it for free.

Step 3: Customize and Edit Your Own Business Model Canvas

Now that you've chosen the template, it's time to customize it according to your needs. You can use shapes, lines, drawing pens, icons, and other tools to decorate your template. The business model canvas Template comes with several sections that you can fill out:

The flexibility of Boardmix allows you to add or remove sections as needed. Simply click on a component to edit it.

Step 4: Save Your Work, Share and Collaborate

When customizing your business model canvas Template, Boardmix autosaves your progress, but it's good practice to manually save before exiting.

Next, share your business model to collaborate with your team. Click on the "Share" button on the top right corner of the screen, copy the sharing link, and send it to anyone whom you want to collaborate with. People can join this file to edit and collaborate on this file in real-time by clicking this sharing link. We encourage your team to leave comments, suggest edits, or ask questions online so you can adjust it in time.

FAQs about the Business Model Canvas

What is a business model.

A business model is a tool used for identifying and illustrating all the key elements of a business. It is frequently used as the basis of the business plan.

What is the purpose of a business model canvas?

The business model canvas aims to provide a visual representation of the key elements of a business, which is useful for starting a new business or improving an existing one.

Why is a business model canvas important?

A business model can help management come up with new and better strategies to boost performance. It can attract investors and top talent into the company. It can also serve as motivation to everyone involved in the business.

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A 4 L's retrospective template is one of the simplest but most effective ways to reflect on team performance and identify points for growth for future projects.

The Mad Sad Glad template is an evaluation tool of completed tasks focusing on each member's emotional experience during the project.

The FMEA template works as a qualitative tool that analyzes potential failures and their probable consequences to limit their occurrence.

A start stop continue template is a highly effective tool for reflecting on your activities and deciding which actions to start, stop or continue doing.

A sailboat retrospective template is one of the many ways teams evaluate a finished project, allowing them to improve for future undertakings.

The What? So What? Now What? template compels you to examine your finished project closely and use the experience to create even better future outcomes.

Business Model Canvas Excel Template

Excel spreadsheet to create visual business plans. Summarize your key business factors on a lean canvas within minutes! Detailed guidance included.

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TEMPLATE DESCRIPTION

Having a clear picture of business components is very important to obtain a visual snapshot of an organization. In doing so, a Business Model Canvas Excel (BMC) template will assist you in summarizing, designing, and analyzing your company’s strategic plan . Therefore we have prepared this Excel tool serving as a one-page lean canvas model.

The original model developed by Alexander Osterwalder, claims that each business may be explained in nine main blocks: Key Partners, Key Activities, Key Resources, Value Propositions, Customer Relations, Channels, Customer Segments, Cost Structure, Revenue Streams. With this lean canvas , you can use these nine blocks or create your own!

Business Model Canvas Excel Template Features

Designed to visualize your business components, our Business Model Canvas has two options:

• Dynamic Canvas
• Blank Canvas

Both sections will be further explained below.

1. Dynamic Canvas

The Dynamic Canvas of the Excel template contains two parts: a list for your notes and the canvas itself.

The section is where you take your notes and post them on the canvas. Firstly, you will write down your notes into the input table on the left side of the sheet. After that, just select the post-it color from the dropdown menu. Following these, the note is applied to the canvas in the chosen color.

All the notes will automatically appear on the canvas. For instance, the only thing you will be doing is to select the block name for each note from the dropdown menu. It’s that simple!

In addition, you can write your company name and date on the canvas, as well as any general notes. According to the principles of the Business Model Canvas (BMC) , there are nine pre-defined block category names. However, you can rename these blocks by simply retyping them.

2. Blank Canvas

Blank canvas is the drag&drop section of the Business Model Canvas Template. It allows you to flexibly design your note style. Firstly, you can choose any post-it from the palette on the right side of the sheet and drag it to your desired location on the canvas. After that, you can include any information by manually writing it down on the post-it.

In addition, using the shape format tab, you may customize your notes with different colors, fonts, outlines, and other aspect options from the shape format tab. Furthermore, you may also re-size them according to your needs.

Business Model Canvas Main Categories

The nine categories in the business model canvas template are shortly explained below:

• Key Partners: Include your most important complementary business alliances in terms of buyer-supplier relationships and/or other strategic alliances between competitors or non-competitors.
• Key Activities: Decide the most important activities in your value proposition.
• Key Resources: List the key resources necessary to create value for your customers. These may be human, financial, physical, or intellectual resources.
• Value Propositions: Describe the products and services that you offer to meet the customers’ needs. Your value propositions may be quantitative or qualitative.
• Customer Relations: Specify the critical steps and elements for your customer relationship strategy.
• Channels: Mention the distribution channels that you use to deliver your value propositions to the targeted customers. These may include your own channels, partner channels, or a combination of both.
• Customer Segments: Explain the customer groups that you aim to serve. You can segment your customers into various sets based on their different needs and attributes.
• Cost Structure: Define your cost structure with the most important monetary costs you have while operating.
• Revenue Streams: List your way to make income from each customer segment.

Business Model Canvas Excel Template Features Summary:

• Visualize your business model
• Strategic management tool in Excel
• Fully customizable and flexible blank canvas
• Informational notes included
• No installation needed, ready-to-use
• Works both on Mac and Windows
• Compatible with Excel 2010 and later versions
• Does not include any VBA code or macros

Business Model Canvas is a ready-to-use Excel Template and provided as-is. If you need customization on your reports or need more complex templates, please refer to our custom services.

PRODUCT VIDEO

Watch the video below to see the template in action! Presentation also includes usage notes, explanations and tips & tricks about the template.

USER REVIEWS & COMMENTS

17 reviews for business model canvas excel template.

Ivy Persons – May 25, 2023

The Value Propositions section is a bit confusing at first, but once you get used to it, it’s a powerful tool.

Celia G. – February 11, 2023

I can’t see the column heading in my Excel Template. How can I display them? It takes a lot of time to figure it out on my own.

Someka – February 11, 2023

e apologize for the inconvenience. To avoid creating extra empty spaces, we hide column headings in our templates. However, you can easily uncover the column headings by following the instructions in this link . It won’t take you long!

Christy Nelson – December 30, 2022

Adding a tutorial video on how to use the Business Model Canvas Excel Template would be helpful for new users.

Someka – December 30, 2022

Hi! Thank you for your suggestion. You can find tutorial videos about Business Canvas on YouTube . It will be very helpful if you watch them.

R.Scott – September 9, 2022

The Dynamic Canvas of the Excel template is a game-changer! It makes taking notes and post them on the canvas a breeze.

Sharon Dale. – June 5, 2022

is a great tool to summarize, design, and analyze your company’s strategic plan. I highly recommend it!

Caridad – March 21, 2022

really useful. How can I close gridline?? on blank canvas. help asap

Someka – March 21, 2022

Hello Caridad,

The gridlines are left open in this area. But you may close it by unchecking the Gridline box under View options. Please see the image below.

Ainoa S – March 20, 2022

this is one of the most useful products I have ever bought from you!

Russel L. – March 19, 2022

Good job guys, need some help for changinf colors on dynamic one?

Someka – March 19, 2022

Hi Russel, There are six preset colors on the dynamic canvas in addition to a non-color option. You may choose a different color from the dropdown list for each of your notes. But if you want to change the pre-defined colors, you should modify conditional formatting rules. Under the Home tab, please go to Conditional Formatting > Manage Rules and then modify the colors under the Worksheet’s rules.

Livia – March 18, 2022

What is this used for?

Someka – March 18, 2022

Hi Livia, Thanks for asking. This template helps to to summarize and present your business with key drivers using the Business Model Canvas, a very common strategic management tool used all around the world. You may easily prepare your business models with ready print-outs.

Aggie – March 17, 2022

Nice excel! what is the diffrence between your licenses?

Someka – March 17, 2022

About our license details, our single-user license is for personal use only. With the multi-use license, you will have the right to share the file with your colleagues in the same organization and/or put your file on your company’s network for internal use. But you will still not be allowed to put it on websites with public access or re-sell them or share them with third parties. To learn more about our license details, please click here .

ok. pls change my license to multiuser

Hello again,

We may surely upgrade your license from single-user to multi-user. Just email us at [email protected] and our team will contact you with a link to upgrade your license.

Thierry – March 17, 2022

Great app! Possible to translate to French?

Hi Thierry, After purchasing a modifiable version, you may make modifications, which include translating the template into another language. You may change the headings of the canvas manually, and the dropdown menus will automatically capture your new headings. The other parts are also open to modification.

Luz Palm. – March 16, 2022

This kind of product I really searched a lot on the internet. yes there are a few on other websites. but I’m so glad I found a drag drop feature. I think yours is the best wit drag drop. glad for finding your excel

Eloisa – March 16, 2022

evrything is nice and useful but want to see my logo not yours

Someka – March 16, 2022

You can remove the logo or replace it with your own logo for each sheet. For Free Versions, you are not allowed to remove the logo or alter any copyrighted material in the template. You can do it in the full version. Please check how to do that in this link .

Hope this helps!

Rodolfo C – March 15, 2022

Useful excel like post-it notes. I liked much. One tiny question can I change the block names?

Someka – March 15, 2022

Hello Rodolfo,

According to the principles of the Business Model Canvas, there are nine pre-defined block category names. However, you can rename these blocks by simply retyping them.

Smith – March 14, 2022

Great app. thx someka

Amy P. – March 14, 2022

hi, i write notes on the list but cant see them on the blank canvas?

Someka – March 14, 2022

Dear Amy, This template has two separate canvases. The notes you write on the list will display on the Dynamic Canvas. But the blank canvas is not linked to this list. We have added two canvas options for our users to choose the best one for their particular needs.

Wasim – March 12, 2022

Hello Someka Team, If i buy paid file, how many shapes will i have on blank option?

Someka – March 12, 2022

Hi Wasim, Thanks for asking. We have 30 shapes for each color on the post-It palette, which makes a total of 90 drag-and-drop shapes. We believe this is quite enough number. But if you still need more, then you may easily copy and paste the shapes to create more of them.

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Original text

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 © 2024 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 - A4

• Download (120.1 KiB) (PDF)

URL: https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/7e0cffde-21e7-47d2-9922-6269f2b02857/resource/178cee6b-d9cd-4dbf-b84c-e329ce8cc0d5/download/business-model-canvas-a4.pdf

The business model canvas will help you map out how your business works. It captures who your customers are, how you provide products or services and how you create income

Additional Information

What is a Strategy Canvas? A Comprehensive Guide with Templates

A strategy canvas is a visual tool that helps businesses understand their market position by mapping out how they and their competitors perform across key factors important to customers. By simplifying complex data into an easy-to-read graph, it reveals strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities at a glance. This guide will explain the basics of a strategy canvas, show you how to use it effectively, and provide templates to get you started, offering valuable insights to enhance your strategic planning.

What is a Strategy Canvas

A strategy canvas is a visual snapshot of how a company’s key competing factors measure up against industry benchmarks. This powerful tool helps businesses understand their market positioning and identify strategic gaps. Represented as a line graph, the strategy canvas plots the key competitive factors on the horizontal axis while the vertical axis shows the offering levels provided by various competitors. Essentially, it provides a one-page, objective view of the competitive landscape, enabling organizations to communicate their strategies clearly and align internally.

• Ready to use
• Fully customizable template
• Get Started in seconds

Origin and Purpose

The strategy canvas was introduced by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne in their book Blue Ocean Strategy . It was developed to help businesses see how they stack up against competitors and find new ways to stand out in the market. The idea behind the strategy canvas is to visualize the key factors that matter to customers and compare how different companies perform in these areas.

The purpose of the strategy canvas is twofold.

• First, it helps businesses understand their competitive position by clearly showing where they excel or fall short compared to others.
• Second, it identifies opportunities for innovation by highlighting gaps in the market that competitors might not be addressing.

Essentially, the strategy canvas provides a simple yet powerful way to analyze and improve your business strategy by focusing on what truly matters to customers and how you can offer something different or better.

Key Components of a Strategy Canvas

A strategy canvas is made up of a few essential parts that work together to give you a clear view of your competitive landscape:

• Horizontal Axis (X-Axis): This is where you list the key factors that influence customer decisions. These could be features like price, quality, customer service, or any other elements that matter to your customers.
• Vertical Axis (Y-Axis): This shows how well each company performs on the factors listed on the horizontal axis. It measures performance levels, such as high, medium, or low.
• Lines: Each company or product has its own line on the canvas. These lines represent how well they perform across the different factors. By looking at these lines, you can see where each competitor excels or lags behind.

These components together create a visual map that helps you compare and analyze your business’s strengths and weaknesses relative to others. This clear, graphical representation makes it easier to spot opportunities for improvement and areas where you can stand out in the market.

Benefits of Using a Strategy Canvas

A strategy canvas makes strategic planning easier and more effective. It helps you understand your market position, find areas to improve, and focus on what customers care about. Here’s how it can benefit your business:

• Clear visual representation: A strategy canvas gives you a simple, easy-to-understand map of how different businesses or products perform on key factors. This helps you quickly see where you and your competitors stand.
• Insight into competitive position: By comparing your performance with others, you can understand your strengths and weaknesses in the market. This helps you see where you fit compared to your competitors.
• Identification of strategic gaps: The canvas shows areas where competitors might be missing opportunities. This helps you spot where you can improve or innovate to stand out.
• Focus on customer needs: It highlights which factors are most important to customers and how well you meet these needs compared to others. This ensures your strategies align with what customers want.
• Simplified decision-making: With a clear visual summary, the strategy canvas makes complex data easier to understand. This helps you make better decisions and focus on the most important actions.

How to Create a Strategy Canvas

Follow these steps to visually compare your business strategy to your competitors and identify areas for differentiation.

1. Identify your primary competitors

Start by brainstorming and listing down the key competitors within your industry. You can use a mind map to identify and categorize them if the list is too large. Focus on those who directly compete with your business, offering similar products or services. This step is vital as it sets the stage for the entire process. Consider competitors that hold significant market share or those that directly appeal to your target customers. Knowing who you’re up against provides a solid foundation for comparison and analysis.

2. Define the competitive factors

Collaborate with stakeholders to brainstorm the factors that customers value the most. These could include price, quality, service, or innovation. Conduct market research through surveys or interviews to gather accurate data on what drives customers to choose one product over another. Selecting the right factors helps ensure that your strategy canvas is meaningful and aligns with market realities. It’s important to focus on factors that are truly impactful, avoiding irrelevant details that might cloud your analysis.

3. Evaluate competitors’ performance in each factor

Once you’ve established the competitive factors, evaluate how your competitors perform in each one. This involves analyzing their strengths and weaknesses across all identified factors using a SWOT analysis . For example, you might find that one competitor excels in customer service while another dominates in product innovation. Rank their performance based on how much they invest in each area, whether through financial resources, operational focus, or marketing efforts. This step provides a clearer picture of where competitors are focusing their efforts.

4. Draw a value curve

Create a value curve by connecting the performance of each competitor across the identified factors on the graph. Each competitor will have a distinct line representing their performance, allowing you to see the differences in their strategies. The value curve highlights areas where competitors might be over-investing or under-investing, helping you identify patterns in the market. This visual representation makes it easier to understand how competitors compare to one another and where the market opportunities lie.

5. Chart your own value curve

Plot your business’s performance on the same graph, creating a value curve that shows how you compare with competitors. This helps you see where you stand in relation to the competition and identify areas where you excel or lag. By visualizing your strengths and weaknesses, you can better understand your current positioning in the market. This step is crucial for recognizing opportunities for improvement and areas where you can differentiate yourself from competitors.

6. Create a strategic profile

Use the insights from your value curve comparison to refine your strategy. Decide whether to adjust your current approach or develop a new one that better aligns with customer needs and differentiates you from competitors.

7. Apply the Four Actions framework

Use the four actions framework to refine your strategy based on the insights from your strategy canvas:

• Eliminate: Identify factors that add little value to your customers or where your competitors are over-investing. Consider cutting these elements from your strategy to reduce costs and streamline operations.
• Reduce: Determine which factors you can scale back without compromising customer satisfaction. Reducing investments in areas that are less critical can free up resources for more impactful initiatives.
• Raise: Pinpoint areas where you can outperform competitors by raising your performance. This might involve improving product quality, enhancing customer service, or offering better pricing.
• Create: Look for opportunities to introduce new factors that competitors have overlooked. Innovate by adding unique elements that can set your business apart and attract more customers.

Strategy Canvas Examples

CitizenM has created a powerful strategy canvas by targeting a unique market segment in the hospitality industry. Instead of following traditional luxury hotel benchmarks, CitizenM focuses on providing affordable, stylish accommodations with a focus on self-service and smart technology. This approach allows them to offer high-quality lodging solutions at a fraction of the cost, effectively differentiating themselves from larger hotel chains. Their innovative approach can be understood through their strategy canvas, which highlights their competitive advantages in cost and technology.

Apple’s strategy canvas sets them apart in the electronics and software industry through design innovation and ecosystem integration. By emphasizing user experience, design aesthetics, and a seamless ecosystem, Apple has carved out a unique competitive strategy that is visualized in their strategy canvas. This focus on high-end product design and a unified user experience positions Apple far above its competitors who focus primarily on technical specifications and price.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines successfully utilized the strategy canvas to identify and capitalize on unique market opportunities. By eliminating costly services like meal offerings and prioritizing frequent departures, Southwest managed to significantly reduce operational costs. Their strategy canvas reveals how focusing on punctuality and affordability has provided a competitive edge over traditional airlines, thereby reshaping the market and aligning with niche customer needs.

When to Use the Strategy Canvas

The strategy canvas is a versatile tool that can be used in various situations to enhance your strategic planning and decision-making process. Here are key scenarios where using a strategy canvas can be particularly beneficial:

1. Developing a new strategy

When you’re crafting a new business strategy, a strategy canvas helps you identify the competitive landscape and position your business effectively. By comparing your offerings with those of competitors, you can pinpoint opportunities to differentiate your products or services and create a unique market position.

2. Reevaluating your current strategy

If your business is experiencing stagnation or facing increased competition, the strategy canvas can be a valuable tool for reassessing your current strategy. It allows you to visualize where you stand relative to competitors and make necessary adjustments to stay competitive.

3. Entering a new market

When expanding into a new market, the strategy canvas helps you understand the competitive dynamics and customer preferences in that market. This insight is essential for tailoring your approach and ensuring that your offerings align with market demands.

4. Launching a new product or service

Before introducing a new product or service, use a strategy canvas to evaluate the competitive landscape. This helps you identify gaps in the market that your new offering can fill, ensuring a successful launch that meets customer needs and stands out from competitors.

5. Improving customer value

If your goal is to increase customer value, the strategy canvas can guide you in identifying areas where you can improve your offerings. By analyzing the factors that matter most to customers and how competitors perform in these areas, you can prioritize enhancements that will deliver the greatest impact.

6. Innovating or differentiating your business

When looking to innovate or set your business apart from the competition, the strategy canvas provides a clear view of where competitors are focused. This enables you to explore opportunities for differentiation by either excelling in areas that competitors overlook or introducing new value propositions that disrupt the market.

Using Creately to Create Your Strategy Canvas

Creately is a powerful tool that simplifies the process of creating a strategy canvas. Its features make it easy to visualize your competitive landscape and design effective strategies. Here’s how Creately can help:

Pre-built templates

Creately offers ready-made strategy canvas templates that save you time. You can jump right into creating your canvas without starting from scratch. These templates are customizable, allowing you to adjust them to fit your specific needs.

Drag-and-drop interface

The intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to add and arrange elements on your canvas. Whether you’re adding competitors, key factors, or value curves, you can do it all with a few clicks.

Collaborative tools

Creately’s collaboration features allow team members to work on the strategy canvas together, no matter where they are. You can share the canvas with your team, get real-time feedback, and make changes on the fly. Use its built-in collaborative brainstorming tools like the whiteboard, sticky note walls or mind maps to ensure everyone is aligned and contributes to the strategy. You can also add comments and annotations directly on the canvas. This feature makes it easy to provide feedback, ask questions, or highlight important areas without disrupting the design.

Customizable elements

You can personalize every aspect of your strategy canvas with Creately’s customization options. Adjust colors, fonts, and shapes to make your canvas visually appealing and easy to understand. This flexibility helps you create a canvas that truly reflects your brand and strategic goals.

Data integration

Creately allows you to integrate data directly into your strategy canvas. You can link data from spreadsheets or other sources to ensure your canvas is accurate and up-to-date. This feature helps you make informed decisions based on real numbers. Store additional information and data for reference with per item notes and data fields.

Export and share options

Once your strategy canvas is complete, Creately offers various export options. You can download it as a PDF, image, or even share a live link with stakeholders. This makes it easy to present your strategy to others, whether in meetings or through digital channels.

Presentation mode

Creately’s presentation mode lets you showcase your strategy canvas directly within the platform. You can walk through your strategy step by step, highlighting key points without needing to export your work to another tool.

The strategy canvas is a powerful tool that helps businesses visualize their competitive landscape and craft more effective strategies. By focusing on key factors that drive success in your industry, you can identify opportunities to differentiate your business and deliver greater value to customers. Whether you’re developing a new strategy, reassessing your current approach, or entering a new market, the strategy canvas provides a clear, actionable framework to guide your decisions. With its ability to simplify complex information and align teams around a shared vision, the strategy canvas is an essential resource for any business looking to stay competitive and innovate in today’s fast-paced market.

References: Blue Ocean Strategy Canvas

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FAQs Related to Strategy Canvas

What is a value curve in a strategy canvas, how can the strategy canvas be used in strategic planning, what is the four actions framework in relation to the strategy canvas, how often should a strategy canvas be updated, can a strategy canvas be used for startups, how does a strategy canvas differ from a traditional swot analysis, can a strategy canvas be used across different industries, more related articles.

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.