Is Your Business Model Healthy?

 

As a business owner I know you are working very hard in your

business, serving clients and staying on top over everything

else that needs to be managed.

 

But what if all the hard work you are currently doing is not

necessarily the most effective way to grow your business?

 

A solid business is built around a business model that works.

If you think you have a great business model in place then it

will only take a few minutes to confirm that this is the case.

 

If you aren’t quite sure if your business model is functioning

optimally, now is the perfect time to give it a quick check-up

and find out.

 

When I talk about your business model I simply mean the way

your business makes money.  Think about these basic components:

 

* Your business offer products and services

 

* You sell them for a certain price

 

* A certain number of people buy them (once or even better,

repeatedly)

 

* You deliver them in a certain way (in person, electronically,

third party, etc.)

 

Why not revisit your business model to see if there are a few

ways you can change it.  This doesn’t have to be complicated,

simply take a piece of paper and a pen or open a new file on

your computer.

 

Write down all the products and services your business

currently offers, the price for each, how many clients you have

who purchase each offer and how frequently.  Total this up,

subtract your costs, and see if this structure is going to

bring you the financial results you want. 

 

Now imagine how many different ways you can upgrade your

business model to attract more business and leverage what you

already have.

 

Get creative and try out several combinations of products and

services.  Here are some ideas:

 

- Perhaps you can add something new, additional revenue

streams.

 

- You can also think about increasing the amount of what you

already deliver.

 

- Or maybe at this point it’s even best to remove a part that

isn’t profitable.

 

- Consider changing the way you deliver your products and

services.

 

- What if you didn’t change a thing except to increase the

prices (speaking or pricing, when is that last time you

increased the prices for your products and services)?

 

Let’s use the business model of a consultant as an example.

 

CURRENT BUSIENSS MODEL

Product/Service: Consulting services delivered by the

consultant alone

 

Price: Per hour

 

Clients: One at a time full time or two to three part-time

 

Delivery: In person

 

UPDATED BUSINESS MODEL

Product/Service: Consulting in person delivered by the

consultant, additional consultants working for you, speaking,

selling intellectual property (an ebook, audio, or other

information product)

 

Price: Consulting per project (and part of the fee for

consultants working on behalf of the consultant), speaking per

event, intellectual property per item

 

Clients: Many at one time

 

Delivery: In person, automated (via the internet)

 

Are you starting to see the possibilities for your business?

Renewing your business model can re-inspire your enthusiasm for

what you do as well as increase your desire for marketing your

business.

 

A healthy business model is the foundation for a successful

business.  Take time to examine your business model and make

sure it is the strongest it can be.

 

With a few simple changes, you will probably make more money

and you may even find that you don’t have to work as hard to do

so.  Now who doesn’t want that!

 

© Stephanie Ward, 2007

 

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