Business Model Canvas

A Business Model Canvas is a chart that anyone can use to explain a venture’s business model, whether it is for a proposed or existing company.

Having a business model at the core of a business plan is a critical aspect of designing and scaling a business. Creating the business plan itself can be involved and time-consuming, yet it may obscure the driving concepts' full picture.

This is why a simple outline like a Business Canvas can be incredibly practical. It outlines a clear vision of what you are trying to accomplish.

What Is a Business Canvas?

The best way to describe a Business Canvas is to imagine it as a powerful tool that can help you strategize and discuss your business model. A company can have one or more business models, each of which would have a corresponding Business Canvas.

Based on Alexander Osterwalder's original Business Canvas template, there are nine building blocks to a Business Canvas as strategically laid out on the chart. The right side (or external) is dedicated to the customer, and the left side (internal), the company. The nine areas are as follows:

1. Key partners

2. Key activities

3. Key Resources

4. Value Propositions

5. Customer Relationships

6. Channels

7. Customer Segments

8. Cost Structure

9. Revenue Streams

Other Names for Business Canvas

Depending on the context and preferences, a Business Canvas may also be known as:

• BMC

• Business Model Canvas

• Profit Generation Formula

• Operational Excellence Model

• Customer Generation Model

• Business Foundation

Who Needs a Business Canvas?

Most of the time, those who turn to a Business Canvas are managers in charge of creating a business model's visual representation. Even someone who considers starting a new company can use a Business Canvas as part of the planning phase.

This is usually an individual who is most familiar with the company's value proposition. Someone who knows the company inside out and perhaps most responsible for the company's future may be in charge of creating this document.

Why Use Swyftfilings for Your Business Canvas?

Customized for you, by you

Create your own documents by answering our easy-to-understand questionnaires to get exactly what you need out of your Business Canvas.

Right for your state

Each document on Swyftfilings is customized for your state.

How to Create a Business Canvas with Swyftfilings

A Business Canvas is a starting point for building something more significant. It is not always obvious where to start, and that's why Swyftfilings is uniquely positioned to help you get your vision started.

Let Swyftfilings help with our extensive library of attorney-vetted legal forms. The process is fast and easy. All you have to do is fill out our easy-to-understand questionnaire. Once complete, simply download your form as a PDF or Word document from your secure online account.

What Information Will I Need to Create My Business Canvas?

To create your document, please provide:

• Company Information: The name and address of the company

• Date: The day that you start working on the Business Canvas

A Business Canvas does not require any more information than the above. It is not anything that is required by law or a governing body, so you have freedom when creating one.

Business Canvas Terms

• Executive summary: A brief overview of a business plan as used in business and academia

• Supply Chain: The system of production and delivery for a service or product

• Procurement: The process of purchasing from suppliers including the selection and negotiation

• Customer Segments: Types of customers such as the economy or exclusive

• Cost Structure: levels of expenses in a company as categorized under fixed and variable

• Revenue Streams: All the ways a company generates revenue

Business Canvas Signing Requirements

A Business Canvas rarely requires a signature or notarization. It is a fleshing out of your ideas rather than a requirement of a legal or non-legal nature. If you ever want to get it signed or notarized, make it the signature of whoever is in charge of the business plan.

What to Do with Your Business Canvas?

With your Business Canvas created, you might want to have it printed or distributed in another way to those who are in charge of starting a business plan out of the canvas.

A frequent suggestion for mapping out any business plan is first to make use of post-its and coordinate the building block areas in color. To many, visualization may be the best way to brainstorm.

Depending on your state, a Business Model Canvas may also be known as:

If you need to formalize agreements and ensure legal compliance, this document is an essential tool.

Create your own documents by answering our easy-to-understand questionnaires to get exactly what you need out of your Business Model Canvas.

Laws vary by location. Each document on Swyft Forms is customized for your state.