Types of Business Models

The displayed matrix shows the four types of business models.

There are four, and only four, business model types.

Whatever the business, it is one of the four business model types.

Learning Links

This site's approach to business models is unique. A Harvard Business Review article about business models by Joan Magretta, Why Business Models Matter class=, stands as an interesting contrast.

To improve your mastery of the types of business models: Chickens and Pigs - The Book  class=

What's your type of business model?

What's your business's model type? Chicken? Pig? Locust? Black Widow?

Don't worry if you're not 100% sure? Most people struggle with the assessment. (And sometimes people who think "they've got it" actually don't!)

The best way to figure out your business model is by talking with others.

Without revealing any confidential information, describe your business and tell us what you think is its model type? Let's see what other site visitors think.

Describe Your Business (e.g., paint supplies distributor)

What's your business model type? Explain why you think you're a Chicken, or a Pig, or one of the other two. [ ? ]

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What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

education  Provide k-7 with the tools to learn important mathematical and computational ideas, while also learning to think creatively, reason systematically, and ...

hardware distributor  Chicken Model

We do not yet have a very extensive list of products because we only wanted to carry unique or specialized products. Moreover, to save ...

Delicatessen  deli restaurant. Healthy foods, clean atmosphere, and friendly staff. Very affordable and healthy foods. Great customer service. Dedicated employees.

business and marketing management  i dont know

1 owner/operator full service salon  my business is a chicken from what i can tell! recurring and small

DNA diagnostic tests  locust model
the customer is likely to come once as the service provoded is the same

[From the professor: who's the actual customer? The one who's ...

Healthcare  Black window model, as the revenue contribution is large and the transaction frequency is recurring.

[From the professor: I don't know the New Zealand ...

IT services for Automotive & Aerospace Industries  I, along with couple of my Friends planned to start IT services for Automotive & Aerospace Industries in SAP and PLM technolgies. The targeted customers ...

Nursing Services  I can be a locust or a pig. My services are expected to be very short term. I will give patients, doctor ordered services to be paid by the patient directly ...

hearing aid company  I'm thinking Locust...but not 100% if there may a mix of something else.
we do free hearing testing, hearing aid sales, fitting and follow-up aftercare....

Design consultency service  We are knowledge base engineers , have experienace in Plastic part validation and automotive cae services.

We offer Meshing , moldflow, Tool design ...

Staffing  My business is like ADECCO, Sphiron employment agencies

[From the professor: you're probably a Chicken, but I need a lot more details before I can be ...

garden supplies and landscaping services  we think that we are combination of the chicken and the locust business model
why?
chicken: one of our target markets will be motivated to use what ...

dessert shop  chicken

[From the professor: who do you sell to? If the business sells to a retail customer, you're likely a Locust. If it sells to institutional customers,...

Federal Express and UPS  Express courier services.

From the professor: I know the business(es). What model type are they?

wholesale coffee roaster, also selling retail via brewed beverages and internet sales  Looks like my business model is chicken, since transactions are small and recurring.

[From the professor: I agree. The wholesale business is probably ...

functional skills coaching  I think it is a combination of pig and chicken

[From the professor: hard to see the Chicken aspect, unless the skills development requires your continuing ...

telecommunications  very much like Rogers and AT&T, subscriptions plans but also have prepaid plans.

From the professor: a "textbook" example of a Chicken!

scale sales, service and rental  I think my business model is The Locust. We do offer satisfaction to our customers with hoping of improving our efficiency. For example,I am in a competitive ...

Management and organisational consulting  Pig, we get big contract for solving organisation issues. We never know if the client will come back.
the reality is that in 95% of the contracts, we ...

smart card   chicken

From the professor: I suspect you're wondering if products like an oil company's "smart cards" are Chicken businesses. They are.

Marketing for local businesses on a university campus.   Chicken Model, because local businesses use my marketing services over a long period of time.

[From the professor: Interesting, as yours is a business ...

Sell used cars and finance  Locust because I will sell directly to customer. I will then provide financing and then sell financing to bank

[From the professor: bingo! You are most ...

fashion label  Black widow model

[From the professor: You've obviously not shared any details but my gut says you're right.

I'm very familiar with private label ...

interior designing firm  we provide interior designing service to the residential and commercial customers,we purchase furniture,lighting,rugs,wall covering and flooring and sell ...

Custom Contract supplier of Rotationally Molded Plastics and Compression molded Foams ( tanks, bins, inflatable PVC bladders, protective sports pads and helmets  Chicken, we are a custom contract supplier (use to be around 6.5 mil sales, now at 1.9-2 mil) small business of about 20 people (use to be 50). We also ...

DOMESTIC REMOVAL  CHICKEN
IT IS A CHICKEN BECAUSE THE WE DONT HAVE LARGE TRANSCATION TO DO

[From the professor: Chicken vs. Locust - you need to determine whether ...

woodworking  locust because they are one time projects and we are not a big company

From the professor: I suspect you're right.

event organizer  I am not sure, what I do know is that I wish to put on an annual event. In short a Competition resulting in an awards ceremony each year.

[From the ...

Broadcast Industry  My business is a locust because its offer service to customers in a quest to satisfy their desire.

[From the professor: be careful that you've identified ...

Bar  The business will serve alcoholic beverages, DJs, live music as well as other live performances.

[From the professor: OK, but what will be the business'...

bed and breakfast, small historic town, friendly atmosphere, great food  chicken model. I think I am a chicken model because I will be serving people over and over again. making moderate profits.

[From the professor: the ...

An online shop selling globally branded sportswear   Actually this is an assignment, I am supposed to conduct a business model according to the business described above. I cannot see things concretely, I ...

live performance band intentending to enter the teaching market by delivering music workshops.  chicken.

our main client base would be local education authorities who are responsible for running the schools and college in the uk.
the end user ...

Insurance sales and service  Revenue comes from the original sale then, there are small trails that continue for as long as the client stays with you. The business model is the Chicken....

Mission, distributing food, clothing other services  I have no idea what our business model is or should be.

[From the professor: Your uncertainty is understandable as you're not, strictly, a business....

infant and teenager clothes fashions  A pig

From the professor: could you elaborate, please?

hair salon  chicken

From the professor: could you elaborate on your thinking?

Apartment Building Landlord  My business is owning large apartment buildings. The buildings have 50+ apartments average rents being $850 per month. I believe my business would be classified ...

Oursourcing  Chicken and Pig.
Chicken, because in outsourcing many times the firm that provides the services is unsure of the verticals (business) and horizontals ...

Engineering Consulting  The business type is a bit of both chicken model and pig model,

Our main customer is Goverment predominently infrustructure projects namely :roads contracts,...

vending machine  chicken

Web Design  bLACK WIDOW CHICKEN

wholesaler  we supple to c-stores (gas stations)

image consultancy  Locust, Chicken and Black Widow.

fashion boutique  Chicken because it is a small business and i hope to attract loyal customers.

cruise-line industry  royal caribbean cruises ltd

equine massage  i would have to say the chicken becuase i keep getting customers but they are recurring from time too time.

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