Some business models we can learn from

Business Model is the key to your business. It’s how you make money. There are some popular ways to do that such as:
1) Commission/listing fee/booking fee per transaction
2) Subscription fee
3) Premium fee
Here are some of the business models we would consider learning from some developing trends:

Uber Model

What is Uber?
The Uber app allows consumers to submit a trip request, which is routed to crowd-sourced taxi drivers.
Key benefits
For passengers: Cheaper, easier, better services. Main competitive advantage might be cheaper than tradition taxi firms.
For drivers: Provide works for drivers and do all of the admin jobs. So basically Uber is the centre which handles all paper works, promotion works, payment gateway works, marketing works. Drivers just drive their cars.

Business model
Uber get money from 5%-20% commission per trip. Uber keep the money from customers and pay to drivers so it can control the process.

There is an Uber for everything:

Bannerman (Uber for private security)
LawTrades (Uber for lawyers)
Canary (Uber for cannabis)
Massage (Uber for massage)
Minibar (Uber for alcohol)
Washio (Uber for laundry)
Worthee (Uber for dog walking)

AirBNB Model

What is Airbnb?
Airbnb is a website for people to rent out lodging.

Key benefits
For travellers: a cheaper and better living experience compare to hotels.
For hosts: get income from their spare spaces.

Business model
Airbnb is providing a market place for travellers to find accommodations and for hosts to sell their spaces. So Airbnb gets money from that. Airbnb gets 3% listing fee and 6–12% booking fee.

There is an Airbnb for everything:

Boatbound (Airbnb for boats)
Holidog (Airbnb for dogs)
Outdoor (Airbnb for outdoor gear)
Hipcamp (Airbnb for campsites)
Airpnp (Airbnb for toilets)
3D Hubs (Airbnb for 3d printers)
SupperShare (Airbnb for kitchens)
SPOT (Airbnb for parking spots)

Birchbox model

What is Birchbox?
Airbnb is an online monthly subscription service that sends its subscribers a box of four to five carefully selected samples of makeup or other beauty related products on a monthly basis.

Key benefits
For customers: Try out various sample with an affordable price.
For beauty brands: Help to deliver samples to right customers. Therefore, increase marketing effect.

Business model
Birchbox gets money from the subscription fee. For $10/month, a user receives a Box with product samples. This subscription fee needs at the minimum to cover the marginal cost of shipping each box (the shipping cost), and also help to cover some of the other major expenses (marketing, overhead, etc.)

There is a Birchbox for everything:

Loot Crate (Birchbox for gamers)
Ship and dip (Birchbox for condiments)
The Happy Crate (Birchbox for cannabis)
UpOut (Birchbox for events)
NatureBox (Birchbox for healthy snacks)
Stick in a Box (Birchbox for beef jerky)
Citrus Lane (Birchbox for kids)
Mypullist (Birchbox for comics)
Kaffee Bitte (Birchbox for coffee)
BarkBox (Birchbox for dogs)
Stitch Fix (Birchbox for women clothes)

Tinder Model

What is Tinder?

Tinder is a matchmaking mobile app. Using geolocation technology, users can set a specific radius, and they will have the option to match with anyone that is within that distance

Key benefits:
More simple, easy, fun, better and less embarrassment way to find a date match. Actually, it’s better than most date apps on the market.

Business model

Tinder business model is premium. Tinder rolled out premium features such as Undo, a feature that will allow users to recall a profile lost by swiping to the left, a hasty gesture that permanently eliminates potential matches. When I checked my Tinder account, it is £1/month.

There will soon be Tinder-like offerings for everything

Stylect (Tinder for shoes)
BarkBuddy (Tinder for dogs)
Daily by Buffer (Tinder for news)
CoffeeMe (Tinder for professional networking)
Jobr (Tinder for job hunting)
Seamso (Tinder for dresses)

Whatever kind of business you are in, you always have to choose a business model, which helps you “stay in the game”. All above models are proven successful models which we can learn from. But how they execute the models and won the market is the different story.

Blog by Binh — Co-Founder of @KANDSTech , the best .NET AND MOBILE Software Consultancy in London . I’m always looking to work with customers, software agencies, startups and fellows software developers. Contact me via twitter @binhtech or email binh@binhtech.com