# Business Model

> Design the right business model for monetizing skills and expertise. Use when unsure what to sell, stuck between service vs product, or current model is not scaling. Evaluates DFY/DWY/DIY, subscription, high-ticket, and hybrid models against user goals and constraints.

- Skill: `alexsmedile/business-model` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add alexsmedile/business-model`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/alexsmedile/business-model/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML
- Author: alexsmedile (https://skillmd.com/u/alexsmedile)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/alexsmedile/business-model

---


# Skill: Business Model Designer (Strategic Monetization Engine)

## Purpose
Choose the right way to make money from your skills, offer, and market.

This skill:
- selects the best monetization model
- aligns with your strengths and constraints
- balances scale vs income vs lifestyle
- prevents building the wrong business

Goal: build a model that works **for you**, not just in theory.

---

## When to Use
Activate this skill when:
- you have skills but no clear business model
- you are unsure what to sell
- you feel stuck between service vs product
- your current model is not scaling
- income depends too much on your time
- you want to redesign your business

---

## Inputs
This skill works with:
- your skills
- your experience
- your audience (if any)
- your offer (if any)
- your constraints (time, money, energy)
- your goals (income, freedom, scale)

---

## Core Outcome
The assistant produces:
- recommended business model
- monetization strategy
- tradeoff analysis
- aligned offer structure
- path to scale

---

## Assistant Behavior

### 1. Understand the user
Identify:

#### Skills
- what you are good at
- what you can deliver results in

#### Assets
- audience
- brand
- experience
- proof

#### Constraints
- time available
- capital
- energy

#### Goals
- income target
- lifestyle preference
- scalability desire

---

### 2. Identify current position
Determine:

- beginner (no proof, no audience)
- intermediate (some results, some clients)
- advanced (proof, audience, systems)

---

### 3. Evaluate monetization models

---

## Core Models

### 1. Service (DFY)
You do the work.

**Examples**
- freelancing
- agency
- consulting

**Pros**
- fast cash
- high price potential

**Cons**
- limited by time
- harder to scale

---

### 2. Productized Service (DWY)
Structured service.

**Examples**
- programs
- coaching
- group offers

**Pros**
- more scalable
- repeatable
- higher leverage

**Cons**
- still time involved

---

### 3. Digital Product (DIY)
You sell knowledge or systems.

**Examples**
- courses
- templates
- toolkits

**Pros**
- scalable
- low marginal cost

**Cons**
- requires audience or traffic
- lower perceived value

---

### 4. Hybrid Model
Mix of all three.

**Examples**
- course + coaching
- service + product
- DFY + templates

**Pros**
- flexible
- maximizes revenue

**Cons**
- more complex

---

### 5. Subscription / Recurring
Ongoing value.

**Examples**
- memberships
- communities
- retainers

**Pros**
- predictable income

**Cons**
- requires retention

---

### 6. High-Ticket Model
Premium transformation.

**Examples**
- consulting
- DFY services
- elite programs

**Pros**
- high revenue per client

**Cons**
- requires trust and proof

---

### 7. Low-Ticket Volume Model
Scale through volume.

**Examples**
- ebooks
- low-cost templates

**Pros**
- easy entry
- scalable

**Cons**
- needs traffic

---

### 4. Match model to user

Evaluate:
- skill level
- proof level
- audience size
- goals

Then recommend:

> Best model based on your situation

---

### 5. Define primary model
Choose:
- main revenue driver

Example:
- DFY service for cash flow
- productized program for scale

---

### 6. Define secondary model
Support the main one:

- lead generation
- upsell
- entry point

---

### 7. Align with strengths
Ensure:
- plays to your skills
- fits your energy
- matches your lifestyle

---

### 8. Plan evolution path
Define stages:

Example:
- service → productized service → product → ecosystem

---

### 9. Identify risks
Highlight:
- scaling limits
- dependency risks
- skill gaps

---

### 10. Suggest next actions
Give:
- immediate steps
- simple plan to start

---

## Output Format

```md
# BUSINESS_MODEL.md

## 1. Profile
- Skills:
- Assets:
- Constraints:
- Goals:

---

## 2. Current Stage
- Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

---

## 3. Model Evaluation

### Service (DFY)
- Fit:
- Pros:
- Cons:

### Productized Service (DWY)
- Fit:
- Pros:
- Cons:

### Digital Product (DIY)
- Fit:
- Pros:
- Cons:

### Hybrid
- Fit:
- Pros:
- Cons:

### Subscription
- Fit:
- Pros:
- Cons:

### High-Ticket
- Fit:
- Pros:
- Cons:

### Low-Ticket
- Fit:
- Pros:
- Cons:

---

## 4. Recommended Model
- Primary model:
- Why:

---

## 5. Secondary Model
- Supporting model:
- Role:

---

## 6. Business Structure
- How everything connects

---

## 7. Growth Path
- Stage 1:
- Stage 2:
- Stage 3:

---

## 8. Risks
- Key risks:
- How to mitigate:

---

## 9. Next Actions
- Step 1
- Step 2
- Step 3
```

⸻

Decision Rules

Choose service when:
	•	you need cash fast
	•	you have skill but no proof
	•	no audience yet

Choose productized service when:
	•	you have repeatable results
	•	you want leverage

Choose product when:
	•	you have audience or demand
	•	you want scale

Choose hybrid when:
	•	you want both income and scale

Choose subscription when:
	•	ongoing value exists
	•	retention is possible

⸻

Style Guidelines
	•	simple thinking
	•	practical choices
	•	no overcomplication
	•	focus on what works now

⸻

Success Criteria

The skill works when:
	•	model fits the user
	•	income path is clear
	•	scaling path exists
	•	complexity is reduced
	•	execution feels doable