Revenue Model Case Studies

CompanyRevenue ModelStrategyOutcome
HuluSubscription ModelOffers ad-supported and ad-free subscription plans for streaming TV shows and movies.Gained a large subscriber base, providing steady recurring revenue.
Adobe Creative CloudSubscription ModelCharges a monthly or annual subscription fee for access to its suite of creative software tools.Transitioned successfully from a one-time purchase model to a recurring revenue model, increasing customer lifetime value.
The New York TimesSubscription ModelProvides digital content behind a paywall with subscription options for readers.Increased digital subscriptions significantly, offsetting declines in print revenue.
Blue ApronSubscription ModelDelivers meal kit subscriptions to customers for cooking at home.Created a loyal customer base with recurring revenue from subscriptions.
YouTubeAdvertising ModelEarns revenue through ads displayed on user-generated videos.Became a major revenue generator for Google, leveraging vast user-generated content.
TwitterAdvertising ModelDisplays sponsored tweets and ads in users’ timelines.Monetized its platform effectively through targeted advertising.
InstagramAdvertising ModelFeatures sponsored posts and ads in users’ feeds and stories.Grew into a significant advertising platform for Facebook, attracting major brands.
BuzzFeedAdvertising ModelGenerates ad revenue from sponsored content and native advertising.Built a sustainable revenue model through innovative content and advertising partnerships.
WalmartE-commerce ModelSells a wide range of products through its online store.Expanded its brick-and-mortar presence with a strong online retail component, increasing overall sales.
AlibabaE-commerce ModelOperates online marketplaces connecting buyers and sellers globally.Became a dominant global e-commerce player with significant transaction volumes.
ZapposE-commerce ModelSpecializes in online shoe and clothing retail.Achieved strong sales growth and customer loyalty through excellent service and a wide product selection.
EtsyE-commerce ModelProvides a platform for artisans and crafters to sell handmade and vintage items.Grew into a major e-commerce platform for unique and handmade goods, supporting small businesses globally.
EvernoteFreemium ModelOffers basic note-taking services for free and charges for premium features.Built a large user base with free offerings, converting a significant portion to paid plans.
LinkedIn PremiumFreemium ModelProvides enhanced features, networking tools, and job insights for paying subscribers.Monetized its professional network effectively through tiered subscription services.
MailchimpFreemium ModelOffers free email marketing services with premium plans for advanced features.Attracted a wide range of small businesses and entrepreneurs, growing revenue through premium subscriptions.
ZoomFreemium ModelProvides video conferencing services with a free plan and premium options for businesses.Gained rapid adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic, converting free users to paid plans.
AirbnbPay-per-Use ModelCharges hosts and guests fees for booking accommodations.Became a global leader in the short-term rental market with significant transaction volumes.
Amazon Kindle StorePay-per-Use ModelSells e-books and charges per book download.Expanded Amazon’s digital content offerings, generating significant revenue from e-book sales.
ZipRecruiterPay-per-Use ModelCharges employers based on the number of job postings and candidates contacted.Built a successful job marketplace with scalable revenue based on usage.
LimePay-per-Use ModelOffers electric scooters and bikes for rent on a per-minute basis.Became a leading player in the micro-mobility market, generating revenue through high-frequency usage.
PixarLicensing ModelLicenses its characters and content for use in merchandise, theme parks, and more.Generated substantial revenue from licensing agreements across various industries.
MarvelLicensing ModelLicenses its superhero characters for use in movies, toys, and video games.Built a highly profitable business through extensive licensing deals.
NFLLicensing ModelLicenses its brand for merchandise, video games, and broadcasting rights.Created a significant revenue stream through strategic licensing and media partnerships.
Coca-ColaLicensing ModelLicenses its beverage formulas to bottlers and distributors worldwide.Maintained global market leadership through a vast network of licensing agreements.
Amazon AssociatesAffiliate Marketing ModelAllows website owners to earn a commission on sales of Amazon products.Created a powerful affiliate program that drives traffic and sales to Amazon’s platform.
TripAdvisorAffiliate Marketing ModelEarns commissions for referring travelers to hotels, flights, and restaurants.Became a major travel site through effective affiliate partnerships.
Booking.com Affiliate Partner ProgramAffiliate Marketing ModelOffers commissions to partners who drive hotel bookings through their websites.Expanded its reach and bookings significantly through affiliate marketing.
Rakuten AdvertisingAffiliate Marketing ModelConnects advertisers with affiliate publishers to promote products and earn commissions.Grew into a leading affiliate marketing network with a broad range of partnerships.
HertzRental ModelProvides car rentals for individuals and businesses on a daily or weekly basis.Built a successful global car rental business with steady recurring revenue.
HomeAwayRental ModelAllows property owners to rent vacation homes and properties to travelers.Became a leading vacation rental platform with significant transaction volumes.
Rent the RunwayRental ModelOffers clothing and accessory rentals for special occasions or everyday wear.Created a popular fashion rental service with recurring revenue from memberships.
GameFlyRental ModelRents video games to subscribers for gaming consoles.Built a loyal customer base with a subscription model for game rentals.
GoFundMeCrowdsourcing ModelAllows individuals and organizations to raise funds for various personal and charitable causes.Became a leading crowdfunding platform with a significant volume of campaigns.
KickstarterCrowdsourcing ModelHelps creators fund creative projects and products through contributions from backers.Enabled the launch of numerous successful projects through effective crowdfunding.
IndiegogoCrowdsourcing ModelSupports crowdfunding campaigns for tech gadgets, films, and other projects.Facilitated the funding and success of diverse projects across various industries.
KivaCrowdsourcing ModelFacilitates microloans to entrepreneurs in developing countries through crowdsourced lending.Created a sustainable model for microfinance and social impact.
SubwayFranchise ModelOffers franchise opportunities for individuals to open and operate sandwich shops.Expanded globally through a successful franchise model, becoming a leading fast-food chain.
McDonald’sFranchise ModelGrants franchisees the right to operate McDonald’s restaurants using its brand and systems.Built one of the most recognized and successful global fast-food chains.
7-ElevenFranchise ModelAllows franchisees to operate convenience stores under the 7-Eleven brand.Grew into a leading global convenience store chain through franchising.
UPS StoreFranchise ModelOffers franchise ownership for local shipping and printing businesses.Created a widespread network of franchise locations offering shipping and printing services.
McKinsey & CompanyConsulting and Services ModelProvides management consulting services to businesses, governments, and organizations.Became a leading global consulting firm with high-profile clients and projects.
DeloitteConsulting and Services ModelOffers a wide range of consulting, auditing, and advisory services.Grew into one of the “Big Four” accounting firms with diverse service offerings.
AccentureConsulting and Services ModelSpecializes in strategy, consulting, digital, technology, and operations services.Became a leading global consulting firm with extensive industry expertise.
Boston Consulting Group (BCG)Consulting and Services ModelDelivers management and business strategy consulting to clients.Built a strong reputation and client base as a top global consulting firm.
NielsenData Monetization ModelCollects TV viewership data and consumer insights, selling reports to media companies and advertisers.Became a leading provider of media and consumer research data.
PalantirData Monetization ModelDevelops data analytics software for government and corporate clients.Built a successful business through advanced data analytics solutions.
ExperianData Monetization ModelOffers credit reporting and consumer data services to businesses for marketing and risk management.Grew into a major credit reporting agency with diverse data services.
AcxiomData Monetization ModelProvides data-driven marketing and advertising solutions to brands and marketers.Became a leading data services provider for marketing and advertising.
TicketmasterEvent Ticketing ModelSells tickets for live events, concerts, sports, and theater performances.Became a dominant player in the event ticketing industry.
StubHubEvent Ticketing ModelFacilitates the resale of tickets for sports, music, and entertainment events.Grew into a leading ticket resale platform with significant transaction volumes.
EventimEvent Ticketing ModelOffers ticket sales, marketing, and distribution services for events and concerts.Became a major ticketing service provider in Europe.
TicketflyEvent Ticketing ModelProvides ticketing and marketing solutions for live events and music venues.Built a successful business offering ticketing and marketing for live events.
Epic GamesGaming ModelDevelops and monetizes video games like Fortnite through in-game purchases.Became a leading game developer with significant revenue from in-game purchases.
Roblox CorporationGaming ModelOffers a platform for user-generated games and virtual items with in-game currency.Grew into a major gaming platform with a large, active user base.
Electronic Arts (EA)Gaming ModelSells game titles and offers in-game purchases for additional content.Built a strong portfolio of popular game titles with recurring revenue from in-game purchases.
SupercellGaming ModelMonetizes mobile games like Clash of Clans through in-app purchases.Became a leading mobile game developer with significant revenue from in-app purchases.
CourseraEducation ModelOffers online courses and degrees, charging students for certificates and premium content.Grew into a major online education platform with diverse course offerings.
Duolingo PlusEducation ModelProvides language learning courses with an ad-free experience for paying users.Built a large user base and significant revenue through premium subscriptions.
MasterClassEducation ModelFeatures online courses taught by experts in various fields, available through a subscription.Became a popular online learning platform with high-profile instructors.
Khan Academy KidsEducation ModelOffers a subscription-based app for educational activities and games for children.Created a successful educational app with a growing subscriber base.
UnitedHealth GroupHealthcare ModelProvides health insurance plans to individuals and employers, collecting premiums.Became one of the largest health insurance providers in the United States.
Teladoc HealthHealthcare ModelCharges for telehealth consultations and virtual healthcare services.Grew into a leading telehealth provider with significant market share.
Ro (formerly Roman)Healthcare ModelOffers online healthcare services and subscriptions for medications.Built a successful online healthcare platform with recurring revenue from subscriptions.
HealthgradesHealthcare ModelGenerates revenue from healthcare providers and advertisers for premium listings and ads.Became a leading provider of healthcare provider information and advertising services.
Getty ImagesContent Licensing ModelLicenses stock photos, videos, and music to media organizations, advertisers, and creatives.Grew into a major provider of stock imagery and media content.
ShutterstockContent Licensing ModelOffers licenses for stock photos, illustrations, and videos for various creative projects.Built a strong business in stock imagery and media content licensing.
Adobe StockContent Licensing ModelProvides stock assets for use in creative projects, available to Adobe Creative Cloud subscribers.Expanded Adobe’s creative offerings with a robust stock asset library.
Pond5Content Licensing ModelSells licenses for stock footage, music, and sound effects to content creators and businesses.Became a popular platform for licensing diverse media content.

From The Business Engineer’s Issue.

Other Key Components of a Business Model

Value Proposition

unique-value-proposition
Your UVP is the exclusive feature or benefit you offer to your customers. It could be anything at all. If you offer a service, it could be “100% pay after satisfaction”. It could be a time factor offers. Say you provide a service that reviews CV. Your UVP could be “Get a revamped résumé in 24 hours”. This makes you stand out from every other person offering that service, as your unique offering is the ability to deliver in 24 hours. Your slogan could also be your UVP, as it automatically gives your audience what to expect from you.

Cost Structure

cost-structure-business-model
The cost structure is one of the building blocks of a business model. It represents how companies spend most of their resources to keep generating demand for their products and services. The cost structure together with revenue streams, help assess the operational scalability of an organization.

Pricing Strategies

pricing-strategies
A pricing strategy or model helps companies find the pricing formula in fits with their business models. Thus aligning the customer needs with the product type while trying to enable profitability for the company. A good pricing strategy aligns the customer with the company’s long-term financial sustainability to build a solid business model.

Financial Structure

financial-structure
In corporate finance, the financial structure is how corporations finance their assets (usually either through debt or equity). For the sake of reverse engineering businesses, we want to look at three critical elements to determine the model used to sustain its assets: cost structure, profitability, and cash flow generation.

Technological Modeling

technological-modeling
Technological modeling is a discipline to provide the basis for companies to sustain innovation, thus developing incremental products. While also looking at breakthrough innovative products that can pave the way for long-term success. In a sort of Barbell Strategy, technological modeling suggests having a two-sided approach, on the one hand, to keep sustaining continuous innovation as a core part of the business model. On the other hand, it places bets on future developments that have the potential to break through and take a leap forward.

Distribution Channels

distribution-channels
A distribution channel is the set of steps it takes for a product to get in the hands of the key customer or consumer. Distribution channels can be direct or indirect. Distribution can also be physical or digital, depending on the kind of business and industry.

Marketing Channels

marketing-channels
A marketing channel represents the set of activities necessary to create a distribution for a product and make sure that the product is delivered in the hands of the right people and that the potential customer is satisfied with it. The marketing channel also needs to be aligned with the brand message of the company.

Other Revenue Model Case Studies

BuzzFeed Business Model

how-does-buzzfeed-make-money
BuzzFeed is an American digital media company founded by Jonah Peretti, Kenneth Lerer, and John S. Johnson III in 2006. BuzzFeed had a focus on viral content. BuzzFeed’s website relies on advertising to make money. Advertising revenue streams comprise display ads, video advertising, native advertising, affiliate marketing, and subscriptions via the BuzzFeed News service.

Farfetch Business Model

farfetch-business-model
Farfetch is an online luxury fashion retail platform founded by Portuguese entrepreneur José Neves, a stalwart of the fashion industry since the 1990s, with the vision of allowing anyone to purchase clothing from high-end brands from cities like Paris and Milan, from the comfort of their home. The company makes money through commissions, fulfillment services, and wholesale distributions.

How Does Revolut Make Money

how-does-revolut-make-money
Revolut an English fintech company offering banking and investment services to consumers. Founded in 2015 by Nikolay Storonsky and Vlad Yatsenko, the company initially produced a low-rate travel card. Storonsky in particular was an avid traveler who became tired of spending hundreds of pounds on currency exchange and foreign transaction fees. The Revolut app and core banking account are free to use. Instead, money is made through a combination of subscription fees, transaction fees, perks, and ancillary services.

eToro Business Model

how-does-etoro-make-money
eToro specializes in social trading, multi-asset brokerage, online investing, and Bitcoin exchange. EToro has a similarly diverse revenue generation model with a diverse product range through fees applied to CFD and non-CFD trades. Overnight and weekend interest fee. Withdrawal fees and conversion fees.

Oracle Business Model

how-does-oracle-make-money
Oracle is a behemoth software company, founded in 1977 by Larry Ellison, Bob Miner, and Ed Oates. The company primarily followed the on-premise software model, but it mostly successfully transitioned to the cloud model. In fact, by 2020, cloud services represented most of its revenues. Indeed its lineup of software products comprises MySQL, Java, Middleware, Oracle Linux, and many others.

Zalando Business Model

zalando-business-model
Zalando is a multi-national eCommerce company founded in 2008 by David Schneider and Robert Gentz, created under the name Ifansho, changed to Zalando as a reference to the Italian word zalare – or “making jokes”. Zalando generates revenues by purchasing stock and then selling it for a profit. Zalando also charges brands it partners with a commission for the privilege of selling on its platform. The commission Zalando collects on each sale is undisclosed. Zalando also collects advertising revenue from ads placed on its website and app.

How Does E-Trade Make Money

how-does-e-trade-make-money
E-Trade is a trading platform, allowing investors to trade common and preferred stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), options, bonds, mutual funds, and futures contracts, acquired by Morgan Stanley in 2020 for $13 billion. E-Trade makes money through interest income, order flow, margin interests, options, future and bonds trading, and through other fees and service charges.

Tinder Business Model

how-does-tinder-make-money
Tinder is among the most popular dating apps. Initially named MatchBox, it leveraged a “double opt-in” mechanism that helped remove the initial friction of having to meet strangers. Later on, the product was renamed Tinder. The company (now parts of the Match Group) makes money via its main subscription plans and premium features like boosts and super likes.

ClassPass Business Model

classpass-business-model
ClassPass is a North American fitness class provider using a flat-rate monthly subscription model. ClassPass primarily makes money via a subscription model leveraging five main plans, ranging from $15/month to $199/month. It also provides enterprise services to large companies like Under Armour, Morgan Stanley, and Google. Besides, ClassPass charges a cancellation fee of $15 if a cancellation is made within 12 hours of the class start time.

Reddit Business Model

how-does-reddit-make-money
Reddit is a social news and discussion website that also rates web content. The platform was created in 2005 after founders Alexis Ohanian and Steve Huffman met venture capitalist Paul Graham and pitched the company as the “front page of the internet.” Reddit makes money primarily via advertising. It also offers premium membership plans.

Read Also: Amazon Business Model, Google Business Model, Netflix Business Model, Airbnb Business Model, Spotify Business Model, Dropbox Business Model.

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