# Business Models The Business Model Canvas (BMC) was originally developed to help startups think through their business model. The BMC is an alternative to a business plan, and helps entrepreneurs think through the different aspects of their business – helping them to build a business from scratch, or to improve on a specific business product or service. ![Source: Business Model Canvas, Strategyzer. https://strategyzer.com/canvas/business-model-canvas.](https://3096219282-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-LaRNBxYCwJtHxSBVQL5%2F-Lis4cv9qfOboM4Ld_r2%2F-LisC0VsD7QiCQv-JOEP%2F9.png?alt=media\&token=0600b931-0446-4839-beaa-9f5414fc88c4) The business model canvas is a powerful visual distillation of Alexander Osterwalder's PhD thesis "The Business Model Ontology." Its popularity has led to numerous adaptations, including socially and environmentally conscious variations. They include the [Flourishing Business Canvas](http://www.flourishingbusiness.org/the-toolkit-flourishing-business-canvas/), the [Social Business Model Canvas](http://www.socialbusinessmodelcanvas.com/), and the [Mission Model Canvas](https://steveblank.com/2016/02/23/the-mission-model-canvas-an-adapted-business-model-canvas-for-mission-driven-organizations/). These canvases may helpful for social innovation labs to create a business model for a project, or solutions idea/ intervention. {% file src="" %} Template - Business Model Canvas {% endfile %}