Business Patterns

Since Fab7 there is talk (and questions) about the 7 "business models" we have identified -- I'd rather call them business design patterns, since they revole around some basic thoughts how a FabLab could generate enough income to sustain itself. The 7 patterns are:


 * 1) grant-based
 * 2) embedded in institutions
 * 3) operating as a prototype shop
 * 4) access fees
 * 5) educational activities
 * 6) techno tourism
 * 7) gurus for hire (managers of existing labs offer their insights for money to new labs)

Labs typically use a mix of these models.

grant-based
Main income stream: public (or private) funding

Main service provided: solving some problem the funding body has allocated money for

embedded in institutions
Main income stream: none, but running costs are covered by parent institution

Main service provided: adding to the (core?) activities of parent institution (e.g. education, providing a workshop, enabling certain activities)

operating as a prototype shop
Main income stream: work for hire

Main service provided: building prototypes according to specification, ideally together with the customer

access fees
Main income stream: hourly, monthly or yearly access fees ("gym model")

Main service provided: access to workshop

educational activities
Main income stream: course and workshop fees

Main service provided: (ideally: officially approved/accredited) educational activities, lead by FabLab instructors

techno tourism
Main income stream: event or activity based fees

Main service provided: leasurely encounters with digital manufacturing technology

gurus for hire
Main income stream: consultancy or support fees

Main service provided: access to knowledge, access to "official" cirquit of labs