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:
- grant-based
- embedded in institutions
- operating as a prototype shop
- access fees
- educational activities
- techno tourism
- gurus for hire (managers of existing labs offer their insights for money to new labs)
Labs typically use a mix of these models.
Contents
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
