The Nimbus lean canvas template follows the structure below. You can use it to have a quick snapshot of what to focus on, how you are tracking, and where you need to improve.
Add in the following details:
You can work through each section either by yourself or with your team. It's best to complete it in the order listed above, which will give you greater clarity as you work through each section.
A lean canvas is a simple on-page business plan that captures the essential metrics any business owner needs to monitor. You can use a lean canvas as a tool to help you monitor factors such as problems you're experiencing, revenue streams, costs, customer segments, services you provide, and other external factors.
Using a lean canvas makes it easy to keep track of your key functions to ensure they're working correctly as per your business model. A lean canvas is a tool to create a summarized version of your business plan.
Depending on your business model, using a lean canvas template can help the following ways.
You can solve any problem faster if you give it the focus it needs. Problems drag on because of lack of visibility and no one being responsible for solving it. The lean canvas template helps ensure you don't lose sight of what you need to give attention to.
When you focus on too many things, it's easy to lose sight of what's important. To build your business, it's essential to know what the main factors to monitor are. The lean canvas template focuses specifically on factors that improve the product or service you provide, increase customer satisfaction, and achieve what your business has the potential to.
There are many moving parts to make any business idea successful. Operating and building a business is difficult. You may juggle multiple projects at once. If you try to do everything, you'll quickly get overwhelmed. That's why having a lean canvas template is helpful. When you have a lean canvas, you can focus on the critical aspects of your business without getting bogged down in details.
The lean canvas template gives you an overview of all the areas to focus on. It also provides a picture of your current situation, so everyone has clarity about what they need to work on. When everyone has greater clarity, you can easily align your team to grow your business. Having more clarity is one of the biggest advantages of having a lean canvas.
If you want to run a successful business, you must communicate effectively across teams. The lean canvas template ensures you stay focused on the right priorities. By doing so, you can avoid miscommunication and unnecessary stress. If something isn't functioning correctly, you can correct it quickly before it becomes a bigger issue.
When you use a lean canvas template, you will see it has ten sections, with two sub-sections. It's best to complete the top row first and complete the two sections in the bottom row last.
You can edit and refine your lean canvas as you go along.
In this step, list up to three problems your product or service solves. Identify how common the problem is and what customers will pay to solve it.
Find out solutions that already exist that also solve your business problem. Identify how effective those solutions are and what could be missing in what they offer.
Identify how the solutions you offer solve your customers' problems. Describe how your solutions will make your customers' lives better.
Here, define what your markers for success are. These are your key business metrics or performance indicators. When you review these metrics, it should give you are idea of how your business is tracking.
Identify what makes your business and the solutions you offer different from your competition. This is your differentiator. You need to know whether you are different based on quality, price, or other features.
This is like your benefit statement, which conveys your value proposition simply and clearly.
Define what gives you a competitive edge. Identify what you offer that's only available with your solutions.
Describe the options available to reach your customers. This is your plan to get in front of your customers. It can be via traditional media, social media, various forms of paid advertising, etc.
Define who your ideal customers are, what their key characteristics are, and what would make them interested in your solutions.
Identify where in the market you can get quick wins. This is about describing segments in the market that will want to use your product or service as part of your beta launch or early release. These customers can provide valuable feedback to help you improve what you offer.
The section in the bottom row is to consider all your costs. This includes operational costs, both fixed and variable, distribution costs, and customer acquisition costs.
Identify how you plan to generate revenue. Based on your business and your customer segments, identify which revenue model will work best. Knowing this will inform you whether you will cover your costs and make a profit in your business.
Now that you know what's required, it's time to create your lean canvas template. You can use the Nimbus lean canvas template as a starting point. This template is a one-page document to capture your key business indicators, which you can share with your team.
If others could also benefit from using this lean canvas template, please share it with them.