Business Model Canvas (Excel VBA)

Alexander Osterwalder created a way to display how a business operates with nine building blocks: Key Partners, Key Activities, Value Propositions, Customer Relationships, Customer Segments, Key Resources, Channels
Cost Structure, and Revenue Streams.

If you want to use Microsoft Excel to Create a printable .xslx document, do the following.

If you need to get Excel, it’s available here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/excel

Create a Blank workbook.

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Make sure the Developer Tab is visible.

Developer Tab

If you can’t find the Developer Tab, follow these steps:

1. On the File tab, go to Options > Customize Ribbon.
2. Under Customize the Ribbon and under Main Tabs, select the Developer check box.
3. Press OK.

Click the [Visual Basic] button on the Developer Tab. It’s in the Code section.

Developer Tab

Insert a Module.

Paste the following VBA code and paste it in the Excel Module.

Sub CreateBusinessModelCanvas()
    Dim ws As Worksheet
    Set ws = ThisWorkbook.Sheets.Add(After:=ThisWorkbook.Sheets(ThisWorkbook.Sheets.Count))
    ws.Name = "Business Model Canvas"

    ' Set page layout to landscape and adjust print settings
    With ws.PageSetup
        .Orientation = xlLandscape
        .CenterHorizontally = True
        .CenterVertically = True
    End With

    ' Adjust column widths to 11
    ws.Columns.ColumnWidth = 11

    ' Define merged areas
    Dim mergedAreas As Variant
    mergedAreas = Array("A1:B1", "A2:B4", "C1:D1", "C2:D2", "E1:F1", "E2:F4", _
                        "G1:H1", "G2:H2", "I1:J1", "I2:J4", "C3:D3", "C4:D4", _
                        "G3:H3", "G4:H4", "A5:E5", "A6:E6", "F5:J5", "F6:J6")

    Dim area As Variant
    For Each area In mergedAreas
        With ws.Range(area)
            .Merge
            .HorizontalAlignment = xlCenter
            .VerticalAlignment = xlCenter
            .Font.Bold = True
            .Borders.Weight = xlThin
        End With
    Next area

    ' Set row heights for specific rows
    Dim row As Integer
    For row = 2 To 6 Step 2
        ws.Rows(row).RowHeight = 150
    Next row

    ' Add titles to merged areas
    ws.Range("A1").Value = "Key Partners"
    ws.Range("C1").Value = "Key Activities"
    ws.Range("E1").Value = "Value Propositions"
    ws.Range("G1").Value = "Customer Relationships"
    ws.Range("I1").Value = "Customer Segments"
    ws.Range("C3").Value = "Key Resources"
    ws.Range("G3").Value = "Channels"
    ws.Range("A5").Value = "Cost Structure"
    ws.Range("F5").Value = "Revenue Streams"
End Sub

This will give you a printable version of the Business Model Canvas for you to iterate and discover your needs and what works for you.