Each industry tends to have its own established business models. Most discussion focuses on innovation: how new business models can be introduced, especially with the help of digital technology.

Business model variations include private label or contract manufacturers, licensing arrangements, value added resellers and franchise models.

E-Commerce business models include affiliate marketing, marketplace businesses and aggregators.

Network Effects and Platform Business Models: Platform business models enable creation and exchange of value between users, with the firm (startup) acting as an infrastructure enabling users to interact. For example, Airbnb enables hosts and travellers to interact and engage in commerce. Social media platforms primarily benefit from network effects because the service's value grows as a direct result of attracting more users.

In a crowdsourcing business model the crowd acts as a source for the business. It is the collection of information, opinions, or work from a group of people, usually sourced via the Internet.