Business model is a buzzword that everybody used (or overused) during the dotcom boom. In fact, poorly thought out business models were the downfall of many dotcoms.
However, the business model dates back to the earliest days of business; it merely describes the way in which a company makes money. A business model can be simple or very complex. A restaurant's business model is to make money by cooking and serving food to hungry customers. A website's business model might not be so clear, as there are many ways in which these types of companies can generate revenue. For example, some make money (or try to) by providing a free service and then selling advertising to other companies, while others might sell a product or service directly to online customers.
Generally, the business models of service firms are more complex than those of manufacturers and resellers. — Как правило, бизнес-модель компании из сферы услуг является более сложной, чем бизнес-модель производственной или торговой компании.
He believes he has developed a successful business model for selling music online.