Business Model Canvas & Lean Canvas · Core
Cost structure
Also called: cost base
ELI5
What the business spends money on and why.
Used in conversation
“The cost structure changes materially at enterprise scale.”
Definition
The main fixed and variable costs created by a business model.
Here “Cost structure” means: The main fixed and variable costs created by a business model.
Pitch context
You will see “Cost structure” in strategy decks, market analyses, business plans and planning workshops when the discussion reaches business model canvas & lean canvas.
Why it matters: It helps a reader interpret business model canvas & lean canvas without confusing the measure, decision, role or evidence being discussed.
Sources & evidence · 5
Supporting source families. This entry is an editorial synthesis rather than a quotation from one canonical glossary.
- Strategyzer — Business Model Canvas resourcesSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- Strategyzer — Value Proposition Canvas resourcesSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- LEANSTACK — Lean CanvasSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division — Herfindahl-Hirschman IndexSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Census Bureau — Business and economy dataSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16