How to Identify the Best Business Model for Your Transition to Entrepreneurship
- Akino Davis
- Jun 22
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 10
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In the last edition, we explored a common crossroad: Should You Start a Business in Your Industry or Explore Something New? If you missed it, you can catch up here → Read here.
This week, we're continuing the journey by tackling another critical decision point for every transitioning professional: choosing the right business model.
“What if I choose the wrong model and fail?”
That’s the fear, right?
Most professionals thinking about entrepreneurship worry not just about having a business idea but about choosing the wrong way to bring that idea to life. It’s not just what you’ll sell, but how you’ll structure your business to generate income. And that decision alone can make or break your transition.
Let’s break it down.
The Real Problem: “I Don’t Know How I’ll Make Money Consistently.”
If you’re like most professionals I coach, you’ve asked yourself this:
“Should I start a service business, an online store, a digital product, a franchise, a consultancy… or something else?”
What it comes down to is, choosing a business model isn’t as glamorous as naming your brand or building a website. But it’s essential. The wrong model creates burnout. The right one builds freedom.
When I founded SME Digital, I didn’t start with clarity on my model. I had skills in entrepreneurship, operations, construction, and management but no real plan to turn that into a sustainable business. So I did what most people do: I tried a bit of everything. A one-off project here. A small gig there. Eventually, I realized I wasn’t building a business; I was just staying busy.
The Common (and Costly) Approaches Professionals Use
Let’s talk about what people often do and why it doesn’t work.
They copy someone else’s model: You see someone making money from coaching or dropshipping and assume, “If it worked for them, it’ll work for me.” But you’re not them. You have different strengths, audiences, and goals.
They chase trends: “Everyone’s launching a course.” “AI agencies are hot.” “Freelancing is booming.” Trend-based decisions create short-term results but long-term confusion.
They skip testing altogether: Many professionals build a full business before confirming whether people will pay for what they offer. It’s like building a house before checking if the land is solid.
A Smarter Way: Align Your Business Model with You
The right business model aligns three things:
Your Expertise – What do you know deeply?
Your Lifestyle Goals – How do you want to work and earn?
Your Audience’s Needs – What will people pay for now?
When I redesigned SME Digital, I asked a better question:
“What’s the simplest model I can use to deliver high-value results in a way that fits my schedule and earns consistently?”
That led me to shift into high-ticket 1:1 coaching paired with scalable digital products. I leaned into what I was already doing for people informally: offering advice, creating plans, and helping them take action. I just formalized it into a business model.
What You Can Do Next
Here’s a framework to help you choose the best model for you:
1. Start with what you already do well. Make a list of skills you’ve used in your career. Then ask, “Which of these can help someone solve a real problem?”
2. Match your energy and availability. If you only have 10 hours a week, avoid time-heavy models like done-for-you services. Consider coaching, consulting, or product-based models.
3. Validate before you commit. Talk to 5–10 people in your target audience. Share your offer concept. See what resonates. No fancy funnel needed, just real conversations.
4. Choose income over effort. Look at potential revenue and delivery time. Prioritize models that offer high value with high margins. For example, coaching often beats freelancing in income per hour.
5. Keep it simple. One offer. One audience. One result. You can always expand later, but complexity too early kills momentum.
A Personal Lesson from My Journey
When I transitioned from the world of facilities and operations into entrepreneurship, I thought I had to be everywhere and do everything. I spread myself thin, offering services that didn’t light me up, chasing projects I wasn’t passionate about.
It wasn’t until I paused and mapped out a profitable, aligned business model that things changed. I focused on helping professionals like me transition with confidence. That’s how SME Digital grew and how I built a business that didn’t just make money but made sense.
You don’t need ten offers. You don’t need to be on every platform. You need one well-designed business model, rooted in who you are.
Final Thoughts
Choosing your business model isn’t just about income; it’s about alignment.
It’s the bridge between your 9-to-5 and your freedom. Get it right, and you build a business that grows with you. Get it wrong, and you burn out building something you don’t even enjoy.
If this resonates with you and you’re serious about starting a business that fits your life, let’s stay connected.
Subscribe to the Becoming An Entrepreneur Newsletter for weekly insights, tools, and strategies that help professionals like you build a business that works before you quit your job.
Join us at www.smedigital.biz/blog
You've got the expertise. Let’s build the business to match.
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