From Bundles to Brokerages: 6 More Ways to Make Money

So you've learned about the freemium model—where everything's "free" until it's not. But here's the thing: that's just one way companies make money in today's world.

Spoiler alert: There are a LOT of different playbooks, and they're all around you. That combo meal at McDonald's? Business strategy. Those expensive printer ink cartridges? Also a business strategy.

The fact that your iPhone costs a fortune but apps are cheap? You guessed it—strategy.

This week, we're diving into six more business models that shape how companies make money, how they grow, and why they make the decisions they do. And trust us, once you see these patterns, you'll start spotting them everywhere.

What's Coming This Week

The Bundling Model: Buy More, Save More (Supposedly)

Ever wonder why you can't just buy internet service without them trying to throw in cable and phone? Or why that value meal is "only a dollar more"? Bundling is the art of making you buy more stuff by convincing you it's a better deal. Sometimes it is. Sometimes... you just wanted the burger.

The Marketplace Model: Making Money by Connecting Buyers & Sellers

Airbnb doesn't own hotels. Uber doesn't own cars. Etsy doesn't knit a single scarf. So how are these companies worth billions? They're matchmakers—connecting people who have stuff with people who want stuff, and taking a cut every time. It's genius, and it's everywhere.

The Affiliate Model: Get Paid to Promote Other People's Stuff

That influencer raving about their favorite water bottle? That blogger with the "15 Best Coffee Makers" list? They're probably getting paid every time you click and buy. Welcome to affiliate marketing, where anyone with an audience can become a commission-based salesperson. It's not evil—but it's definitely worth understanding.

The Razor Blade Model: Cheap Hardware, Expensive Refills

Printers are suspiciously affordable. But ink cartridges? Highway robbery. That's not an accident—it's the razor blade model. Sell the thing cheap (or even at a loss), then make all your money on the refills you'll need to keep buying forever. King Gillette invented this strategy over 100 years ago, and companies are still using it today.

The Reverse Razor Blade Model: Expensive Product, Cheap Add-Ons

Some companies looked at the razor blade model and said, "What if we did the opposite?" Charge a premium upfront for quality, then keep customers happy with cheap or free ongoing costs. iPhones are expensive, but apps are affordable. Teslas cost a fortune, but charging is relatively cheap. It's a different kind of loyalty play—and it works.

The Franchise Model: Copy, Paste, Profit

McDonald's looks exactly the same in Tokyo, Toronto, and Tulsa. That's franchising—where one company figures out a winning formula, then sells the right to copy it to other people. It's business in a box, complete with instruction manual. But it's way more complicated (and expensive) than it sounds.

Why This Matters for Your Child

Here's the thing: your child interacts with all of these business models every single day. They just don't realize it.

That "free" game with in-app purchases? Multiple business models working together. That pizza place down the street? Probably a franchise. That YouTuber they watch who always mentions the same brands? Affiliate marketing.

Understanding how businesses actually make money isn't just interesting—it's a life skill. It helps them:

• Be smarter consumers (is this actually a good deal, or am I being played?)

• Think like entrepreneurs (what are all the different ways I could make money from an idea?)

• Understand the world better (oh, that's why companies do that annoying thing)

What Makes Mintro Different

We're not teaching business through boring textbooks or theoretical case studies. We're teaching it through the world your kid already lives in—the apps they use, the games they play, the brands they see everywhere.

Because the truth is, the next generation of business leaders is learning right now. And they deserve to understand how the game actually works.

Ready to Dive In?

Over the next week, we'll break down each of these models in detail—with real examples, the psychology behind why they work, and what your kid should know about each one.

No corporate jargon. No boring lectures. Just straightforward explanations of how modern businesses actually make money, written in a way that makes sense (and maybe even makes you laugh).

Because business education doesn't have to be painful. It just has to be real.

Want your kid to understand the business strategies shaping the world around them? Follow along this week as we break down six more ways companies make money—and why it matters.