My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Session-Based Revenue Model
A time-boxed service model where customers pay fixed fees for specific duration access to facilities or experiences, optimized through session scheduling and capacity management.
How It Works
Divide service delivery into discrete time slots (e.g. 90 minutes), charge per session rather than hourly, optimize capacity utilization through advance booking, and layer additional revenue through events and add-ons during off-peak times.
Components
Define optimal session length
Calculate capacity per session
Price per session to hit target revenue
Schedule sessions to maximize utilization
Add complementary revenue streams
Build cleaning/reset protocols between sessions
When to Use
Physical spaces that can serve multiple customers simultaneously, entertainment venues, fitness studios, educational programs, or any service where experience quality depends on time limits and fresh starts.
When Not to Use
Services requiring extensive customization, one-on-one attention, or where customers need flexible duration. Avoid if setup/cleanup time makes sessions inefficient.
Anti-Patterns to Avoid
Example
“Play Street Museums run 90-minute sessions at $15 per child with 25 kids per session, 7 sessions daily. At 75% utilization plus birthday party revenue, they generate $40K+ monthly with predictable scheduling and clear value proposition.”