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How to Model Your Business Structure

This comprehensive guide demonstrates how to model complex business structures using workspace billing modes and organization hierarchies. Each real-world scenario provides complete implementation guidance including billing mode selection, hierarchy design, and resource management configuration. What you’ll learn:
  • Choose optimal billing modes for different business models
  • Design organization hierarchies for complex structures
  • Configure resource management and usage tracking
  • Implement best practices for scalability and management

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Franchise Business Model: Multi-Location Brand Management

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Franchise Business Scenario

A restaurant franchise with 50 locations across multiple regions. Each location is independently owned and requires separate billing, while maintaining brand consistency and enabling resource sharing across the franchise network. Business requirements:
  • Independent billing for each franchisee
  • Shared resource pool for brand consistency
  • Regional management and reporting
  • Flexible resource allocation across locations
Why Pooled Mode? Enables independent franchisee billing while creating a shared resource pool for brand-wide consistency and resource flexibility.

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Implementation

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Franchise Implementation Steps

  1. Initialize Workspace: Create workspace with Pooled billing mode for resource sharing
  2. Configure Franchisee Billing:
    • Create individual billing accounts for each franchisee
    • Add secure payment methods for each account
    • Purchase subscriptions based on franchisee location count and needs
  3. Design Organization Structure:
    • Create regional organizations for geographic management
    • Add franchise locations under appropriate regional organizations
    • Set location-specific resource limits as needed
  4. Setup Resource Management:
    • Configure subscription pooling across all franchisees
    • Enable flexible resource allocation to any location
    • Implement usage tracking for franchisee reporting and chargeback

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Franchise Model Benefits

  • Financial independence: Each franchisee maintains separate billing and payment control
  • Resource flexibility: Shared pool enables dynamic allocation during peak periods
  • Centralized management: Brand-wide visibility and control for corporate oversight
  • Scalable growth: Easy addition of new franchisees and locations to existing structure

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Multinational Corporation: Global Enterprise Structure

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Multinational Corporation Scenario

A global technology company with subsidiaries operating in USA, Germany, and Japan. Each country requires complete operational independence including separate budgets, local currencies, and compliance with regional regulations. Business requirements:
  • Complete financial and operational isolation between countries
  • Multi-currency billing and reporting
  • Regional compliance and audit capabilities
  • Independent budget management per subsidiary
Why Assigned Mode? Provides complete isolation between subsidiaries for compliance, financial accountability, and independent operations.

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Implementation

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Setup Steps

  1. Create Workspace with Assigned billing mode
  2. Establish Country Structure:
    • Create top-level organization for each country
    • Create billing account for each country entity
    • Assign billing account to corresponding organization
  3. Configure Billing Accounts:
    • Set appropriate currency for each account
    • Add country-specific payment methods
    • Purchase subscriptions based on local needs
  4. Build Department Structure:
    • Create child organizations for departments
    • Set resource limits per department
    • Configure approval workflows as needed

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Benefits

  • Complete financial separation between countries
  • Local currency billing and budgeting
  • Compliance with regional regulations
  • Clear cost center management

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Managed Service Provider (MSP): Multi-Client Service Management

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MSP Business Scenario

A managed service provider delivering IT services to 100+ diverse clients. Each client requires complete billing separation and resource isolation, with enterprise clients needing multiple invoices for different departments. Business requirements:
  • Complete client isolation and separate billing
  • Scalable client onboarding and management
  • Multiple invoice capability for enterprise clients
  • Efficient resource allocation and usage tracking
Why Assigned Mode? Ensures complete client isolation required for MSP operations while supporting complex enterprise client billing needs.

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Implementation

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Setup Steps

  1. Create Workspace with Assigned billing mode
  2. Onboard Standard Clients:
    • Create organization for each client
    • Create corresponding billing account
    • Assign billing to organization
  3. Handle Enterprise Clients:
    • Single organization with child departments
    • Single billing account with multiple subscriptions
    • Each subscription generates separate invoice line
    • Resources pool within the billing account

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Advanced Scenarios

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Multiple Invoice Requirements

When a client needs more than 3 separate invoices (subscription limit):
  1. Create additional billing account for same client
  2. Use organization hierarchy to maintain unified structure
  3. Assign different departments to different billing accounts

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Benefits

  • Complete client isolation
  • Flexible invoicing options
  • Scalable client management
  • Clear usage tracking per client

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Channel Partner / Reseller Network

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Scenario

A software vendor selling through a multi-tier partner channel. Need to track usage and manage resources through multiple levels of resellers down to end customers. Organization Hierarchy (Billing mode depends on commercial model)

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Implementation

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Setup Steps

  1. Design Channel Structure:
    • Map out partner tiers and relationships
    • Determine resource allocation strategy
    • Plan for usage reporting needs
  2. Create Organization Hierarchy:
    • Top-level: Master partners
    • Mid-level: Regional partners
    • Leaf-level: End customers
  3. Configure Resource Limits:
    • Set limits at each partner level
    • Limits cascade down the hierarchy
    • Most restrictive limit applies
  4. Enable Usage Tracking:
    • Direct usage at customer level
    • Automatic aggregation up the tree
    • Partner dashboards for visibility

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Benefits

  • Complete channel visibility
  • Automated usage rollup
  • Flexible resource allocation
  • Partner-specific limits and controls

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Traditional Business

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Scenario

A mid-size company with 200 employees across Sales, Marketing, Engineering, and Operations. All departments share the same budget and resources. Billing Mode: Single

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Implementation

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Setup Steps

  1. Create Workspace with Single billing mode
  2. Set Up Billing:
    • Create single billing account
    • Add payment method
    • Purchase subscription for total needs
  3. Create Departments:
    • Create organizations for each department
    • Optionally set departmental limits
    • All draw from same resource pool

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Benefits

  • Simple, unified billing
  • Flexible resource sharing
  • Easy to manage
  • Single invoice for accounting

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Key Considerations

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Choosing the Right Model

  1. Financial Structure
    • Unified budget → Single or Pooled mode
    • Separate budgets → Assigned mode
  2. Resource Sharing
    • Full sharing → Single mode
    • Controlled sharing → Pooled mode
    • No sharing → Assigned mode
  3. Compliance Requirements
    • Strict separation → Assigned mode
    • Audit trails → Any mode with proper hierarchy
  4. Scalability
    • Plan for growth in organization structure
    • Consider future billing requirements
    • Design hierarchy for long-term needs

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What’s Next?

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