I really wish I had a good business model for my open source product (a database publishing software). I am doing my living from it - quite ok - (selling support), but I think I could do much more. If there is someone from Berlin, Germany with ideas or knowledge in that area, I'd be more than happy to talk to you about that (even might pay you for that).
We set out to solve a problem first, where the solution includes open source software run as a service. Most people don't want to run software services. They just want to use them. In our case the software is important, but without attached services (training, consulting, support, program management etc) it wouldn't work.
Now, I don't claim it is easy, or suitable for everyone, but it is possible. Come visit one day and I'll show how we do it for free. It is open after all. ;)
