Choosing a Model for Your Open Source Business C When I explain to people that I run a business writing free, open source software, most people look at me like I’m an alien. Understandably so. It’s weird and confusing to those who aren’t knee-deep in it. It works, and it’s great when it works, but there are some unique challenges that this type of business introduces – namely, how do you prevent your business from competing against your free product? How do you produce an excellent open source product while still offering something of enough value to make it worth it for people to pay you?