Custom business simulations for leadership development
Fully bespoke, built from a blank page when no existing simulation fits. Most programs don’t need custom, but when yours does, we’ll build it with you.
For when no existing simulation can do the job
A custom simulation starts from a blank page. We build the financial model, the decisions and the scenarios entirely around your organization, for needs a proven simulation can’t stretch to cover. It’s the biggest investment of the three, so we only recommend it when nothing else will work (which is rare).
When a custom business simulation is the right call
Custom makes sense when no proven simulation can be stretched to model what your leaders need to practice. The most common reasons:
Your business model is unusual enough that no existing financial engine fits
You’re preparing leaders for a one-of-a-kind event, like a merger, a major restructuring or entering a new market
You need decisions, constraints or relationships that no standard simulation includes
If none of those apply, a tailored simulation, which can include your business, industry and financial drivers, will usually do the job for far less, and we’ll tell you so.
What our clients say
Do you really need a business simulation?
A free ebook to help you decide whether you need a business simulation, how to use one well, and how to stay in control of the project. It covers simulation size and focus, model management, keeping control and choosing a provider.
Free to download, no email required.
Talk through your program
No pitch, just an honest read on what fits.
As seen in
Why Simulation Studios:
Built and facilitated by a former executive who has run a P&L outside the training industry
500+ simulations built or tailored since 2003
Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for more than 20 years
No sales quotas, and we’ll tell you if you don’t need simulation
Client relationships that last 10+ years
References available on request
Business simulation FAQs
What is a business simulation?
A business simulation is a hands-on exercise in which a team runs a simulated company over several rounds, each representing a year, and sees the financial results of its decisions. Teams make the calls a leadership team makes, such as pricing, investment and trade-offs between functions. After each round, a facilitator walks them through what happened and why.
Ready-to-go, tailored or custom: which do I need?
Most programs don’t need custom. A ready-to-go simulation fits into an existing program with minimal setup. A tailored simulation adapts a proven engine to your leadership model, terminology and content, and can go as far as your business, industry and financial drivers. A custom build starts from a blank page and makes sense only when nothing existing can do the job. We’ll tell you which one fits, including when the answer is not to use a simulation at all.
How much does a business simulation cost?
It ranges widely. The biggest cost driver is the underlying financial model: whether a proven one can be adapted or a new one has to be built. After that come the number of learning objectives and how facilitation is handled. Graphics rarely drive the price. For real numbers and the questions to ask any provider, read What a Business Simulation Actually Costs.
Do business simulations have to be computer-based?
No. Paper-based simulations are often the best value. They cost less, adapt more easily, and keep attention on the decisions instead of the screen. We build both and will recommend whichever fits your program and budget.
Who facilitates the simulation?
Every session is facilitated by a former executive who has run a P&L outside the training industry, the same person who builds the simulation. There are no junior facilitators and no hand-offs. If you’d like your own team involved, we encourage and support co-facilitation.
Five tips for using a business simulation in leadership development
Question whether you need one. A simulation isn’t the right tool for every program. It earns its place when people need to practice making decisions and see the consequences. If the goal is mostly sharing knowledge, a strong workshop may do the job for less.
Keep it simple. Three learning objectives is about the ceiling. Write them down before any design starts. Every objective you add makes the model more complex, the build longer and the learning harder to follow.
Put most of your budget into great training content. The simulation supports your program; it doesn’t replace it. Money spent on strong content goes further than money spent on graphics and features.
Don’t skimp on facilitation. The learning happens in the debrief, and facilitating it well takes real skill and experience. If your own team will run it, co-facilitate the first sessions with someone who has done it before.
Be wary of anyone who says you need custom. Most programs don’t. A provider who leads with a custom build may be solving their problem, not yours.