If you give away your secret sauce recipe, no one will pay for your recipe (though some will donate), but people will still buy your fried chicken.
I think open source works best when it isn't your product, but your capability.
An e-commerce site open sources it's product inventory management software. If I spin up a docker container with your software, I will be closer to building an e-commerce business, but I won't have one without a lot more work.
More examples:
A blogger makes her own open source blogging software.
A 3D games developer - open sources their AI engine or 3D engine.
You get community adoption, goodwill & hopefully contribution, ability to hire employees that already know your software. Possibly it identifies new markets to pursue.
I think open source works best when it isn't your product, but your capability. An e-commerce site open sources it's product inventory management software. If I spin up a docker container with your software, I will be closer to building an e-commerce business, but I won't have one without a lot more work.
More examples: A blogger makes her own open source blogging software. A 3D games developer - open sources their AI engine or 3D engine.
You get community adoption, goodwill & hopefully contribution, ability to hire employees that already know your software. Possibly it identifies new markets to pursue.