Raising money
How much does crowdfunding cost?
On CoFunders, opening a campaign costs $5 on the free plan, and each pledge pays 1.5% plus a flat $0.99. Claiming the money and withdrawing it have no platform fee, and a campaign that misses its goal owes nothing. Other platforms charge differently, so compare what you'd actually keep.
Which fees does a campaign pay?
Three fees, plus a share reward if you choose to offer one. You pay only the first yourself, and the rest come out of each pledge before it reaches your campaign.
| Cost | How much, on the free plan | When |
|---|---|---|
| Opening a campaign | $5 | When you publish |
| Our fee | 1.5% of each pledge | As each pledge is made |
| Flat fee | $0.99 on each pledge | As each pledge is made |
| Share reward, if you offer one | Up to 18.5% of a pledge it brings | As that pledge is made |
| Claiming and withdrawing | No platform fee |
The percentage fee on a pledge follows the plan of the account making it. It's taken when the pledge is made, so it isn't returned if the campaign misses its goal. Paid plans aren't on sale today, so the published fee is the free plan's fee.
How much of each pledge do you keep?
On the free plan, a $100 pledge adds $97.51 to your total. The flat fee is the same on every pledge, so many small pledges cost you more than a few large ones: on the smallest pledge the contract accepts, $10, it's close to a tenth.
Keep that in mind when you set your reward tiers. A tier near the minimum pays the flat fee on very little.
How do other platforms compare?
Most take a percentage of what you raise plus a payment fee, often only if you reach your goal. Some charge the backer instead of you. We're the dearer choice for a campaign made of many small pledges, because of the flat fee.
Rates change, so compare them on your own numbers. The fee calculator puts your total beside each platform's published rate, with the date it was read, and the comparison explains the differences.
What other costs should you plan for?
The ones no platform charges: making the rewards, packaging, shipping, VAT where it applies and tax on what you raise. They're usually bigger than the fees.
The goal planner adds them to the fees, so your goal covers all of it. The reward tier planner does the same for each reward, tier by tier.
Your next step
Try your own numbers in the fee calculator, then read how to set a goal.