Budget example
A typical cost split for a community garden dream in Chongqing, shown in CNY. Backers are charged the equivalent in US dollars.
Example goal
CN¥40,000
- Soil and raised bedsCN¥16,000 · 40%
- Watering and shared toolsCN¥10,000 · 25%
- Seeds and young plantsCN¥8,000 · 20%
- Site setup and signageCN¥6,000 · 15%
What you receive
- Backers give
- CN¥40,000
- Platform fee (15%)
- −CN¥6,000
- You receive
- CN¥34,000
- 01
Price from quotes, not hopes
Get at least two quotes for every large cost and note what is included. Backers rarely mind a high goal; they mind a goal that looks invented.
- 02
Plan for what you receive
The platform fee is deducted from each backing, so you receive 85% of what Backers give. Set the goal so that amount covers your real costs.
- 03
Add a small buffer
Prices move. A buffer of five to ten percent in your last milestone covers surprises without making the goal look padded. Say so openly in your story.
Example milestone plan
An example plan for a community garden dream with a goal of CN¥40,000. Backers fund the whole goal, but each milestone's money stays held until you post the proof and Backers release it.
Milestone 1
CN¥8,000 · 20%
Agree the growing site
Post the site agreement, a marked bed layout and dated ground photos, with private contact details hidden.
Milestone 2
CN¥14,000 · 35%
Prepare soil and beds
Share photos of completed beds, soil delivery receipts and a checklist showing paths and water access are ready.
Milestone 3
CN¥12,000 · 30%
Plant and equip plots
Post planting photos, seed and tool receipts and a plot map showing which crops and shared supplies are in place.
Milestone 4
CN¥6,000 · 15%
Start shared maintenance
Share the watering rota, a first maintenance log and dated photos showing how the planted beds are being cared for.
Risks to plan for
- R1
Unsuitable growing ground
Poor drainage or unsuitable soil can make planned beds unusable. Put a site assessment before construction and budget for raised beds or a smaller initial growing area.
- R2
Water access gaps
A nearby tap may not provide dependable access throughout the growing season. Confirm the watering arrangement early and include storage and hoses in the equipment budget.
- R3
Volunteer gaps
Planting days can draw more helpers than routine upkeep. Make a named watering rota part of the final milestone and keep the first planting area manageable for that team.
How Backers are protected
14-day review per milestone
When proof is posted, each Backer has 14 days to release their share or ask for more. Money not released in time goes back to the Backer.
15% fee, deducted — never added
Backers pay exactly what they choose. The 15% fee comes out of each backing: CN¥1,000 gives the Dreamer CN¥850. The fee is kept if money is returned.
Gifts, not shares
Backings are gifts. No shares, equity, interest or repayment, and Dreamers keep full ownership. Nothing on cohero is an investment or a loan.
Questions and answers
What should Backers see before planting begins?
Show the agreed site, prepared beds and a workable water supply before buying the full plant order. Receipts and dated preparation photos help Backers distinguish completed groundwork from a proposed planting day.
Should my goal include the platform fee?
Yes. The fee is taken from the backing, never added for the Backer. With a goal of CN¥40,000, you receive CN¥34,000 once everything is released.
Can we start without a permanent garden site?
You can frame the dream around a temporary growing space, but state its limits clearly. Make written site access and a layout the first proof, then choose movable beds and crops suited to the available season.
Ready when you are
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