Budget example
A typical cost split for a music festival dream wherever you live, shown in USD. Backers are charged the equivalent in US dollars.
Example goal
$35,000
- Artists and programming$10,500 · 30%
- Stage and technical production$12,250 · 35%
- Site and audience facilities$7,000 · 20%
- Operations and documentation$5,250 · 15%
What you receive
- Backers give
- $35,000
- Platform fee (15%)
- −$5,250
- You receive
- $29,750
- 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 music festival dream with a goal of $35,000. Backers fund the whole goal, but each milestone's money stays held until you post the proof and Backers release it.
Milestone 1
$7,000 · 20%
Confirm site and programme
Post the site layout, programme outline and booking confirmations, with private supplier and artist details hidden.
Milestone 2
$10,500 · 30%
Secure artists and production
Share confirmed performance slots, equipment specifications and redacted booking records for the main production teams.
Milestone 3
$10,500 · 30%
Build and deliver festival
Post dated stage-build photographs, soundcheck records and performance clips demonstrating the festival took place.
Milestone 4
$7,000 · 20%
Clear site and document event
Share site-clearance photographs, equipment return records and an event report comparing delivery with the programme.
Risks to plan for
- R1
Weather disrupts the site
Rain or heat can change how an outdoor site can be used. Plan shelter and weather checkpoints early, and reserve production funds for practical site adjustments before the event build.
- R2
Programme gaps appear
An artist cancellation can leave a gap in the running order. Confirm availability at the booking milestone, identify replacement options and budget flexible set lengths and changeover time.
- R3
Site services are undersized
Queues, power demand or waste volumes can exceed an early estimate. Match facilities to the planned audience, review supplier capacity and include service checks before opening the event site.
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: $100 gives the Dreamer $85. 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
Can I fund a festival before announcing the full lineup?
You can describe the event format and a realistic programme outline without naming unconfirmed artists. Make booking evidence part of an early milestone and explain what can change before Backers assess the production stage.
How should I show completion beyond photos of the stage?
Include evidence of the audience facilities, running order, equipment returns and cleared site as well as performance footage. This lets Backers assess delivery and closeout rather than treating the headline set as the whole project.
Should my goal include the platform fee?
Yes. The fee is taken from the backing, never added for the Backer. With a goal of $35,000, you receive $29,750 once everything is released.
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