Budget example
A typical cost split for a documentary dream in Nanjing, shown in CNY. Backers are charged the equivalent in US dollars.
Example goal
CN¥120,000
- Research and accessCN¥30,000 · 25%
- Field crew and travelCN¥48,000 · 40%
- Editing and archiveCN¥30,000 · 25%
- Captions and deliveryCN¥12,000 · 10%
What you receive
- Backers give
- CN¥120,000
- Platform fee (15%)
- −CN¥18,000
- You receive
- CN¥102,000
- 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 documentary dream with a goal of CN¥120,000. Backers fund the whole goal, but each milestone's money stays held until you post the proof and Backers release it.
Milestone 1
CN¥24,000 · 20%
Confirm story access
Share a research outline, interview schedule and access confirmations, hiding participant contact information.
Milestone 2
CN¥42,000 · 35%
Capture field interviews
Post a dated field log, equipment receipts and approved interview excerpts that demonstrate completed recording.
Milestone 3
CN¥36,000 · 30%
Build the documentary cut
Share a rough-cut excerpt, transcript sample and edit log showing how interviews and archive material form the story.
Milestone 4
CN¥18,000 · 15%
Complete final delivery
Post a captioned preview, source-credit list and delivery checklist documenting the finished documentary master.
Risks to plan for
- R1
Access falls through
An interview subject or location may become unavailable. Include alternative sources in the research milestone and allow room for additional field days without changing the core question.
- R2
The story shifts
New evidence can change the direction of the documentary. Use an editorial checkpoint after fieldwork and reserve editing time to reassess the outline before committing to a final cut.
- R3
Archive exceeds scope
Essential photographs or footage may be difficult to obtain. List priority archive needs early, price alternatives and keep a fallback approach using newly recorded material in the edit budget.
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
How can I prove progress while protecting documentary participants?
Share redacted field logs, equipment records and excerpts approved for sharing instead of raw sensitive interviews. Tell Backers what each item verifies and build privacy-aware evidence into the fieldwork milestone from the start.
What if the finished story differs from my original outline?
Describe the central question rather than promising a specific conclusion. Use the editorial milestone to explain discoveries, show how the cut has changed and identify any revised filming or archive needs before final delivery.
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¥120,000, you receive CN¥102,000 once everything is released.
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