Budget example
A typical cost split for a food truck dream wherever you live, shown in USD. Backers are charged the equivalent in US dollars.
Example goal
$40,000
- Vehicle and kitchen conversion$22,000 · 55%
- Cooking and cold storage$8,000 · 20%
- Opening food stock$4,000 · 10%
- Service setup and reserve$6,000 · 15%
What you receive
- Backers give
- $40,000
- Platform fee (15%)
- −$6,000
- You receive
- $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 food truck dream with a goal of $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
$6,000 · 15%
Map the kitchen
Post a measured truck layout, an equipment shortlist and supplier estimates showing how the cooking space will work.
Milestone 2
$18,000 · 45%
Convert the truck
Share dated conversion photos, vehicle purchase records and installed kitchen equipment receipts with private details hidden.
Milestone 3
$10,000 · 25%
Test service flow
Upload a timed mock service video, temperature equipment checks and a revised prep plan for the proposed menu.
Milestone 4
$6,000 · 15%
Run opening service
Post photos of the first service setup, opening stock receipts and a summary of serving times and menu changes.
Risks to plan for
- R1
Conversion surprises
Hidden vehicle faults can consume the kitchen budget. Include a condition check in the layout milestone and leave a repair allowance before committing to the conversion.
- R2
Power and water limits
A cramped truck can run short of power or water during service. Test the full equipment load together and budget for adjustments before stocking the opening menu.
- R3
Pitch availability
A planned trading spot may not be available when the truck is ready. Check site requirements early and keep an alternative service location in the opening plan.
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
What proof can I share before my first public service?
Use a filmed mock service to show prep, cooking and handover inside the truck. Add equipment receipts and a measured layout so Backers can assess the work without relying on projected sales or an opening announcement.
Should my goal include the platform fee?
Yes. The fee is taken from the backing, never added for the Backer. With a goal of $40,000, you receive $34,000 once everything is released.
Should I buy the truck before raising support?
Show the vehicle specification and conversion estimates first, rather than presenting an unpriced truck idea. Make clear which costs are already covered and which purchases depend on each milestone being funded.
Ready when you are
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