Budget example
A typical cost split for a graphic novel dream in Xi'an, shown in CNY. Backers pay you directly using your accepted payment methods.
Example goal
CN¥47,000
- Illustration and colourCN¥21,150 · 45%
- Lettering and editingCN¥7,050 · 15%
- Printing and bindingCN¥14,100 · 30%
- Packaging and fulfilmentCN¥4,700 · 10%
What you receive
- Backers give
- CN¥47,000
- 0% platform commission
- −CN¥7,050
- You receive
- CN¥39,950
- 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
cohero takes 0% commission on backings, so you receive what Backers send directly through your payment methods. 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 graphic novel dream with a goal of CN¥47,000. Backers pay you directly, funding the goal all at once or milestone by milestone as you post proof for each step.
Milestone 1
CN¥9,400 · 20%
Resolve script and designs
Post a chapter outline, character sheets and sample page thumbnails showing the planned story length and visual style.
Milestone 2
CN¥16,450 · 35%
Complete sequential artwork
Share finished page batches, a page-count tracker and close-up panels demonstrating completed inks and colours.
Milestone 3
CN¥14,100 · 30%
Letter and produce pages
Post lettered spreads, a checked print file sample and production proofs showing readable text and finished layouts.
Milestone 4
CN¥7,050 · 15%
Deliver the finished volume
Share photographs of bound copies, a final page checklist and redacted fulfilment records for completed distribution.
Risks to plan for
- R1
Page scope grows
Extra scenes can add weeks of illustration. Lock a target page count at the script milestone and set aside a limited revision allowance rather than expanding the story during finished artwork.
- R2
Artwork loses consistency
Long drawing schedules can produce shifts in characters or colour. Approve model sheets early and include batch reviews in the artwork milestone before committing every page to final rendering.
- R3
Text needs more space
Dialogue that fits a script may crowd a drawn panel. Test lettering on sample pages before full production and budget an editing pass so balloon placement does not force extensive redraws.
How Backers are protected
14-day review per milestone
When proof is posted, each Backer has 14 days to review the proof, ask for more info, and decide whether to keep supporting your next milestone.
0% commission — direct gifts, nothing taken
Backers pay exactly what they choose directly through your payment methods. cohero takes 0% commission on backings, so you keep what is sent. Any refunds or disputes are handled directly between you, the Backer and your payment provider.
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
Does cohero take a commission on backings?
No. cohero charges 0% commission on backings. Backers pay you directly to your chosen payment method, so towards your goal of CN¥47,000, you receive the full amount confirmed by you without platform deductions.
Do I need the full script before publishing my dream?
A complete script makes the page count and illustration workload easier to justify. If it is still developing, define a bounded script milestone and show sample sequential pages so Backers can assess the intended reading experience.
Can the goal cover paying a separate artist and letterer?
Yes. Describe the page count, artwork stages and lettering scope in the budget. Match proof to completed page batches, and explain who handles revisions so Backers can follow the work without relying on private contracts.
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