Budget example
A typical cost split for a marathon dream in Boston, shown in USD. Backers are charged the equivalent in US dollars.
Example goal
$3,500
- Training support and preparation$1,225 · 35%
- Race travel and accommodation$1,050 · 30%
- Running shoes and equipment$875 · 25%
- Entry and event essentials$350 · 10%
What you receive
- Backers give
- $3,500
- Platform fee (15%)
- −$525
- You receive
- $2,975
- 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 marathon dream with a goal of $3,500. Backers fund the whole goal, but each milestone's money stays held until you post the proof and Backers release it.
Milestone 1
$700 · 20%
Set race and baseline
Post race registration confirmation, a dated training outline and a baseline activity summary with private details hidden.
Milestone 2
$875 · 25%
Build training consistency
Share a dated training log, footwear receipts and a progress summary explaining any adjustments to the planned running load.
Milestone 3
$1,050 · 30%
Complete race preparation
Post travel booking records, a race-kit checklist and a training rehearsal summary, with booking references concealed.
Milestone 4
$875 · 25%
Document race participation
Share event check-in evidence, an activity record or official result if available, plus a factual account of race day.
Risks to plan for
- R1
Training interruption
Illness or injury may interrupt the build-up and change participation plans. Include a review point before travel bookings and explain how unused race preparation spending would be handled.
- R2
Travel costs shift
Race-week accommodation or transport may cost more than expected. Gather quotes early, budget a travel buffer and separate confirmed bookings from estimates in the preparation milestone.
- R3
Race day falls short
Weather, pacing or event disruption may prevent a finish. Define the last milestone around documented participation and an honest race report rather than a guaranteed time or medal.
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
Do I need to promise a finishing time to Backers?
No finishing time is needed to explain the dream. Set proof around preparation, race entry and documented participation, and make clear how you will report a slower run, a withdrawal or an event cancellation.
Can my first marathon be the goal?
Describe your starting point without claiming a certain finish. Use a staged training log, tested equipment and confirmed event plans to show progress, with a review point before committing the main race travel costs.
Should my goal include the platform fee?
Yes. The fee is taken from the backing, never added for the Backer. With a goal of $3,500, you receive $2,975 once everything is released.
Ready when you are
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