Budget example
A typical cost split for a mobile app dream in Xi'an, shown in CNY. Backers are charged the equivalent in US dollars.
Example goal
CN¥200,000
- App design and developmentCN¥130,000 · 65%
- Hosting and service integrationsCN¥20,000 · 10%
- Device testing and quality checksCN¥30,000 · 15%
- Release and maintenance reserveCN¥20,000 · 10%
What you receive
- Backers give
- CN¥200,000
- Platform fee (15%)
- −CN¥30,000
- You receive
- CN¥170,000
- 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 mobile app dream with a goal of CN¥200,000. Backers fund the whole goal, but each milestone's money stays held until you post the proof and Backers release it.
Milestone 1
CN¥30,000 · 15%
Validate the core flow
Post an interactive screen prototype, a prioritised feature list and anonymised notes from guided usability sessions.
Milestone 2
CN¥80,000 · 40%
Build the main features
Share a recorded walkthrough of a working app build, completed feature checks and a summary of remaining development tasks.
Milestone 3
CN¥50,000 · 25%
Test across devices
Upload a device test matrix, anonymised crash reports and before-and-after evidence for the main issues resolved.
Milestone 4
CN¥40,000 · 20%
Prepare the release build
Post release build screenshots, setup documentation and a maintenance checklist with credentials and private data removed.
Risks to plan for
- R1
Feature scope keeps growing
Extra features can absorb development time before the core flow works. Lock the first build scope in the prototype milestone and keep optional ideas outside its budget.
- R2
Device-specific failures
A build that works on one phone may fail on another screen or operating system. Budget for a defined device test matrix and reserve time for fixes before release preparation.
- R3
External service changes
An app may depend on services with changing limits or interfaces. Identify those dependencies early and include integration checks and a fallback plan in the release work.
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
Do I need a finished app before creating a funding dream?
You can start with a clearly scoped prototype and development plan. Show which screens are interactive, which features still need code and how later milestones will provide working builds and device test evidence.
Can I share app progress without exposing user data?
Record a demonstration using invented accounts and sample content. Remove credentials from logs and screenshots, and use anonymised issue summaries so Backers can review the build without seeing real user records.
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¥200,000, you receive CN¥170,000 once everything is released.
Ready when you are
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