Example milestone plan
An example plan for a craft brewery dream with a goal of €71,000. Backers fund the whole goal, but each milestone's money stays held until you post the proof and Backers release it.
Milestone 1
€10,650 · 15%
Specify the brewhouse
Post a vessel layout, utility requirements and supplier estimates sized to the planned brewing and fermentation batches.
Milestone 2
€28,400 · 40%
Install brewing vessels
Share equipment invoices, delivery photos and installation records for the brewing, fermentation and cooling systems.
Milestone 3
€21,300 · 30%
Run pilot batches
Upload dated brew logs, cleaning records and photos documenting pilot batches, fermentation tracking and packaging trials.
Milestone 4
€10,650 · 15%
Prepare first release
Post packaging stock receipts, finished label files and a batch traceability example without private customer information.
- 01
Make every step provable
A milestone only works if a Backer can look at your proof and agree it is done. 'Buy equipment' is weak; 'equipment bought, receipt and photo posted' is strong.
- 02
Order by risk
Put the cheapest, fastest step first. Each released milestone proves you deliver and funds the next. Leave the biggest amount for the step where most of the work is already done.
- 03
Keep the amounts honest
Milestones must add up exactly to your goal. Price each step from real quotes, include tools and services, and split any step that is too big to prove in one go.
Risks to plan for
- R1
Utility capacity shortfall
Brewing equipment can exceed the space’s available cooling, water or power capacity. Check specifications in the first milestone and allow for utility work before installation.
- R2
Batch consistency problems
A pilot recipe may behave differently in larger vessels. Fund tracked trial batches, record process changes and reserve ingredients for another test before release packaging.
- R3
Packaging bottlenecks
Finished beer can wait on missing packaging or a slow filling setup. Test the packaging workflow during pilot production and retain a reserve for compatible supplies.
Budget example
A typical cost split for a craft brewery dream in Lyon, shown in EUR. Backers are charged the equivalent in US dollars.
Example goal
€71,000
- Brewing space and utilities€21,300 · 30%
- Brewhouse and fermentation equipment€31,950 · 45%
- Ingredients and cleaning supplies€7,100 · 10%
- Packaging and launch reserve€10,650 · 15%
What you receive
- Backers give
- €71,000
- Platform fee (15%)
- −€10,650
- You receive
- €60,350
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
Can I use pilot brewing as a milestone before a public release?
Pilot batches can provide concrete proof through brew logs, cleaning records and fermentation tracking. Define the batch work being funded and avoid treating completion as a guarantee of sales or release timing.
Should I spend on labels before ordering the brewing equipment?
Keep early label work limited while vessel sizes and packaging formats are still being decided. Prioritise equipment specifications, then use the final milestone for label files and packaging matched to the tested process.
How many milestones should a craft brewery dream have?
Three to six works for most dreams. Fewer gives Backers little to review; more than seven makes each step feel small. The example plan on this page uses four.
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