- 01
Lead with the outcome
Your headline should name the result, not the struggle. Say what you will finish and when. A strong headline fits on one line and makes a stranger curious enough to open the story.
- 02
Tell it in three short parts
Who you are, what you are making and why now. A few plain sentences each. Never promise what you cannot prove later; Backers give to a person, so let your own voice come through.
- 03
Show, then ask
Add real photos of you and your work. Link each milestone to the proof you will post. End with a clear ask: what the first milestone needs and what Backers will see when it is done.
Risks to plan for
- R1
Crowded station layout
Too many chairs can leave little room to work or wait. Check the measured station layout before fit-out and keep space for tool storage and movement between appointments.
- R2
Equipment delivery delays
Late chairs or wash units can stall an otherwise finished shop. Confirm lead times before ordering and separate room preparation proof from equipment installation proof.
- R3
Uneven appointment demand
Opening appointments may cluster at a few times of day. Use a practice booking schedule to test capacity and retain an operating buffer rather than fitting extra stations.
Example milestone plan
An example plan for a barber shop dream with a goal of CN¥170,000. Backers fund the whole goal, but each milestone's money stays held until you post the proof and Backers release it.
Milestone 1
CN¥34,000 · 20%
Design the stations
Post a measured floor plan, station count and supplier quotes showing chair spacing, storage and wash area requirements.
Milestone 2
CN¥59,500 · 35%
Fit out the shop
Share dated photos and invoices for completed lighting, flooring, wash connections and the prepared cutting stations.
Milestone 3
CN¥51,000 · 30%
Install chairs and tools
Upload chair and tool receipts, station setup photos and a walkthrough of the cleaning and equipment storage areas.
Milestone 4
CN¥25,500 · 15%
Rehearse appointment flow
Share a practice appointment schedule, supply inventory and photos showing reception, waiting space and finished stations.
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.
Budget example
A typical cost split for a barber shop dream in Beijing, shown in CNY. Backers are charged the equivalent in US dollars.
Example goal
CN¥170,000
- Chairs and cutting equipmentCN¥68,000 · 40%
- Shop fit-out and fixturesCN¥59,500 · 35%
- Grooming and cleaning suppliesCN¥17,000 · 10%
- Opening operations bufferCN¥25,500 · 15%
What you receive
- Backers give
- CN¥170,000
- Platform fee (15%)
- −CN¥25,500
- You receive
- CN¥144,500
Questions and answers
Should every chair be installed before I open?
Base the initial chair count on the space and the service plan, not on filling every wall. Explain which stations this dream funds and show that the opening layout works without relying on later expansion.
What proof can I post without showing customers?
Use empty station photos, equipment receipts and a staged walkthrough of appointment flow. A practice schedule can demonstrate readiness without publishing customer names, faces or personal booking details.
What makes a barber shop pitch convincing?
Specific numbers, real photos and a first milestone small enough to reach soon. Backers trust Dreamers who show where every amount goes and who have already started on their own.
Ready when you are
Sign in or create an account to publish a dream or back the ones you believe in.
Sign in / Create account