- 01
Gifts, not investments
A backing is a voluntary gift towards a goal. Nothing is sold, no ownership changes hands and no return is promised. Backers support a person; you keep control.
- 02
Why milestones still matter
Without contracts, Backers rely on transparency. Money is held per milestone and released only when you prove progress, so they can give with confidence.
- 03
What you owe Backers
Honesty: a true story, proof for each milestone and updates in chat. Not profits or repayment. If you cannot finish, unreleased money goes back to Backers.
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.
Example milestone plan
An example plan for a graphic novel dream with a goal of CN¥47,000. Backers fund the whole goal, but each milestone's money stays held until you post the proof and Backers release it.
Milestone 1
CN¥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.
Budget example
A typical cost split for a graphic novel dream in Wuhan, shown in CNY. Backers are charged the equivalent in US dollars.
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
- Platform fee (15%)
- −CN¥7,050
- You receive
- CN¥39,950
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.
Questions and answers
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.
Do I have to pay Backers back?
No. Money released for completed milestones is yours. Money still held for unfinished milestones can go back to Backers under the Backing Policy, minus the platform fee.
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.
Ready when you are
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