Checklist Before Starting a Crowdfunding Campaign | Costs, Duration, and Feasibility
Updated: September 17, 2026
Before funding starts
a checklist that you must check
"Should the product be completed?" "Do I need a lot of advertising costs?" "Should I pay for it if I fail?" When I first think about funding, I tend to worry before I expect it. But you can't start funding only if you have a finished product, a business license, or a lot of fans. The important thing is not perfect preparation, but the minimum preparation to realize ideas and keep promises with supporters. Check out in 3 minutes if I can start funding with my project now with the checklist below!
You'll find out when you read this
- 6 questions to determine if my project is ready to start funding
- Misunderstanding and truth surrounding business license, finished product, and number of fans
- Funding costs and preparation time
1. Are you ready to start funding?
6 Checklists
① Is the purpose of funding clear?
The purpose of funding is not just to make a profit. The preparation direction is clear only when the results you want to get, such as checking the market reaction, preparing production costs, and securing your first fan, are clear.
② Can you explain whose problem you solve?
What's more important than a good idea is an idea that someone actually wants. Therefore, you can get a quick response only when you specifically think of a customer who will use the product, or when you can tell them the inconvenience they experience or the difference from existing products in one sentence.
③ Can you actually create and deliver a reward?
When you open the funding, you don't necessarily need the finished product. However, I need proof that I can actually make the rewards promised to the supporters, so I need to have a prototype or sample to show my ideas! After that, while preparing for funding, check the minimum production quantity together through the production company.
④ Have you calculated the required cost?
The target amount should be the minimum amount to run the project, not the desired sales. If it is lower than the production cost required to increase the achievement rate, it can lead to losses after success, so it is better to check items such as production cost, minimum production quantity, packaging cost, delivery cost, and service usage fee and set the target amount.
⑤ Do you have time to run the project?
Funding doesn't end when you release a page. It's a project that lasts about a month from preparation to promotion to customer communication to production and delivery. Therefore, we need to prepare story, image, and reward information, communicate with supporters through news, messages, and comments in the middle, and secure time to manage production, delivery, and response even after funding is over.
⑥ Is there a way to meet the first customer?
You don't have to have a lot of fans already. This is because Wadiz supporters focus more on the innovation of the product and the authentic story of the maker than on brand awareness. However, there should be a plan to inform the person who needs my project first. Therefore, before the main funding opening, it is better to make good use of the scheduled opening of my project and the advertisement that will bring together supporters to receive the project opening notification and let new customers know about my project.
3. The next action as a result
If you answered five or six: the steps to create a project
I'm in the process of preparing the funding specifically. Design the target amount, rewards, and open schedule and create a project.
If you answered 3-4: the steps to make up for the missing axis first
Ideas can be used for funding. However, it is better to fill the shortfall among production, cost, and demand first. In particular, check the prototype and the minimum production cost first.
If you answered 0 or 2: Check customer demand first
It's still closer to checking ideas and customer demand than writing a project. Check out the actual reaction with potential customer interviews, surveys, and sample tests.
2. Questions I ask a lot before funding
What's the cost of funding?
Just opening a project doesn't cost you any money. If the target amount is not achieved, there will be no supporter payment and service usage fees. If the project is successful, the service fee selected in the settlement stage will be deducted from the settlement, and the maker will bear the production, packaging, delivery, and promotional expenses.
How long does it take from preparation to delivery?
It depends on the product's readiness, but you need to calculate it by adding all the periods below. The opening schedule can be set from a minimum of 7 days to a maximum of 25 days, and the main funding can be set from a minimum of 7 days to a maximum of 60 days. If it's your first time, look at the burden of preparation and promotion plans together and set a realistic schedule.
- Story, Rewards, and Required Data Preparation Period
- Scheduled opening period
- Period of main funding
- payment and settlement period
- Period of production, packaging, and delivery of rewards
Can I run it by myself?
You can do it alone, but you may have to take charge of the following tasks by each point in time. If you're at a loss for writing or writing a story, you can use Wadiz AI, WAi and Maker Center guides, and official partner services.
|
Before the opening
|
ongoing
|
After the end
|
| Story, image, and reward composition | Managing comments, inquiries, and news | Production, inspection, and packaging |
| Confirmation of documents and certifications | Advertising and PR operations | Delivery, exchange, and customer response |
| Target amount and schedule design | Manufacturing status check | Shipment processing and final settlement |
What's the biggest thing about funding?
I keep my promise to the supporters who supported and participated in my project. In the process of funding, there may be variables such as more orders than expected or delayed production and certification. If you don't respond well at this time, your trust with your first customer can be cracked, so it's better to check the five things below from time to time to fulfill your promises and communicate actively.
- maximum production capacity
- delivery date for raw materials and manufacturers
- Quality Inspection and Defect Response Methods
- In the event of a delay, plan to guide supporters
- How to respond to exchange/refund/customer inquiries
You don't have to wait until it's perfectly ready. However, we need to check the customer's problems, production possibilities, minimum costs, and operational plans before we can create a successful project. To meet the first supporters waiting for my ideas, start with the preparations you can do now.
Go to inspect the project you are writing
What if you're not a maker yet? Making My Project
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. If I don't meet the target amount, do I have to fill the insufficient amount?
A. No, it's not. If the target amount is not achieved, the supporter payment will not proceed. There is no additional fee or penalty for the maker.
Q. Does it cost me just to open a project?
A. There is no cost just by opening it. If the project is successful, the fee for the selected service will be deducted from the settlement.
Q. Do I have to have all the production costs to start?
A. You can use the production structure and the selected production after pre-ordering. However, depending on the production schedule, you may need separate operating funds, so check the minimum production quantity and delivery date in advance.
Q. Can I start even if I don't have a finished product?
A. It's also possible at the idea or prototype level. Instead, we need to check the production method, manufacturer, minimum production quantity, and required certification and reporting to show the possibility of production.