Understanding How Does Indiegogo Work and Its Features

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Indiegogo is a crowdfunding platform that allows creators to raise funds for their projects by sharing their idea with a large community of potential backers. It's a great way for artists, inventors, and entrepreneurs to turn their vision into a reality.

Indiegogo's fees are competitive, with a 4% to 5% commission on the total amount raised, plus a payment processing fee of 3% to 5%. This means that creators can keep most of the funds they raise, which is a big advantage over other crowdfunding platforms.

To get started on Indiegogo, creators must first create a campaign page that includes a detailed description of their project, as well as images and videos to showcase their idea. This is a crucial step, as it helps potential backers understand the project and decide whether to support it.

The campaign page also includes a funding goal, which is the minimum amount of money that must be raised in order for the project to be successfully funded. If the goal is not met, the project is not funded and the backers are refunded their money.

What Is Crowdfunding?

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Crowdfunding is a way to raise small amounts of money from a large number of individuals to finance a new business venture.

It leverages the wide reach of social media and crowdfunding websites to connect investors and entrepreneurs, potentially increasing entrepreneurship by expanding the pool of investors.

The 2008 financial crisis led to the rise of crowdfunding, as banks enforced stricter lending policies post-recession, making it harder for small businesses to secure credit.

In 2023, the global crowdfunding market volume was estimated at $1.17 billion, showing a slight increase from previous years.

The transaction value of the global crowdfunding sector is expected to grow by 1.48% annually from 2024 to 2028, reaching a market volume of $1.27 billion by 2028.

Crowdfunding involves raising small amounts of money from a large number of individuals to finance a new business venture, which can be done through altruistic donations or rewards such as equity in the company.

How Crowdfunding Works

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Crowdfunding has allowed entrepreneurs to raise substantial amounts of money from a wide pool of investors, with investors able to choose from numerous projects and invest as little as $10.

Crowdfunding sites typically earn revenue by taking a percentage of the funds raised, with fees ranging from 5% to 12%. For example, Kickstarter applies a 5% fee to the funds collected.

Raising capital is key to any company's growth, and crowdfunding proves valuable for smaller companies and startups.

Crowdfunding Works

Crowdfunding has allowed entrepreneurs to raise substantial amounts of money from a wide pool of investors. For example, one humorous Kickstarter project raised over $55,000 from 6,911 backers for a new potato salad recipe.

Investors can choose from numerous projects and invest as little as $10. This makes it accessible to a wide range of people. Crowdfunding sites typically earn revenue by taking a percentage of the funds raised.

Kickstarter applies a 5% fee to the funds collected. This is just one example of how crowdfunding platforms generate revenue. It's essential to examine the fee structures before choosing a platform.

Indiegogo is seen as a less strict and more flexible platform than Kickstarter. It gives backers more flexibility by allowing campaigners to choose between fixed and flexible funding models.

Crowdfunding

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Crowdfunding is a game-changer for entrepreneurs and small businesses, allowing them to raise substantial amounts of money from a wide pool of investors. This is especially helpful for smaller companies and startups that often face challenges in securing investments or additional debt from lenders.

You can choose from numerous projects and invest as little as $10 on crowdfunding sites, which typically earn revenue by taking a percentage of the funds raised. For example, Kickstarter applies a 5% fee to the funds collected.

Indiegogo is a popular crowdfunding platform that started as a site for independent films but expanded to all project categories. It's seen as a less strict and more flexible platform than Kickstarter, allowing campaigners to choose between fixed and flexible funding models.

Crowdfunding platform fees range from 5% to 12%, so be sure to examine the fee structures before choosing a platform. This can help you avoid punitive charges and ensure your project stays within budget.

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You'll need to provide bank account information and ID verification when setting up your account to receive funds. This is a standard process that ensures secure and timely payments.

Indiegogo offers two main funding options: fixed and flexible. For both options, you can withdraw money after your campaign ends, regardless of whether you've achieved the funding goal.

Pros and Cons

Indiegogo is a platform that allows creators to raise funds for their projects, but like any platform, it has its pros and cons.

One of the biggest advantages of using Indiegogo is that it allows creators to keep all of the money raised, minus a small payment processing fee of 4% + $0.30 per pledge.

The platform also offers flexible funding, which means that creators can choose to keep the money raised even if they don't meet their funding goal.

Creators can set a funding goal and a deadline, and if they meet their goal, they get to keep the money raised, minus the fees.

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Indiegogo's flexible funding model allows creators to take control of their project's finances and make decisions about how to proceed.

However, one of the downsides of Indiegogo is that it charges a higher payment processing fee than some other crowdfunding platforms.

The 4% + $0.30 per pledge fee can add up quickly, especially for projects with a large number of backers.

In addition, Indiegogo takes a commission on the amount raised, which can range from 2.9% to 4.9% depending on the payment method used.

This can eat into the profit margins of creators, especially for projects with a small budget.

Despite these drawbacks, many creators find that the benefits of using Indiegogo outweigh the costs.

The platform's large community of backers and the flexibility of its funding model make it a popular choice for creators.

Overall, Indiegogo is a powerful tool for creators who want to turn their ideas into reality.

Introduction to Indiegogo

Indiegogo is a crowdfunding platform that allows entrepreneurs to raise money for their projects, providing an easy-to-use platform to launch campaigns, connect with an audience, and manage projects in one place.

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To receive collected donations, your campaign must meet certain requirements, including transferring funds to your bank account or PayPal account.

Indiegogo is a platform that enables people to raise money for virtually any cause or purpose, including businesses, charities, and political campaigns, with tens of millions of users since its launch in 2008.

Introduction

Indiegogo is a crowdfunding platform that allows entrepreneurs to raise money for their projects. It provides an easy-to-use platform that allows people to easily launch campaigns, connect with an audience, and manage their projects in one place.

Indiegogo has amassed tens of millions of users since its launch in 2008 with projects ranging from creative products to tech and design. The platform enables people to raise money for virtually any cause or purpose, including businesses, charities, nonprofit organizations, and more.

You can start a campaign on Indiegogo without submitting applications or waiting for a review of your project. This makes it a great option for those who want to get started quickly.

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Indiegogo has a worldwide distribution, which means you can reach a global audience and raise funds from anywhere in the world. The platform is open to all types of projects, including non-profit projects that can benefit from the Go Fund Me feature.

The minimum amount you can set as your fundraising goal on Indiegogo is $500, and campaigns can run for a maximum of 60 days. However, Indiegogo recommends keeping your campaign under 40 days to keep momentum going.

What Is InDemand?

InDemand is a feature on Indiegogo that allows you to continue raising funds for your project indefinitely.

Any campaign that hits its goal is eligible for InDemand, making it a great option for product pre-orders or ongoing projects in different stages.

To be eligible, your perks must be fulfilled within three months of the date you originally estimated in your campaign.

If you're not interested in InDemand, you can opt out under Settings on your campaign dashboard.

Indiegogo will automatically close your project if it hasn't received any additional funding within six months.

Setting Up a Campaign

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IndieGoGo is a fantastic platform for fundraising, and setting up a campaign is a breeze. You just need to create an account, provide some details about your project, and set a fundraising goal.

The minimum amount you can set as your fundraising goal on Indiegogo is $500. This is a crucial step, as it will determine how much money you need to raise for your project.

You can decide whether fixed or flexible funding will better serve your campaign once you have a fundraising goal in mind.

Choose Funding Type

Indiegogo offers two main funding options: fixed and flexible. Both options allow you to withdraw money after your campaign ends, regardless of whether you've achieved your goal.

Fixed funding is similar to what you'd find on most crowdfunding platforms, set up for a specific project. With fixed funding, backers will only be charged if you raise the full amount you seek.

The drawback of fixed funding is that you're at risk of losing your money if you don't hit your goal. However, you can easily withdraw your money after your campaign ends.

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Flexible funding, on the other hand, means you'll receive all the money pledged by backers even if you don't hit your full goal. This option is ideal for creators who can scale their projects in scope.

The minimal funding goal on Indiegogo is $500 (USD/CAD/GBR/EUR/AUD). Regardless of which funding option you choose, you can withdraw money as you go with the flexible option, or easily withdraw your money after your campaign ends with fixed funding.

Indiegogo's flexible funding option is the most popular form of funding on the platform, as it's easy for project creators to use the money they need to continue their work.

Managing a Campaign

Once you've set up your project on Indiegogo, it's time to start managing your campaign. Indiegogo allows you to set a funding goal, which is the minimum amount of money you need to raise to successfully complete your project.

You can also set a deadline for your campaign, which is the amount of time you have to raise the funds. For example, if you set a funding goal of $10,000 and a deadline of 30 days, you'll need to raise at least $10,000 within that timeframe.

Credit: youtube.com, Quick Indiegogo Campaign Tips

Indiegogo charges a 4% fee on top of the funds you raise, which is deducted from the total amount pledged. This fee is used to cover the costs of running the platform and providing services to creators.

As your campaign progresses, you can track your progress on the Indiegogo dashboard, which provides real-time updates on your fundraising progress, including the number of backers, pledged amount, and remaining time.

Payment and Fees

Indiegogo has partnered with PayPal for payment processing, allowing transactions to be made in any currency, but backers must be registered with PayPal to donate.

You can also link your bank account to Indiegogo to collect backed funds directly into your account once the campaign ends, but the linked bank account must be in the same currency as your campaign.

Indiegogo charges a fixed fee of 5% on all the money you raise and receive, plus a fee of around 3% + $0.20 for each individual transaction, which varies based on location.

Transfer fees, or Bank Delivery Fees, are also applied each time Indiegogo sends funds to your bank account, so keep this in mind before withdrawing your money.

Remember to also factor in other costs such as marketing, PR, photography, and videography when planning your campaign.

Payment Methods Setup

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IndieGoGo has partnered with PayPal for payment processing, allowing transactions to be made in any currency.

To accept donations from backers and offer incentives or rewards, you'll need to set up payment methods. This is a crucial step in getting your campaign up and running.

If a backer is not already registered with PayPal, they must sign up first before donating to the campaign. This will save you from any potential issues with transactions.

IndieGoGo also offers a bank account feature that allows all backed funds to flow directly into your bank account once the campaign ends. However, the linked bank account must be in the same currency as your campaign.

Keep in mind that if you plan on selecting rewards with higher price points, you may need to have processes in place before taking on such projects. This could involve additional tools like escrow accounts prior to collections of funds.

Make sure you're aware of applicable taxes or fees so you can plan ahead appropriately when setting up your payment methods prior to launch.

Assess the Cost

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Indiegogo charges a fixed fee of 5% on all the money you raise and receive.

You'll also be charged a fee of around 3% + $0.20 for each individual transaction, which can vary based on location.

The platform fee is 5%, and the payment transaction fee is 3-5% depending on your region.

Transfer fees, or Bank Delivery Fees, are applied each time Indiegogo sends funds to your bank account.

With every withdrawal, you'll be charged the platform fee, bank fee, and transaction fee, so keep that in mind.

It's essential to account for other costs like marketing, PR, photography, and videography when planning your campaign.

A successful Indiegogo campaign requires transparent details, quality backers, great PR and marketing, and an achievable goal.

Rewards and Shipping

Fulfilling rewards on IndieGoGo is the final step in your campaign process, and it's essential to keep an organized list of rewards that need to be fulfilled.

You may enlist team members or friends to help you with this task, and it's a good idea to appoint a "rewards manager" responsible for keeping accurate records and timelines for delivering each reward.

Rewards and Tiers

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Offering unique rewards at different financial tiers can encourage people to back your project. Indiegogo is all about the perks, and they can sometimes convince backers to offer support at a higher level than they might have otherwise.

Crafting rewards that enhance your campaign and backers' investment can set your project apart. Rewards can help create a demand by offering something backers won't be able to get anywhere else.

Indiegogo lets you limit how many of a certain perk can be claimed. You can also include discounted rates for Early Bird perks, which creates a sense of urgency for those still contemplating their support.

Pledges of $5-10 can add up in the end, so don't forget to consider setting lower tiers for people who want to support your campaign without a full pledge.

Shipping Addresses

When you're running a crowdfunding campaign, it's essential to collect shipping addresses from your backers. This can be done by setting up surveys on platforms like IndieGoGo or Kickstarter, which will gather the necessary information for fulfillment of perks or rewards.

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Makers can survey backers after the campaign has ended to gather pertinent information, such as shipping addresses, size, and color preferences. This ensures that makers get the correct address for each backer.

Surveys will also help makers determine other details that may affect delivery times, like size and color preference.

Fulfilling Rewards

Fulfilling rewards on IndieGoGo is the final step in your campaign process, and it's essential to keep an organized list of rewards that need to be fulfilled.

Backers expect their rewards to deliver in a timely manner, so set up internal deadlines based on the estimated completion dates provided during your campaign planning before deployment. This will give you enough time to proofread, edit, evaluate design concepts, assemble components, ship items out, and answer support inquiries.

It's also crucial to appoint a "rewards manager" responsible for keeping accurate records and timelines for delivering each reward as set forth in your campaign's budget and timeline.

Credit: youtube.com, Kickstarter and Indiegogo Logistics and Shipping

You'll need to collect shipping addresses from backers, and depending on the platform chosen, you can survey them after the campaign has ended to gather this information. This will ensure you get the correct address for each backer and other details that may affect delivery times.

Consider your project and your intended audience when choosing rewards and tiers, and factor in labor and material costs when pricing each reward. Shipping costs can be added to sales based on the user's location.

Offering unique and desirable rewards at different financial tiers encourages people to back your project, and you can even limit how many of a certain perk can be claimed.

Fulfilling and Withdrawing

After your campaign reaches its goal and is successfully completed, you'll want to focus on fulfilling rewards to your backers. This involves setting up internal deadlines for delivering each reward, allotting enough time for proofreading, editing, and shipping items out.

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You'll need to keep an organized list of rewards that need to be fulfilled, and consider enlisting team members or friends to help with this task. Appoint a "rewards manager" to keep accurate records and timelines for delivering each reward as set forth in your campaign's budget and timeline.

Fees and temporary holds may apply, but you'll receive your funds within 15 business days if your campaign hits its goal. This is after you've provided bank account information and ID verification when setting up your account.

You can choose to leave the funds in the Indiegogo balance for future campaigns, or withdraw them via PayPal or bank transfer. Be aware that some fees apply, and international bank transfers have varying rules on fees depending on the country.

Indiegogo has two main funding options: fixed and flexible. With the fixed funding option, you can withdraw your money after the campaign ends, regardless of whether you've reached your goal. In the Flexible option, you can withdraw money as you go, which is the most popular form of funding on Indiegogo.

The minimal funding goal on Indiegogo is $500, and you can withdraw your pledges at any time through PayPal or via bank transfer. Withdrawals will appear as "Withdrawal" movements of money from your Activity page, giving you a record of all contributions and payments withdrawn.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if an Indiegogo project fails?

If an Indiegogo project fails to reach its goal, backers won't receive their rewards and the project won't receive any funds. Learn more about the consequences of a failed Indiegogo campaign

How is Indiegogo different from Kickstarter?

Indiegogo offers flexible funding, allowing creators to keep raised funds even if they don't meet their goal, unlike Kickstarter. This reduces the risk of losing funds and makes it a great option for uncertain projects.

Felicia Koss

Junior Writer

Felicia Koss is a rising star in the world of finance writing, with a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics into accessible, engaging pieces. Her articles have covered a range of topics, from retirement account loans to other financial matters that affect everyday people. With a focus on clarity and concision, Felicia's writing has helped readers make informed decisions about their financial futures.

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