Before you write anything
- Name the one project the money pays for, in six words or fewer.
- Collect real quotes for every line item, including tax and install.
- Decide the date you want the money in hand, then count backwards 45 days.
- Check that your business documents are current — registration, tax ID, photo ID.
Before you publish
- 1Price your rewards against their true cost
Materials, labour, packaging and postage. A tier that costs more to fulfil than it brings in turns a good raise into a loss.
- 2Shoot the photos
The place, the people, the thing that needs fixing or buying. Daylight, no filters, faces visible.
- 3Write the warm list
Name every person, group and regular who would pledge on day one. Aim for at least twenty names before you launch.
- 4Leave time for review
Every Pledzy campaign is read by our team before it goes public. Publish a few days before the date you want to launch.
What you do not need
You do not need a film crew, a marketing agency, a finished product or a large following. The campaigns that work are specific, honest and backed by people who already know the business.
Common questions
How long does review take?
We read every campaign before it goes public and send back anything unclear. Build a few days of slack into your launch date.
Can I edit after launching?
You can post updates and adjust details, but the goal, deadline and reward tiers should be settled before you publish — backers pledge against what they read.
Keep reading
A step-by-step guide to raising money for a small business from your own community — what to ask for, how long to run, and what to offer backers in return.
How to price a project, what to add for fees and rewards, and why the smallest honest number beats the number you wish you could raise.