Creating and launching a project is free. Fees are only charged once your project is successfully funded and you receive a payout. Startnext deducts the agreed-upon commission, transaction fees, and, if applicable, sales tax from the total funding amount before the payout.
How much does Startnext cost?
You don't pay any setup fees or ongoing fees for creating or promoting your project. If your project successfully raises funds and the funds are disbursed, the following costs apply:
- Performance or platform commission: The amount depends on your plan.
- Transaction fees: These fees are charged for processing payments and depend, among other things, on the payment method and the current terms and conditions.
- Value-Added Tax (VAT): It is charged on commissions and payment processing when applicable according to the rules described below.
These costs apply regardless of whether you use crowdfunding, fundraising, or private fundraising. The exact amount may vary depending on the type of crowdfunding, the plan, and the payment processing method.
Are there any transaction fees?
Yes. Crowdfunding involves transaction fees for payment processing. These fees are typically incurred when contributions are actually collected and the funds are disbursed after the campaign ends successfully.
The exact amount depends, among other things, on the selected payment method and the current terms and conditions. This also applies to credit card payments: Credit card fees are included in the payment fees.
You can find the current transaction fees on the Startnext fees page. The overview published there is authoritative.
Where can I find the current prices and fees?
You can find the current commissions, transaction fees, plans, and volume discounts on the Startnext Fees page. The terms and conditions published there are binding.
Startnext offers four different plans: Basic, Pro, Premium, and Enterprise. Each plan includes different services and features.
When does Startnext bill for the costs?
Startnext deducts commissions and transaction fees directly from the funding amount before disbursement. Fees are incurred during the payment processing when contributions are actually collected and the funding amount is disbursed.
Therefore, you do not have to pay the fees in advance out of your own pocket. If your project is not successfully funded and no funds are disbursed, no success fee will be charged.
How do I factor costs into my funding goal?
Include your actual funding needs, the success fee, the expected transaction costs, and, if applicable, sales tax in your funding goal. This ensures that not only your project budget but also the costs incurred are covered by the crowd.
To put it simply, the calculation is as follows:
Required project budget + commission + transaction costs + VAT (if applicable) = required funding goal
If you need a fixed minimum amount to carry out your project, the “all-or-nothing” principle offers additional security: Contributions are only collected and disbursed if the funding goal is reached. If no fixed minimum amount is required, you can choose a flexible campaign. Be sure to factor in the deductions when planning.
For a specific calculation, use the funding calculator and the current terms and conditions on the fees page. Sample calculations may differ from the actual results due to different plans, payment methods, and tax requirements.
I don't have any money—are the commissions and fees too high, then?
No, you don't have to put up your own money in advance to cover commissions and fees. Crowdfunding is designed to make projects possible even without existing startup capital. You only pay once your project has successfully raised funds from the crowd and you receive a payout.
Creating and presenting a project does not incur any ongoing costs. Startnext’s success fee, the payment service provider’s transaction fees, and, if applicable, value-added tax are deducted directly from the total amount raised.
For online crowdfunding to work, the following are needed, among other things:
- technical infrastructure
- secure payment processing
- Security Concepts and Protection Against Misuse
- compliance with regulatory requirements
- Community, Counseling, and Platform Services
Startnext finances these services through a success fee. To accommodate different needs as fairly as possible, we offer various types of crowdfunding and plans.
How do I budget for the costs?
Include all costs in your funding goal:
- Startnext's success commission based on your plan
- the payment service provider's transaction fees
- VAT on commissions and transaction costs, if applicable
A simplified example: If you need €10,000 for your project and, for example, factor in a 10% commission, approximately 3% transaction costs, and VAT if applicable, you may need a funding goal of approximately €11,500 to €12,000. After deducting the costs, you should be left with the €10,000 needed for your project.
The actual figures depend on your plan, payment methods, current terms, and tax classification. Therefore, use the funding calculator and the current fees page for your specific calculation.
How can I reduce costs?
- First, choose the most affordable plan that includes the features you need.
- Take advantage of available discount codes, such as those for social projects, impact initiatives, or limited-time promotions.
- Keep an eye out for discount codes in newsletters, on social media, at events, during office hours, and at academies.
- Take into account the automatic tiered discount for larger funding amounts.
- For particularly large projects, check to see if the Enterprise Plan is a good fit.
Why is there no longer a voluntary platform fee?
Startnext used to rely on voluntary contributions from the crowd to fund the platform. This model has been changed. Even with a voluntary fee, the money still comes from the crowd, but it isn't distributed evenly: Empathetic people often pay more, while others set the slider to zero.
The success fee makes the platform's funding more transparent and easier to understand. Supporters also won't be distracted from your project by a second request for donations for the platform.
When does Startnext charge VAT?
Startnext is headquartered in Germany. The following rules apply to invoices for services, performance-based commissions, and payment processing.
We charge sales tax on:
- Competitors from Germany
- individuals from the European Union
- Companies and organizations from the European Union that do not provide a VAT identification number
- individuals from Switzerland
We do not charge VAT on:
- Organizations and companies from the European Union with a specified VAT identification number
- Organizations and companies from Switzerland
The net costs listed on the fees page are increased by the statutory value-added tax only if it applies under these rules.
Can I change my plan later?
You can upgrade your plan at any time to activate additional services or features. Downgrading is not possible because the services included in a plan can be used even before the performance-based costs are incurred.
You can also activate a new discount code during an upgrade. If you have any questions about an upgrade, please contact the Startnext team.
Can I change my crowdfunding type later?
No. Once you've created a draft project, you can't change the selected crowdfunding type. If you want to use a different crowdfunding type, create a new project.
How can I reduce my commission?
First, choose the most affordable plan that includes the features and services you need. Only upgrade when you need additional features.
Other options include:
- Discount codes: Startnext offers them on a case-by-case basis through newsletters, social media, events, Office Hours, and Academies. Discount codes may be available, for example, for social projects or impact initiatives.
- Discount Code When Upgrading: You can apply a new discount code when upgrading your plan.
- Tiered discount: The more your project raises, the lower the commission. The tiered discount can automatically reduce the commission by up to 50%.
- Enterprise Plan: For particularly large projects, a customized Enterprise Plan may be the right choice.
The plan and fee overview shows which discounts are currently available. Individual discount promotions—such as those offered through the newsletter—may be time-limited or subject to certain conditions.
Are hosting, media, and traffic free?
Yes. Hosting your project page and the media embedded on it is free. There are also no additional costs for page views, bandwidth, or traffic.
This infrastructure is financed through the success fee, which is only payable when the funding amount is actually disbursed.
Please note the retention periods:
- Draft projects are deleted after six months.
- Projects are archived after ten years.