How do I set my Kickstarter funding goal?

Work backwards from your unit economics: your goal must cover your minimum production run (MOQ × landed cost) plus fixed costs like tooling, after platform and payment fees of roughly 8–10%. Set the minimum that lets you produce — hitting 100% fast triggers platform algorithms that carry campaigns much further.

What fees does Kickstarter take?

Kickstarter charges 5% of funds raised, plus payment processing of roughly 3–5%. Budget about 9% of your gross funding for fees.

What profit margin do I need for a crowdfunding campaign?

After fees and the early-bird discount, aim for at least 50% gross margin on your landed cost. Below that, marketing costs (typically 10–20% of the goal) make profitable scaling very difficult.

Free Planning Tool

Kickstarter Funding Goal Calculator

Work backwards from your real unit economics to the minimum viable funding goal — including platform fees, early-bird discounts, and a safety buffer.

Planned retail price (USD)

Landed cost per unit (USD)

Production + freight + duties, per unit

Minimum production run (units)

Your manufacturer's MOQ

Fixed costs (USD)

Tooling, molds, certifications, video production

Recommended funding goal

—

covers your MOQ + fixed costs + 9% fees + 10% buffer

—

break-even backers

—

suggested early-bird price (20% off)

—

net per unit after fees & discount

—

gross margin at early-bird price

Get the full financial model

We'll email you the complete launch financial model — these numbers plus marketing budget, stretch-goal economics, and fulfillment costs, ready to adapt.

How this is calculated

Fees: 5% platform + ~4% payment processing (9% total) come off the top of everything you raise.
Early-bird discount: campaigns convert best with 15–25% off retail; we model 20%.
Recommended goal: (fixed costs + MOQ × landed cost) ÷ (1 − 9% fees − 10% safety buffer), so funding your goal actually funds your production run.
Margin warning: below 50% gross margin, the 10–20% of goal you'll spend on marketing makes profitable scaling hard — consider raising price or cutting unit cost.

Next steps: check your readiness with the launch readiness quiz, or follow the 65-step launch checklist. For numbers tailored to your product, book a free 15-minute strategy call.