How to start a Kickstarter: the full checklist

1. Validate the idea · 3–6+ months out

• Study 5–10 similar campaigns in your categoryNote their goal, number of backers, pledge levels, add-ons and what their page shows first. Funded and failed ones both teach you something.
• Read Kickstarter's rules and prohibited itemsProjects must create something to share with others. No equity, no charity fundraising, and some products (e.g. weapons, medical claims) aren't allowed.
• Check you can launch from your countryYou need to live in a supported country, with a local bank account and ID. If you can't, look at alternatives.
• Build a working prototype or production sampleBackers want to see the real thing. For games: blind playtests with strangers, not just friends.
• Get proof people want itSign-ups, preorders, comments from strangers, a demo that people finish. Interest from friends and family doesn't count.

2. Do the numbers · 2–4 months out

• Get real manufacturing quotes at 2–3 quantitiese.g. 500, 1,000 and 2,500 units. Unit cost drops a lot with quantity, and your goal depends on the minimum order.
• Get shipping and fulfilment quotes per regionFreight to the warehouse, pick and pack, postage to US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia and the rest. Shipping sinks more campaigns than anything else.
• Work out your cost per backerManufacturing + packaging + freight + fulfilment + postage + platform and payment fees + pledge manager + a 10–15% buffer for surprises.
• Set the funding goalThe lowest amount that still lets you deliver after fees. Run it through the fees calculator. A reachable goal funds faster, and early momentum attracts more backers.
• Plan a small number of clear reward tiersMost successful campaigns lead with a few core tiers plus add-ons. Too many options slow people down.
• Decide when to charge shippingAt pledge time on Kickstarter, or later in a pledge manager once costs are known. Either way, plan for regions and EU/UK VAT.
• Choose a pledge managerFor addresses, add-ons, late pledges and shipping. Compare them here.
• Set a marketing budgetAds, review copies, samples, photography, video. Decide the number now so it doesn't come out of fulfilment money later.

3. Build an audience · start now, at least 2–3 months out

• Publish your Kickstarter prelaunch pagePeople can click "Notify me on launch" and Kickstarter emails them when you go live. Share this link everywhere.
• Start an email listA simple landing page with a sign-up form. Email converts to backers far better than social followers.
• Show up where your backers already areReddit, BoardGameGeek, Discord servers, Facebook groups, forums. Share progress and be helpful; drive-by promotion gets ignored or banned.
• Contact reviewers, creators and press earlyThey book weeks or months ahead. Send samples or a demo with a short, personal pitch.
• Track your numbers weeklyPrelaunch followers, email sign-ups and open rates. If they aren't growing, delay the launch rather than launching to silence.

4. Make the campaign page · 4–8 weeks out

• Write the story in the order backers decideHook → what it is → what you get (rewards) → why it's special → proof (reviews, playtests) → stretch goals → timeline → risks → team.
• Make a project image that reads at thumbnail size16:9, clear product, short title. It's what people see in search and on the Discover pages.
• Make a short videoShow the product in the first few seconds, then who you are and why it matters. Most people won't watch to the end, so front-load it.
• Design headers, reward cards and graphicsKickstarter's story editor is one narrow column, so images do the heavy lifting. Use section headers so the page is easy to scan.
• Fill in "Risks and challenges" honestlyKickstarter requires it. Name the real risks (manufacturing, shipping, delays) and how you'll handle them; backers trust that more than "no risks".
• Share the preview link and collect feedbackAsk a few people who don't know the project to tell you what it is and what they'd pledge for. Fix whatever confuses them.
• Set up payments, ID and bank detailsKickstarter verifies you before launch. Do it early so it doesn't hold up launch day.
• Submit for review well before launch dayLeave buffer for questions or changes from Kickstarter's review.

5. Launch and run it · campaign days

• Pick the launch date and lengthAvoid big holidays and major conventions where your audience is busy. Shorter campaigns (around 30 days) keep the urgency up.
• Launch when your audience is awakeThen email your list straight away. The first 48 hours set the tone, and early funding helps you show up on Kickstarter's own pages.
• Answer every comment and message, dailyBackers watch how you treat questions. Fast, friendly answers win pledges.
• Post updates on a rhythmMilestones, stretch goals, reviews, behind-the-scenes. Updates go to every backer and keep them sharing.
• Plan the final 48 hoursFollowers get a reminder near the end, and many pledges arrive then. Line up a last push: email, posts, a final stretch goal.

6. After funding: deliver · months after

• Thank backers and set expectationsPost an update with the timeline and what happens next (surveys, pledge manager, production).
• Open the pledge managerCollect addresses, add-ons and shipping, and take late pledges from people who missed the campaign.
• Place the production order and check samplesApprove proofs before mass production. Changes after this point cost money and time.
• Post an update at least monthlyEven "no news" updates. Silence is what turns backers angry, more than delays.
• Ship, then handle damaged and missing parcelsBudget for replacements. Keep a simple way for backers to report problems.
• Keep records for taxesCampaign money is usually treated as business income, and some countries need sales tax or VAT on rewards. Talk to an accountant before the money arrives.

Questions creators ask

How long does it take to start a Kickstarter?

Plan for 3–6 months from a working prototype to launch day. Most of that time goes into building an audience and getting real manufacturing and shipping quotes. The page itself takes a few weeks.

How much does it cost to start a Kickstarter?

Creating the page is free. Kickstarter takes a percentage only if you're funded, plus card processing fees. The real costs come before launch: prototypes, samples, photography, video and ads. Use the fees calculator to see what you'd keep.

How do I choose my funding goal?

Set it at the lowest amount that still lets you deliver every reward after fees, shipping and manufacturing. A goal you can reach in the first few days builds momentum; stretch goals handle the upside.

Do I need a prelaunch page?

Yes. A Kickstarter prelaunch page lets people follow the project and get an email the moment it goes live. It's the easiest way to have backers ready on day one.