It's free to create an account, set up a project page, and start crowdfunding on Spacehive. We only charge fees on successful campaigns to help us continue supporting community projects.
Why we use a fixed-fee model (and no tipping)
Unlike many other platforms, Spacehive does not use a "tipping" model where donors are asked to pay extra fees on top of their pledge. We believe our fixed-fee model is the fairest approach for both creators and the community for several reasons:
100% of your budget is protected: In tipping models, platforms often deduct their fees from your final total, meaning you receive less than you actually need to deliver your project. On Spacehive, fees are added to the target so you always receive your full project budget.
No donor confusion: Tipping often uses "nudge" UX that defaults to a high percentage (up to 20% of the donation), which can be confusing or off-putting for donors (especially those who are less tech-savvy).
Total transparency: On Spacehive, one person (the creator) is aware of the fee, rather than thousands of donors being charged hidden costs.
Platform fee
7.5% (+VAT)
Added automatically to your target and included in the amount you'll crowdfund
Helps maintain and improve the platform and supports our Project Success team
Transaction fees
Charged by our payment partner Stripe:
Card payments: 2.9%
Bank transfer: £0.80 per transaction
Your campaign target
Your campaign target may fluctuate according to the payment methods used by your backers. Spacehive estimates your total transaction fees at the start of the campaign based on average payment method choices and adds this onto the target.
We generally over-estimate these fees; you are likely to see your fees decrease throughout your campaign, especially if you receive large pledges (like those from a local council) which are processed via direct debit or bank transfer.
Important things to know
All fees are included in your target from the start: There are no hidden charges or tipping involved.
Automated calculation: Fees are calculated automatically when creating your project and are always visible in your costs section.
Fees are covered by the crowd: Because fees are added to the target, they are raised collectively rather than being taken out of your project budget.
Pre-campaign funds: Anything raised and added to the project before the campaign begins is not subject to any fees.
No success, no fee: Fees are only charged if your campaign is successful.
With campaigns that don't reach their target but end on Keep What You Raise, the fees will be recalculated proportionately.
Example calculation
For a project requiring £10,000 for delivery:
Project costs: £10,000
Platform fee: £750 (+VAT)
Transaction fees: Added automatically
Total crowdfunding target: £11,100 (approximately)
By hitting this target, the creator receives the full £10,000 required for the project