Creator Handbook
Everything you need to know about creating a successful project — from verification to fulfillment.
Creator Verification & Due Diligence
Before your campaign can go live, our admin team reviews your account. This protects backers and keeps the platform trustworthy. Plan for 2-5 business days from submission to approval.
Government-Issued Photo ID
RequiredNew creators upload a clear photo of a government-issued ID — driver's license, passport, or state ID. The image must be readable and the document must not be expired.
Take the photo on a flat, dark surface in good light so all four corners and the photo are visible. Returning creators with already-verified accounts may skip this step.
Business Filing
RequiredProvide a current business filing from your state's Secretary of State office. Examples: LLC articles of organization, business registration certificate, DBA filing.
If you operate as a sole proprietor, a DBA ("Doing Business As") filing is acceptable. The document must be current and verifiable through the state office.
Social Media Accounts
RequiredLink your active social media accounts (Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, etc.) to your creator profile. Our team logs and verifies each one for authenticity and consistency.
Link your most active and professional accounts. Accounts with established history (older posts, real engagement) strengthen your application.
Cross-Platform Campaign Audit
RequiredOur team searches Kickstarter, Indiegogo, GoFundMe, and other crowdfunding platforms to review your prior campaign history. We look at backer reviews, comments, public feedback, and fulfillment track record.
Be transparent about previous campaigns up front — proactively disclose any past delays or issues. Honesty during review is valued and shortens the back-and-forth.
Fulfillment History Check
RequiredWe validate your fulfillment history by reviewing backer feedback across all platforms. We may contact prior creators or backers directly if we see discrepancies. Findings are documented internally.
If you had fulfillment delays on past projects, prepare a short written summary explaining the circumstances and how you resolved them.
Automatic Disqualification Rules
OptionalTwo rules trigger automatic disqualification: (1) three or more unfulfilled campaigns on any platform, OR (2) any single campaign more than one year past its stated delivery date regardless of fulfillment status. These apply across ALL platforms, not just IndieCrowdfund.
There are no exceptions. If you fall under these rules, contact support before submitting — sometimes there are extenuating circumstances we can document.
Payout Account Verification
RequiredAdd the bank account where IndieCrowdfund will deposit your campaign earnings. The platform collects all pledges and pays out your net (gross minus fees) directly to this account — no PayPal account required even for PayPal-processor campaigns.
Open Dashboard → Settings → Payments to add bank routing + account number. Encrypted at rest with AES-256. You can update this later but the new account must also be verified.
Internal Review & Outcome
OptionalAll findings, correspondence, and decisions are documented internally for compliance and audit. Approval typically takes 2-5 business days.
You'll get an email when your account is approved or if our team needs more information. Until then, you can build your project draft but cannot submit for launch.