For coaches
How Cheerbows.com works.
You browse the catalog, post an order for your team, review sealed bids from certified bow makers, and decide which one you want to work with. Your payment sits in escrow and releases in two stages as the order moves from production to delivery. You see each status change on the order page.
Four steps, start to finish.
- 1
Post your team order
Pick a design, tell us your team name, athlete count, colors, and competition date. Takes 2 minutes. No payment yet.
- 2
Receive sealed bids
Verified bow makers see your opportunity and submit their price and lead time. Makers can't see each other's bids, so you get quotes priced to the work.
- 3
Pick a bow maker, pay through escrow
Review bids, bow maker profiles, and ratings. Award the one you want. Your payment goes into escrow, held by us, not the bow maker. 55% releases to the maker when they start production; the remaining 45% is held until you confirm the bows arrived.
- 4
Confirm delivery, release payment
When the bows arrive and you're happy, one click releases the rest of the escrow to the bow maker. If something's wrong, flag it before you confirm and we step in while the remaining funds are held. Then leave a review for the next coach.
What you'll pay.
Three line items. No subscription, no per-month commitment. You pay only when you award a bid.
| Line item | Example | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|
Bow production The maker's bid: what they quoted to produce your bows | $300.00 | Held in escrow · 55% releases when the maker starts production, the rest when you confirm delivery |
Design license Flat fee per order · non-refundable | $15.00 | Goes to the bow designer |
Service fee 5% of the bid · non-refundable | $15.00 | Cheerbows.com. Covers escrow, payment processing, and dispute support |
| You pay | $330.00 | Charged once when you award the bid |
Example assumes a $300.00 winning bid. Your actual bid amount depends on your team size, design complexity, and what the market quotes.
Questions coaches ask.
- What if the bows don't arrive, or they're wrong?
- You can flag an order any time before you confirm delivery. The final 45% of the bid stays in escrow until you confirm, so if something can't be resolved, that portion refunds to you. The first 55% releases to the maker when production starts (it covers their materials and shipping), so once they've started, that part isn't recoverable through the platform. The design license and service fee aren't refundable.
- Can I see who's bidding before I award?
- Yes. Each bid shows the bow maker's business name, location, capacity, past reviews, and pitch. You'll also see their lead time. Bids are sealed across bow makers (they can't see each other's prices), but you see all of them.
- How long does delivery take?
- Each bow maker quotes their own lead time when bidding. Most run 2–6 weeks. We require you to post your opportunity at least 14 days before your competition date so bow makers have a real shot at hitting it. Lead time is one of the things you'll weigh when picking a bid.
- How are bow makers vetted?
- Every bow maker applies to the network, and each application is personally reviewed for production experience and portfolio quality. The marketplace partners with California Bows, the studio behind a 367-member professional bow-maker community. Approved bow makers connect a verified bank account via Stripe before they can receive any money.
- Do you take a cut of what the bow maker earns?
- Whatever tier the bow maker is on, it doesn't change what you pay. Your cost is the bid plus a 5% service fee plus a $15 design license, both itemized at checkout. Separately, the bow maker pays their own commission out of the bid (5% or 10% depending on their subscription), but that comes off their side, not yours.
- What if I need to cancel?
- Before you award a bid, there's nothing to cancel and no obligation. After you've awarded and paid, email hello@cheerbows.com. If the bow maker hasn't started production, the full bid amount refunds. Once they've started, the first 55% has already released to cover their materials and shipping, so only the held 45% can come back. The design license and service fee are non-refundable.
Still have a question? Email hello@cheerbows.com. We reply personally.
Ready to post your first order?
Browse the catalog of top designs from the California Bows library. Pick one and you'll be guided through the rest.