How bow makers earn on Cheerbows.com.

Five steps, application to payout.

1. 1

   Apply to the network

   Every application is personally reviewed for production experience and portfolio quality. Typical turnaround is 2–3 business days. California Bows community members get the Founder Rate locked in.

2. 2

   Set up your bow maker profile + Stripe payouts

   Once approved, fill in your business name, location, weekly capacity, specialties, bio, and portfolio link. Connect a bank account through Stripe Connect; that's how you'll be paid. Takes ~5 minutes.

3. 3

   Bid on opportunities that fit

   Coaches post team orders with design, athlete count, deadline, and notes. You see them all. Bid your price + lead time on the ones that match your studio's capacity. No obligation, no minimum bidding quota.

4. 4

   Win the bid, coach pays, you produce

   When a coach awards your bid, their payment goes into escrow immediately and you'll see a confirmation. Template files unlock for download. When you click "Mark in production," the first 55% of your payout transfers to your Stripe account, which covers materials and shipping. The remaining 45% releases on delivery confirmation.

5. 5

   Ship and get paid

   Mark the order shipped with your carrier and tracking number, and the coach gets an email. When the bows arrive and the coach confirms delivery, the remaining 45% transfers to your Stripe account. Funds typically deposit to your bank in 1–2 business days.

What you take home.

Bid what your work is worth. Subscribing is optional. Free-tier makers keep 90% of every bid. Subscribers keep 95% and get member-only perks.

Example assumes a $300.00 winning bid. The coach also pays a separate $15.00 design license per order. It goes to the person who designed the chosen template, on top of your bid, and coaches see it as a separate line item at checkout.

Questions bow makers ask.

How does the application work?

Fill out /apply (full name, business name, location, years making bows, capacity per week, specialties, portfolio link, why you want to join). We read each one personally and reply within 2–3 business days. We're looking for bow makers who already produce quality work and can deliver on commitments. Experience matters more than volume.

When do I actually get paid?

55% upfront, 45% on delivery. The coach's full payment goes into escrow the moment they award your bid. When you mark the order "In production," the first 55% of your payout transfers to your Stripe account, enough to cover materials and shipping. The remaining 45% transfers when the coach confirms delivery. Stripe deposits each payout to your bank in 1–2 business days.

Can other bow makers see what I bid?

No. Bids are sealed across bow makers, so only the coach who posted the opportunity sees your price. You set what your work is worth without worrying about a race to the bottom.

What if I can't hit the lead time I quoted?

Talk to the coach as soon as possible. Most are flexible if they hear early. The order page lets you message them and update the production status. Repeated late deliveries hurt your reviews and your bid visibility on future opportunities.

Does the $15 design license come out of my bid?

No. The license is charged separately to the coach on top of your bid. It goes to the designer as the royalty for using their pattern. Your bid stays whole.

Do I have to subscribe to bid?

No. Every approved bow maker can bid, win, accept private invites, and run their business through Cheerbows.com at the Free tier with no monthly fee. We earn a 10% commission on each bid you win, and that's the only thing we take. If you decide it's worth it, the optional Founder subscription ($15/mo for life) drops the commission to 5% and adds perks like early RFP access and a Founder badge. At the Founder rate it tends to pay off once your bow revenue is running about $300/mo or more; on the $35/mo Standard rate that's closer to $700/mo.

What if I subscribe and then change my mind?

Cancel anytime from /maker/billing, with no penalty and no minimum term. You drop back to the Free tier and keep using the platform. Orders already in progress at the moment you cancel keep the commission rate that was locked in when each was awarded.

What if a coach is unreasonable or unresponsive?

You shouldn't be exposed. Escrow protects both sides. If the coach goes silent after the bows arrive, we have a confirmation flow that releases your funds. If something genuinely goes wrong (damaged shipment, disputed quality), we review it before the held funds release either way. Email hello@cheerbows.com.

Do I have to bid every opportunity I see?

No. The feed shows every open opportunity but you bid only on the ones that fit your capacity, lead time, and price. There's no minimum activity required. Bid one a month or one a week, your choice.

Can I cancel a winning bid?

Yes, but it should be rare and you should reach out as soon as you know. The coach gets refunded, your account takes a reliability hit, and your future bid visibility drops. Best path: only bid what you can actually deliver.

Other questions? Email hello@cheerbows.com. We reply personally.

Ready to apply?

We personally review every application, usually within 2–3 days. Approved bow makers connect a verified bank account via Stripe before bidding, to make sure you get paid as quickly as possible for every order.