Frequently Asked Questions

MakeNation is a marketplace connecting people who need custom physical items made (requesters) with skilled craftspeople and makers who can create them.

Whether you need a custom furniture piece, a prototype for an invention, 3D printed parts, metalwork, or any other physical creation — our community of makers can bring your ideas to life.

For Customers: Creating an account is easy and open to everyone:

• Click "Join" on the homepage
• Enter your name, email, and create a password
• Click "Create Account" and you're ready to post requests!

For Makers: Maker signup is currently invite-only. You'll need a referral code from an existing maker to join as a maker:

• Check the "I want to be a Maker" box during signup
• Enter the referral code you received (format: XXXX-XXXX)
• The code will be validated instantly — you'll see your generation and platform fee rate
• Complete signup and set up your maker profile

Don't have a referral code? Ask a maker you know, or contact support@makenation.com to request one.

Creating an account and posting requests is completely free. Makers can browse the job board and submit bids at no cost.

We charge a platform fee only when a project is successfully completed and payment is processed. The fee depends on your maker generation — founding makers (Gen 0) start at just 4%, while the standard public rate is 10%. Your fee is locked in permanently when you join.

Once you're logged in, you'll see the request form on the homepage:

• Give your project a clear title
• Select the most relevant category
• Write a detailed description of what you need
• Add keywords, budget range, location, and deadline (optional)
• Upload reference images if helpful
• Click "Post Request" to publish

After posting your request, makers can send you private inquiries to discuss details before bidding. Here's how to choose:

• Review each maker's public profile and portfolio
• Check their ratings and reviews from past projects
• Respond to maker inquiries — each conversation is private between you and that maker
• Pin important answers so all makers can see them
• Compare bids based on price, timeline, and proposed approach
• When you find the right fit, accept their bid to start the project

Yes! You don't have to post a request and wait for bids. You can also browse makers directly:

• Visit the Makers Directory to search and filter by category, skills, and location
• View a maker's portfolio, ratings, badges, and completed projects on their public profile
• Click the "Request This Maker" button on their profile to create a request that automatically invites them to bid

This is great when you already know what kind of maker you need and want to reach out directly.

Yes! If you find a maker whose profile and skills match your project, you can invite them directly:

• Visit the maker's public profile from the Makers Directory or from a chat thread
• Click the "Invite to Bid" button on your request page
• The maker will receive an email notification with your project details and a link to view the request

Invitations are informational — the maker is not obligated to bid, and you're not obligated to accept their bid if they do.

You can edit your request while it's still in draft (before you start bidding). Once a request is published and open for bids, it can't be edited.

If you need to make changes after publishing, you can cancel the request and create a new one. Use the "Duplicate" button to quickly copy your details into a new request.

Requests go through several stages:

• Open: Your request is visible and makers can discuss
• Accepting Bids: You've opened formal bidding with a deadline
• Reviewing Bids: Bidding has closed and you have 7 days to review and accept a bid
• In Progress: You've selected a maker and work has begun
• Completed: You've approved the maker's progress photos, the final payment has been charged, and the project is finished
• Expired: The bidding or review period ended without a bid being accepted
• Cancelled: The project was cancelled by either party
• Closed: The request is no longer active

When you open bidding on a request, you set a deadline (minimum 24 hours, default 7 days). Makers can submit bids until the deadline expires.

You can also accept a bid at any time before the deadline — you don't have to wait for bidding to close.

When the bidding deadline passes:

• If bids were received: Your request moves to "Reviewing Bids" and you have 7 days to review and accept a bid
• If no bids were received: The request expires. You can use the "Duplicate Request" button to post it again with adjustments

You'll receive an email notification when bidding closes.

If you don't accept a bid within the 7-day review period, all bids are voided and the request expires. Both you and all bidders will be notified by email.

To try again, use the "Duplicate Request" button to create a new version of your request.

To keep the marketplace fair and prevent spam, we have a few posting limits:

• Active request limit: You can have up to 5 active requests at a time
• Cooldown period: Please wait at least 60 seconds between creating new requests
• Cancellation limits: Cancelling a project within a month triggers a warning. If you cancel 3 or more projects in a year, your account will be frozen and you'll need to contact support@makenation.com to appeal

These limits protect our maker community from spam and ensure makers can trust that posted requests are genuine.

Maker signup is currently invite-only. You need a referral code from an existing maker to join. There are two ways:

• Check the "I want to be a Maker" box during signup and enter your referral code
• Or if you already have a customer account, go to your Account page and enter your referral code in the "Become a Maker" section

Don't have a code? You can request access on the signup page — just tell us what you make and we'll email you a code when a spot opens up.

Once you're in, complete your maker profile — the checklist tracks: business name, bio (50+ characters), at least 3 portfolio photos, and matching preferences (category + shipping). You need at least 3 portfolio photos before you can submit bids. Stripe payout setup can be done later when you accept your first bid.

Note: Bios may not contain websites, email addresses, phone numbers, or social media handles. Keep your bio focused on your craft and skills.

When a requester opens bidding on their request:

• You must have at least 3 portfolio photos on your profile to bid
• Enter your bid amount and fill in the required "How I'd approach this" field (minimum 50 characters) — describe your materials, process, and estimated timeline
• You can also add optional notes and set your payment schedule (deposit, work-started, completion — must total 100%)
• Your bid is only visible to the requester, not other makers
• The requester will review all bids and choose a maker
• If selected, you'll be notified and can start private communication

Yes. You'll receive an email notification if:

• Another bid is accepted instead of yours
• The requester cancels the request while your bid is pending
• The 7-day review period expires without a bid being accepted (all bids are voided)

Tips to attract more work:

• Upload 3+ portfolio photos: Required to bid, and more photos significantly increases trust with requesters
• Complete your profile: A fully complete profile earns a "Profile Complete" badge visible on your bids and public profile
• Set up Stripe payouts: Earns a "Stripe Verified" badge that shows requesters you're ready to get paid professionally
• Be responsive: Reply to private messages quickly — makers who respond within 24 hours earn a "Fast Responder" badge
• Write great bid approaches: A detailed "How I'd approach this" response in your bid shows expertise and wins more work
• Build reviews: Great work leads to great reviews, which attract more clients
• Watch relevant requests: Use the star button to track requests in your specialty

Yes! Both makers and requesters can attach images to inquiry messages. This is useful for:

• Sharing reference photos or inspiration images
• Showing examples of past work
• Clarifying project details visually
• Sending progress updates

Click the camera icon next to the message input to attach an image (JPEG, PNG, or WebP). You can preview the image before sending.

You can click on any maker's name in a chat thread to go directly to their public profile. This works from:

• The thread sidebar (maker name next to each conversation)
• The chat panel header (maker name at the top of the conversation)
• Individual message sender names within the conversation

Each maker thread also shows their star rating and any badges (New Maker, Verified, Pro) so you can quickly assess their experience.

The Makers Board is your hub for finding work. It shows all open requests from users looking for makers.

You can filter by category, status, and sort by date, budget, or deadline. Click any request to view details and send a private inquiry to the requester before submitting your bid.

MakeNation grows through maker-to-maker referrals. When you complete your maker profile, you receive 4 referral codes. Each code can be shared with one person to invite them as a new maker.

• Your referral codes are visible on your Account page and sent to your email
• Share codes directly or use the invite link: makenation.com/join.html?code=XXXX-XXXX&maker=true
• When someone uses your code and completes their profile, your platform fee drops by 1%
• All 4 referrals used? Your fee hits its floor (0% for Gen 0 makers!)
• Referral codes expire 30 days after they're created — share them while they're active!

Every maker belongs to a "generation" that determines their starting platform fee:

• Gen 0: Seed makers invited directly by MakeNation — 4% fee (floor: 0%)
• Gen 1: Invited by Gen 0 makers — 5% fee (floor: 1%)
• Gen 2: Invited by Gen 1 — 6% fee (floor: 2%)
• Gen 3: Invited by Gen 2 — 7% fee (floor: 3%)
• Gen 4: Invited by Gen 3 — 8% fee (floor: 4%)
• Gen 5: Terminal generation — 9% fee (no referral codes)

Your generation and starting fee are locked in permanently when you join. The earlier you get in, the lower your fee.

Every maker who joins through the referral system (Gen 0–5) is a Founding Maker. This is a permanent status that gives you:

• A lower platform fee than the standard 10% public rate
• Your fee rate locked in for life — it never goes up
• 4 referral codes to invite other makers (Gen 0–4)
• Recognition as an early member of the MakeNation community

Your 4 referral codes are generated automatically when you complete your maker profile. The profile requires:

• A business name
• A bio (at least 50 characters)
• At least 3 portfolio photos
• Category and shipping preferences set

Once all items are complete, your codes will appear on your Account page and be sent to your email. Codes expire 30 days after creation, so share them promptly. Gen 5 makers do not receive referral codes.

All payments go directly to the maker through Stripe Connect in three stages:

• Stage 1 — Deposit: Charged when you accept a bid
• Stage 2 — Work Started: Auto-charged when the maker marks work as started
• Stage 3 — Project Approved: Auto-charged when you approve the maker's progress photos

The maker defines the payment split in their bid (must total 100%, each stage minimum 0%). Your card is saved securely by Stripe and charged automatically at each stage. A platform fee (4-10% depending on the maker's generation) is included in each payment.

Once you approve the progress photos, the final payment is charged and the project is marked complete. The private chat stays open for 180 days so you can coordinate shipping and delivery with the maker.

MakeNation uses a generation-based fee structure tied to our referral system. Your platform fee depends on when and how you joined:

• Gen 0 (seed makers): 4% platform fee
• Gen 1: 5% platform fee
• Gen 2: 6% platform fee
• Gen 3: 7% platform fee
• Gen 4: 8% platform fee
• Gen 5: 9% platform fee
• Public (after invite period): 10% platform fee

Your fee can be reduced further by referring other makers — each successful referral drops your fee by 1%, down to a floor of 0% (for Gen 0). Stripe's standard processing fee (~2.9% + $0.30) applies separately.

There are no listing fees, no monthly subscriptions, and no hidden costs. You only pay when you actually get paid for a completed project. All referred makers are Founding Makers with permanently locked-in low rates.

Makers receive payments directly through Stripe Connect in three stages:

• Complete a quick onboarding process to verify your identity and bank account
• Stage 1 (Deposit): Paid when the requester accepts your bid
• Stage 2 (Work Started): Auto-charged when you mark work as started
• Stage 3 (Project Approved): Auto-charged when the requester approves your progress photos

You define the payment split in your bid (must total 100%, each stage minimum 0%). Upload progress photos when the work is ready, and the requester approves them to release the final payment.

Payments go directly to your Stripe account (minus your platform fee — 4-10% depending on your generation). Stripe's standard processing fee (~2.9% + $0.30) applies separately. Payouts to your bank account are typically within 2-7 business days.

Consider these factors when setting prices:

• Material costs and overhead
• Time required (hourly rate × estimated hours)
• Complexity and skill level required
• Market rates for similar work
• Your experience and portfolio quality
• Your platform fee (4-10% depending on generation) + ~3% Stripe processing

Be transparent in your bids about what's included and any potential additional costs. Remember that the platform fee is deducted from the total, so factor this into your pricing.

There is no maximum bid amount. Payments go directly to the maker's Stripe account, so there is no platform holding limit.

For very large projects, we recommend breaking the work into smaller milestones and communicating clearly about the payment schedule.

Look for these trust signals and badges — visible on maker profiles, bid cards, and chat threads:

• 💳 Stripe Verified: The maker has connected and verified their Stripe payout account — they're ready to work professionally
• ✓ Profile Complete: The maker has fully completed all 5 profile sections (bio, 3+ photos, skills, shipping, and Stripe)
• ⚡ Fast Responder: The maker typically replies to private messages within 24 hours
• ✓ Verified badge: Earned by makers with 4.0+ rating and 5+ completed projects
• ⭐ Top Rated badge: Elite makers with 4.5+ rating and 10+ completed projects
• 👑 Pro Maker badge: Experienced makers with 50+ completed projects
• 🌱 New Maker badge: Identifies makers who are new to the platform
• Reviews and ratings: Read feedback from past clients
• Portfolio: All makers are required to upload at least 3 portfolio photos — look for quality and relevance to your project
• Approach field: Read the maker's "How I'd approach this" response in each bid — it tells you their plan, materials, and timeline before you commit
• Clickable profiles: Click any maker's name in a chat thread to view their full profile and portfolio

If you encounter any issues:

• First, try to resolve it directly through communication
• Document everything (messages, agreements, photos)
• If you can't resolve it, visit our Support page for conflict resolution
• Report serious violations using the report function

For issues with a project, first try communicating with the other party through the project page. If unresolved, contact support. For payment disputes on already-charged stages, contact your credit card company.

Either party can cancel a project at any time before it's marked complete. The refund policy depends on who cancels:

• Maker cancels: All payments are fully refunded to the requester, regardless of how many stages have been paid
• Requester cancels: Stages already paid are non-refundable and stay with the maker. Future uncharged stages are cancelled
• Before any payment: Either party can cancel freely with no financial impact

Cancellation limits: To protect makers from wasted time, we track cancellation frequency. Cancelling a project within a month triggers a warning. If you cancel 3 or more projects within a year, your account will be frozen and you'll need to contact support@makenation.com to appeal and have your account unfrozen.

To protect both parties, all communication must stay on MakeNation. Our content filter automatically blocks the following — in messages, bid notes, and maker bios:

• Email addresses and phone numbers
• Website links and URLs
• Social media handles (Instagram, Discord, etc.)
• Off-platform payment references (Venmo, PayPal, CashApp, etc.)
• Requests to move communication off-platform

This ensures all communications and discovery happen within the platform, keeping both parties protected. If your message or bio is blocked, rephrase it without including contact details.

We take data protection seriously. MakeNation does not store your data on our own servers — all data is stored and managed by Google Firebase, which provides enterprise-grade security:

• All data is encrypted in transit (HTTPS) and at rest by Firebase
• Passwords are securely hashed by Firebase Authentication
• Firebase infrastructure is SOC 1, SOC 2, and ISO 27001 certified
• You can request your data or deletion at any time

Read our full Privacy Policy for details.

If you see something that violates our community guidelines:

• Contact us at support@makenation.com
• Include relevant details, screenshots, and user information
• We'll investigate within 24-48 hours

We have zero tolerance for harassment, fraud, or illegal activity.