This is incorrect. The 5% fee is actually charged in addition to Amazon's fees. (see https://www.kickstarter.com/help/faq#WhatFeesDoesKickChar https://www.kicks

This is incorrect. The 5% fee is actually charged in addition to Amazon's fees. (see https://www.kickstarter.com/help/faq#WhatFeesDoesKickChar https://www.kickstarter.com/help/faq#WhatFeesDoesKickChar). This doesn't make much of a difference in profitability (20k vs 50k still isn't a whole lot), but it's something. Enough, at least, to keep bootstrapping. And that's the main point of it - not to make a whole bunch of money, but to offer a really great service. As evidence, the Kickstarter guys have been going for a few years now, and it wasn't until very recently that they started taking any money out. They're really passionate about helping artists, filmmakers, and creatives find the funding that they need.