When you schedule a virtual brainstorm on Crainstorm, you set the total budget for your session. It can be $50 or $500 – it’s up to you. This money is held in escrow with Stripe – a secure, third-party payment platform. Once your brainstorm is complete, Crainstorm keeps 25% of the funds for service fees and the remainder is split amongst your brainstorm contributors. Funds are automatically released to contributors’ PayPal accounts following the brainstorm.

Here’s a few examples:

Ideas to promote outdoor fitness classes

Hosted by Amie

Budget: $100

Participants: Jenny-Lynn, Denise and Alex


Crainstorm service fee: $25

Jenny-Lynn’s payment: $25

Denise’s payment: $25

Alex’s payment: $25

Hosted by Steve

Budget: $300

Participants: Courtney, Steve, Jason and Brenlee


Crainstorm service fee: $75

Courtney’s payment: $56.25

Steve’s payment: $56.26

Jason’s payment: $56.25

aaBrenlee’s payment: $56.25

Input on recruitment campaign for manufacturing company

Crainstorm Calculator

Want to calculate what you could earn from a Crainstorm brainstorm, or see what participants could get paid to contribute to your brainstorm? Fill the total budget and number of participants in the table below:

Total Budget
Number of participants (up to 5)
Crainstorm service fee (25%)
Each participant will be paid