Finishing Your Funding — How to Prepare for Settlement, Shipping, and Encore

Last Updated: May 29, 2026

What This Article Covers

• Settlement Process After the Funding Campaign Ends
• Processing tax invoices and VAT filings
• Rewards Shipping Procedures and Shipping Cost Settings
• How to Manage Refund, Exchange, and After-Sales Service Policies
• How to Handle Shipping Delays
• Launching an Encore Project

1. Settlement Process After Funding Closes

Once funding is successfully completed, the settlement process begins. Since the full amount is not deposited all at once but is processed in stages, it’s important to understand the process in advance.

Settlement Process by Stage

1. Funding Closure
2. Payment Period (Confirmation of Supporter Card Payments)
3. Initial Settlement (if conditions are met)
4. Rewards Shipping
5. Confirmation of shipment completion
6. Final Settlement Payment

Frequently Asked Questions About Settlement

Situation	Content to Review
I have questions about the settlement schedule and amount	Link
I’d like to use the advance settlement service	Link
I haven’t received my final settlement payment yet	Link

<Related Guides>

👉 Notice on Changes to Payment Dates and Refund Policies 

2. Processing Tax Invoices and VAT Filings

Tax processing is the second most-viewed topic among settlement-related content. We’ve summarized the tax-related items that must be handled after a funding campaign ends.

Post-Funding Tax Processing Checklist

Item	Details
VAT Filing	How to File a VAT Return for Funding and Pre-order Sales
Tax Invoices	Whether wadiz Issues Tax Invoices and How to Handle Them
Differences by Business Type	Different Processing Methods for Sole Proprietors, Corporations, and Simplified Taxpayers

The timing and method of VAT filing, as well as whether wadiz issues tax invoices, are common sources of confusion for many makers experiencing this process for the first time.

<Related Guide>

👉 How do I file a VAT return for a funding or pre-order project? 

👉 Does wadiz issue tax invoices?

3. Rewards Shipping Procedures

Once settlement begins, you should start preparing to ship Rewards at the same time. Understanding the shipping order and processing methods in advance can help reduce confusion after the campaign ends.

Rewards Shipping Workflow

1. Confirmation of Supporter Address Collection
2. Confirmation of Shipping Fees and Additional Fees for Remote Areas
3. Rewards Packaging and Shipping
4. Enter the shipping label number and click "Process Shipment"
5. An automatic notification of shipment completion is sent to the supporter
6. Take additional actions after processing the shipment (e.g., request a review)

Common Mistakes When Setting Up Shipping

• If additional shipping fees for remote or mountainous areas are not set, the maker often ends up bearing the cost
• Processing multiple rewards individually → More efficient to use the bulk shipping feature
• Incorrect entry of shipping information (address, tracking number) → Need to check correction procedures in advance

<Related Guides>

👉 Shipping & Refund Guide — How to Ship Rewards and Process Refunds

👉 How do I set additional shipping fees for remote and mountainous areas?

👉 Can I process the shipment of multiple Rewards at once?

👉 I’ve sent the Rewards. How do I mark them as shipped?

👉 What should I do after marking a reward as shipped?

👉 I entered the shipping information incorrectly. What should I do?

👉 I want to deliver the Rewards directly to the supporter. Is that possible?

4. Shipping Cost Setup Guide

Although shipping fees are set during the funding preparation phase, issues often arise at the actual shipping stage. Be sure to double-check the following items before shipping.

Shipping Types	Items to Verify
Standard Shipping	Basic shipping fee, additional shipping fee for remote and island areas
Combined Shipping	Option to set individual shipping fees per Reward
Recurring/Multiple Deliveries	Set additional shipping fees per delivery
In-Person Pickup	Check whether supporter addresses need to be collected

<Related Guides>

👉 I’m having trouble shipping Rewards in bundles. How do I set individual shipping fees? 

👉 How do I set additional shipping fees for recurring or multiple shipments?

👉 I need the supporters’ shipping addresses to send Rewards

5. Managing Refund, Exchange, and After-Sales Service Policies

While you must specify your refund policy when writing your funding story, many creators are unsure how to handle actual refund requests when they come in.

1. Refund Process Flow
2. Supporter’s refund request
3. Maker Studio confirms the refund request
4. Refund approved or denied
5. Refund Completed (Processed Automatically via wadiz)

Key Points to Check Regarding Refunds

• Whether refunds due to a change of mind before shipment can be restricted
• How to Set Individual Refund Policies for Intangible Rewards (Classes, Content, etc.)
• Whether the “Refund Not Possible Due to Rewards Nature” option can be applied

<Related Guide>

👉 How are payments processed if the project is successful?

👉 What are the refund policies for funding and pre-orders?  

👉 A supporter has requested a refund. How do I verify and process it? 

👉 How do I create refund, exchange, and after-sales service policies for funding and pre-order projects? 

👉 Can I restrict refunds due to a change of mind before shipment? 

👉 How should I prepare individual refund policies for intangible Rewards? 

👉 What is the “Refunds are not possible due to the nature of the Rewards” option?

6. How to Respond to Shipping Delays

If production or shipping takes longer than expected, the most important principle for maintaining trust is to be honest with your supporters from the start. Hiding the delay or announcing it too late will lead to a surge in refund requests and significantly damage your brand’s credibility.

Steps to Take in Case of a Shipping Delay

1. Awareness of the delay
2. Notify supporters of the reason for the delay and revised schedule via News (as soon as possible)
3. Promptly respond to individual inquiries from supporters with the same information
4. Re-announce on the revised delivery date
5. Send a thank-you message after shipment is complete

<Related Guides>

👉 It looks like Rewards shipping will be delayed. What should I do? 

👉 What does “Preparing for Shipment” mean for Rewards?

👉 How should I set the Rewards shipping timeframe? 

👉 Can supporters check the status of their Rewards shipment? 

👉 Can I ship Rewards that have already been paid for even if the payment period hasn’t ended? 

7. Starting an Encore Project

If your funding campaign has successfully concluded, you’ll need to decide on the next steps. An “Encore” project is a way to conduct additional funding with the same or similar Rewards after the initial funding campaign has been successful.

Encore vs. Store — Which Should You Choose?

Category	Encore Projects	wadiz Store
Format	Limited-Time Funding	Ongoing Sales
Advantages	Maintains a sense of urgency and scarcity as the campaign nears its end; provides additional platform exposure	Constant inventory sales, stable revenue
Suitable for	Limited-edition and seasonal products; reactivating fan engagement	Continuous sales of proven products
Preparation Period	Can reopen quickly after the first funding round ends	Vendor screening required

Be sure to check when distribution through other channels becomes possible after the first funding round ends.

<Related Guides>

👉What is an Encore Project?  

👉 How do I start an Encore project? 

👉 When can I start selling through other channels after the project ends?  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. How long does it take to receive final settlement after the funding period ends? 

Final settlement payments are processed after we confirm that all Rewards have been shipped. If you use the advance settlement service, you can receive a portion of the funds before shipping. The exact schedule varies depending on the project type (funding/pre-order) and conditions, so please check the settlement guide first. 

👉 I’d like to know more about the settlement process

Q. A supporter says they “didn’t receive” their Rewards after they were shipped. What should I do? 

First, direct them to track their shipment using the tracking number. If it’s confirmed that the item was lost or misdelivered by the carrier, you’ll need to reship it or issue a refund. Responding quickly to supporter inquiries even after shipment is crucial for maintaining brand trust. 

👉 What should I do after processing the shipment?

Q. This is my first time filing a VAT return. Where should I start? 

The filing method varies depending on your business type (general taxpayer, simplified taxpayer, or corporation). If this is your first time, we recommend reviewing the comprehensive tax processing guide first and consulting with a tax accountant if necessary. 

👉 How do I file a VAT return for funding and pre-order projects?

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