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About CanYouCreate

CanYouCreate is a marketplace that connects people with independent creators who make real things — locally and custom.

We built CanYouCreate to make custom work easier to access and easier to understand. Instead of guessing where to find a maker, negotiating in DMs, or worrying about what happens next, our platform provides a clear process that protects both customers and creators.

Whether you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind piece, a personalized item, or a ready-to-buy listing, CanYouCreate helps you find the right creator and move forward with confidence.

We believe great work happens when expectations are clear, communication is respectful, and creators are paid fairly for their skill and time.

CanYouCreate doesn’t sell products — creators do.
Our role is to support the process, not control the work.

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FAQs

For Customers

For Creators

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Getting Started with CanYouCreate

CanYouCreate connects you with skilled creators to bring custom ideas to life.
You submit a project request, creators submit offers, and you choose the one that fits best. Payment is held securely in escrow and released after the project is completed and confirmed.

You can submit a project request in two ways:
• By submitting an open request, which is visible to all creators
• By submitting a directed request from a specific creator’s profile
Both options follow the same review and payment process.”

The difference is how you start:
• Open requests are submitted from the request form and allow multiple creators to respond with offers.
• Directed requests are submitted from a creator’s profile and are sent to that specific creator.
Both use the same review, escrow, and completion process.

Creator listings are set-price items offered directly by individual creators.

These are predefined products with clear pricing that you can purchase right away, without submitting a project request.

Yes. You can browse and search creators, including by location, and submit a directed request from a creator’s profile if you’re looking to work with someone local.

After you submit a request:

  • You’ll receive a confirmation email.
  • Your request appears in your dashboard as Pending while it’s reviewed.
  • Once approved, creators can view your request and may message you or submit offers.

Pending means your request has been submitted and is awaiting review. This step helps ensure requests are a good fit before they’re shared with creators.

With open requests, you may receive multiple offers to review and compare.
With directed requests, offers come only from the creator you selected, if they choose to respond.

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Requests: Open & Directed

You can submit a directed request by visiting a creator’s profile and starting your request from there.
This option is helpful if you’ve found a creator whose style you like, want to work with someone local, or already know who you’d like to collaborate with.

No — directed requests are still subject to review and creator availability.
Creators can accept, decline, or ask questions before submitting an offer.

Yes. Even if a creator offers listings, you can still submit a directed request from their profile if you’re looking for something custom or different from what’s listed.

Yes! inspiration is welcome.
We create original custom work and don’t replicate another maker’s designs exactly. Final designs may differ in materials, fonts, and construction.

We don’t recreate another maker’s work exactly, but we can design an original piece inspired by the idea.
Differences in materials and process can affect cost and timeline.

Timelines vary based on project scope, materials, and creator availability.
Once offers are submitted, you’ll have a clearer idea of timing before accepting.

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Listings & Fixed-Price Items

Creator listings are set-price items offered directly by individual creators.

These are predefined products with clear pricing that you can purchase right away, without submitting a project request.

Listings are best if:

  • The item doesn’t need customization
  • The pricing and details already fit what you’re looking for
  • You want a faster, straightforward purchase

If your project needs customization, quantity changes, or review, submitting a request is the better option.

Listings reflect what’s included at the listed price.

If you need changes or customization beyond what’s shown, submitting a project request is the best way to explore options.

They’re different starting points:

• Listings are direct purchases with set pricing
• Requests are reviewed projects where creators submit offers

Both use secure payment and platform protections, but requests allow for more flexibility and collaboration.

Creators choose how they offer their work.

Some prefer set-price listings, others focus on custom requests, and many use both depending on the type of work.

Listings often have clearer timelines since the work is predefined, but timing can still vary by creator and availability. Details are always shown on the listing before purchase.

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Payments, Escrow & Orders

You pay only after you accept an offer.
Payment is placed securely in escrow and released once the project is completed and confirmed.

Requests become orders only after an offer is accepted and payment is made.
If you don’t see an order yet, it usually means you’re still in the request or offer stage.

Payment is released after you confirm receipt of the completed project or once a dispute is resolved.

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Issues, Changes & Disputes

If there’s a concern, you can raise it through the platform. The goal is a fair resolution that protects both you and the creator. You can also email us at hello@canyoucreate.com.

Once an offer is accepted, the project moves forward based on the agreed scope.
If you need changes:

  • Message the creator as soon as possible to discuss the update
  • Small adjustments may be accommodated at the creator’s discretion
  • Larger changes may require a revised offer or additional cost

All changes should be agreed to in writing through the platform to avoid confusion.

If a creator is unable to complete a project:

  • They should notify you as soon as possible through the platform
  • Any funds held in escrow remain protected
  • The situation will be reviewed to determine next steps, which may include a cancellation or refund

Our goal is to ensure a fair outcome for both parties.

If something doesn’t meet the agreed expectations:

  • First, message the creator to explain the issue clearly
  • Many concerns can be resolved through clarification or minor adjustments
  • If needed, you can raise the issue through the platform for review

Disputes are evaluated based on the original offer, documented communication, and delivered work. Funds are released only after delivery is confirmed or the issue is resolved.

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Getting Started on CanYouCreate

CanYouCreate connects you with customers who are looking for custom or predefined work.
Customers submit project requests or purchase listings, and you choose which opportunities to pursue. You’re always in control of what you accept.

No. Listings are optional.
They’re helpful if you offer repeatable items with set pricing, but many creators focus entirely on custom requests.

Yes. Many creators use listings for repeatable products and requests for custom or bulk projects.

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Receiving & Finding Project Requests

Creators can receive work in two ways:
• Project requests — custom or scoped projects where you can message customers or submit offers
• Listings — set-price items customers can purchase directly
You can use either or both, depending on how you prefer to work.

Yes. All approved open requests are visible to creators in the View Requests area.
You can also set up search alerts to be notified when new requests match your preferences.

Only approved requests appear to creators.
Using search alerts can help surface projects that match your preferences more quickly.

Search alerts notify you when new requests match criteria you choose, such as project type, quantity, or keywords.
Alerts are optional and help you focus on the projects that fit you best.

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Types of Requests

Directed requests are project requests sent to you directly from your creator profile.
These requests follow the same review and payment process as open requests. You can accept, decline, or ask questions before submitting an offer.

No. Directed requests are optional and subject to your availability and fit.
You’re never required to accept a project that doesn’t align with your skills, timeline, or policies.

Yes. It’s okay to decline requests that don’t align with your availability, scope, or policies.

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Responding to Requests & Submitting Offers

Strong responses focus on clarity and scope.
You’re encouraged to message customers with questions before submitting an offer if anything is unclear.

Yes. Messaging is optional, but recommended if you need clarification before pricing or committing to a timeline.

Work should begin only after an offer is accepted and payment is placed in escrow.

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Pricing, Scope & Expectations

Pricing should reflect your materials, time, expertise, and production process.

You should also include costs for shipping and sales tax if applicable.
You’re not expected to match pricing a customer may have seen elsewhere.

Yes, inspiration images are for direction only.
You should create original work and avoid replicating another maker’s protected designs exactly.

If a request raises IP concerns or feels too close to an existing product, it’s okay to decline or ask the customer for clarification.

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Payments

After the customer confirms delivery or pickup:

  1. The order is marked complete
  2. Funds are released from escrow
  3. Stripe sends the payout to your connected bank account

Payout timing depends on Stripe’s standard processing schedule.

CanYouCreate uses Stripe Connect to handle secure payments and payouts.

When a customer accepts an offer, their payment is placed in escrow. Funds are released after the project is completed and delivery is confirmed.

Creators receive payouts directly to their connected Stripe account. More info on the Stripe website available here https://docs.stripe.com/payouts

There are two fees applied to each completed order:

Platform fee

CanYouCreate charges an 8% platform fee.
This supports platform operations, escrow handling, dispute support, and marketplace tools.

Stripe processing fee

Stripe charges a standard 2.9% + $0.30 payment processing fee per transaction.

These fees are automatically deducted before payout.
You do not need to calculate or send fees manually.

Yes. Creators are encouraged to price projects with platform and processing fees in mind.

Your offer amount should reflect:

  • Your time and materials
  • Complexity of the project
  • Revisions or customization
  • Packaging, and shipping if applicable
  • Fees associated with processing the payment

The amount you submit in your offer is what the customer sees.

Stripe Connect allows us to:

  • Hold customer payments securely in escrow
  • Release funds only after work is completed
  • Pay creators directly
  • Reduce risk for both parties

This helps keep the marketplace professional, fair, and transparent.

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Issues, Changes & Disputes

If there’s a concern, the platform provides a dispute process designed to reach a fair resolution for both you and the customer.

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