Enter your gallery's monthly overhead, membership tiers, and expected commission revenue to instantly find the dues each tier must pay — so your co-op covers every bill and builds a reserve.
Define up to 3 tiers. The weight reflects how much overhead each tier should bear relative to a Full Member (weight 1.0). Supporting members who skip gallery shifts typically pay proportionally more.
This tool helps artist cooperative organizers and shared-gallery founders answer the most common financial question: "What should we charge each membership tier to cover all our bills?"
The results panel updates instantly as you type. Use Print / Save PDF to export a clean summary for your board meeting, or Copy CSV to paste into a spreadsheet.
Annual dues = Monthly dues with reserve × 12
The weight mechanism is how real co-ops handle the "shift credit" problem: a Full Member donates ~4 hours/month of gallery labor, which has tangible value. Setting their weight at 1.0 and a Supporting Member's weight at 1.5 means supporting members pay 50% more per month to compensate for that labor they're not providing.
Even a break-even co-op is one bad month away from a cash crisis. A reserve fund protects against a slow sales quarter, an unexpected plumbing repair, or a gap when two members leave at once. Adding 10% to dues builds one month of reserves roughly every ten months. Aim for 2–3 months of total overhead held in reserve before reducing the rate.
Artist cooperative galleries typically charge 20–30% commission on sales — far lower than the 50% standard at commercial galleries. This lower rate is justified because members provide their own labor and already pay dues. The Westerly Artists' Cooperative Gallery, for example, charges 20% commission alongside annual dues. Always set your commission estimate conservatively — use a 12-month average, not your best month.
Weights let you price tiers fairly without arbitrary guesswork. A Full/Working Member at weight 1.0 attends gallery shifts; a Supporting Member at 1.6 pays 60% more per unit to compensate. An Associate or Patron member at 0.5 pays half, reflecting their limited access to studio space and exhibition slots.
Artist cooperative galleries typically charge around 20–30% commission on sales — significantly lower than the 50% standard at commercial galleries. The lower rate reflects that co-op members contribute volunteer labor (gallery-sitting shifts) and pay monthly or annual dues in addition to the commission. Some co-ops (like the Westerly Artists' Cooperative) charge 20% commission alongside annual dues, while studio co-ops with no gallery sales may charge no commission at all.
Two to three tiers is most practical. More tiers add administrative complexity and create confusion about benefits. A common structure: Full/Working Member (lowest dues, required gallery shifts, full exhibition access), Supporting/Adjunct Member (higher dues, no shift requirement, same exhibition access), and optionally an Associate or Patron tier (annual donation, invitation to events, no exhibition slot). A three-tier structure appears in real co-ops from ASPCO (Power User, Artist Member, Project Member) to the Artists' Cooperative Gallery of Westerly.
Commission on artwork sales flows directly to the co-op and offsets the overhead members must collectively cover through dues. For example, if monthly overhead is $2,300 and commission revenue averages $500, members only need to collectively cover $1,800 — potentially cutting dues by 20% or more. Because sales fluctuate seasonally, use a conservative 12-month average rather than a peak-season figure when setting permanent dues rates.
Most co-operatives aim to hold 2–3 months of fixed overhead in reserve to cover slow sales periods, unexpected repairs, or membership gaps. Adding 10–15% to break-even dues is the most common approach. At 10% added dues, a co-op with $2,000/month overhead accumulates roughly $200/month in reserve — reaching a one-month cushion in about ten months of steady membership.
Fixed monthly overhead typically includes: rent/lease, utilities (electricity, internet, water), insurance (general liability + contents), marketing and event costs (receptions, print materials, social ads), consumable supplies (hanging hardware, labels, cleaning), and any staff or contractor costs (part-time coordinator, accountant). Don't overlook insurance — an art gallery without general liability and inland marine coverage for member artwork is a significant legal risk. Costs vary widely: a small storefront co-op in a mid-size city might run $1,500–$2,500/month in overhead before any staff.
Both structures appear in real co-ops. Annual dues (paid once a year or in installments) are simpler to administer and match how many members naturally think about their commitment. Monthly dues create steadier cash flow and are easier for members on tight budgets. Many co-ops offer both options: an annual rate with a modest discount versus the monthly equivalent. This calculator shows both annual and monthly figures — toggle between them using the "Dues period" selector at the top.