Business Plan · 2026 · Apex, NC
SignedVault
Private signing and send-in service — signed Funko Pops, celebrity 8×10s, and movie memorabilia. Fans pre-order per signature; optional Beckett authentication; talent paid per signature from pre-order funds.
What Is SignedVault?
A home-based private-signing and send-in service. Fans pre-order an autograph from a booked signer; SignedVault gets the item signed and ships it back with optional authentication. Revenue is the spread between what fans pay per signature and what talent is paid per signature — plus a small markup on a few extras sold on eBay and Whatnot.
Core thesis: charge per signature, pay talent per signature, pass authentication and return shipping through to the fan as paid add-ons, and sell a few extra signed items as inventory. Launch for about $400 with about $150 a year in fixed costs.
Key Metrics at a Glance
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per signature — fan ~$65, talent ~$35 (Tier 1 placeholders; verify with quotes) |
| Authentication (primary) | Beckett Authentication Services (BAS) |
| Profit per signing (20 pre-orders) | ~$650 |
| Minimum pre-orders before flat-fee commit | 15 items |
| Sale platforms | eBay, Whatnot, Mercari, Facebook Groups |
Signed Funko Pops
The highest-demand collectible format. Signed by the actors and voice actors behind the characters — in-box, COA-certified.
Celebrity 8×10 Photos
Classic format. Studio prints signed directly by talent. Easy to frame, easy to ship, consistently high demand.
Movie Memorabilia
Posters, scripts, props, and related pieces. The premium tier for serious collectors.
How the Money Works
SignedVault sets a price per signature for each signing and pays the signer a lower per-signature fee. The difference, less card processing (~3%), is profit on each order. Authentication and return shipping are fan-paid add-ons — not business costs.
Risk control: Per-signature talent pay means a slow signing cannot lose money on talent fees. A $500 flat fee breaks even at ~8 orders at $65 — keep the 15-order minimum for flat-fee deals and refund in full if it is not met.
Per-Signature Pricing (Placeholders — Verify With Quotes)
| Signer Tier | Fan Pays / Signature | Talent Paid / Signature | Profit / Order |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 — voice, horror, cult actors | $65 | $35 | ~$28 after card fees |
| Tier 2 — franchise supporting actors | $110 | $70 | ~$37 after card fees |
| Tier 3 — headline stars | Set per deal | Set per deal | Quote before announcing |
Paid Add-Ons (Fan Pays)
| Add-On | Price to Fan | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beckett or JSA authentication | $20 – $30 | Matches authenticator fee for signer tier |
| Return shipping, insured | $10 – $15 | Pirateship discounted rates |
| Item supplied by SignedVault | Cost + $5 | Funko Pop or 8×10 if fan has none |
| Personalization / character name | +$10 – $20 | Only if signer allows |
Extras for Own Inventory
Have 3–6 extra items signed at each session. Example: $15 Funko + $35 signature = $50 cost, sells ~$95 (~$32 profit after eBay fees). Check eBay sold listings before choosing volume.
Selling Platforms
| Platform | Best For | Seller Fee |
|---|---|---|
| eBay | High-value authenticated pieces ($100+) | ~13% |
| Whatnot | Live Funko auctions, building an audience | ~8% + processing |
| Mercari | Mid-range Funko Pops and photos | ~10% |
| Facebook Groups | Direct collector community, zero fees | Free |
| Instagram / TikTok | Pre-order list building, announcements | Free |
Startup Costs & Subscription Stack
One-Time Launch Costs
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NC LLC Formation | $125 | One-time; protects personal assets |
| Domain Name | $12 – $15/yr | Namecheap or Cloudflare |
| Website Hosting (Vercel) | $0 | Free tier is sufficient at launch |
| Shipping Supplies | $75 – $100 | Mailers, boxes, tape — Amazon bulk pack |
| Starter extras (4 Funko Pops or prints) | $60 | Signed at first session for own inventory |
| Business bank, Stripe, misc. | ~$100 | Card reader, label printer, small fees |
| Talent fees | From pre-orders | Per-signature pay from fan payments |
| Authentication | Paid by fans | Sold as checkout add-on |
| TOTAL LAUNCH ESTIMATE | ~$400 |
Annual Subscription Stack
Every Item Certified
Authentication is the business's core trust moat. Every item sold must carry a verifiable COA from a recognized third party. Uncertified autographs are excluded from inventory — no exceptions. Authenticated items command a 20–50% premium over unverified autographs at auction and on secondary markets.
Beckett Authentication
Primary partner. Industry-leading certification for collectible autographs. Physical encapsulation and LOA available.
- $20–$150 per item by signer tier
- Mail-in; 2–4 week turnaround
- 2700 Summit Ave, Suite 100, Plano, TX 75074
- Verify at: beckett-authentication.com/verify-certificate
James Spence Auth.
Secondary partner. Well-respected in entertainment; competitive pricing.
- Entertainment specialist
- Robust online cert lookup
PSA/DNA
Aspirational / premium. Use for sports crossover talent or when buyers specifically request PSA.
- Highest market premium at auction
- Higher fees
BAS Fee Reference
| Auth Fee (per signer tier) | 2 Signatures | 3–4 Sigs | 5–20 Sigs |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20 (accessible talent) | $35 | $50 | $100 |
| $30 | $50 | $75 | $100 |
| $50 | $75 | $75 | $100 |
| $75 | $100 | $100 | $100 |
| $100 | $100 | $100 | $100 |
Letter upgrade +$20 · Autograph grading +50% of auth fee · Oversize surcharge +$10/item
Who to Target First
Start with Tier 1 — voice actors, horror icons, cult character actors. They offer the best combination of dedicated collector fanbases, strong Funko Pop presence, and manageable signing fees.
How to Reach Talent
IMDb Pro
Agent, manager, and publicist contacts for anyone with a film or TV credit. $149.99/yr — use month-to-month during outreach pushes only.
Contact Any Celebrity
59,000+ verified celebrity contacts; $197/yr. Add in Year 2 once signings run monthly — stronger for direct cold outreach.
Convention Tables
Many mid-tier actors manage their own bookings and list direct contact info on convention appearance pages. Free.
Heroes Con, Charlotte NC
Ideal local starting point. Strong mid-tier and horror talent attendance. Face-to-face relationships are the fastest path to a signing.
Booking Agencies
Demeter Talent, Celebrity Direct Entertainment, and Prestigious Entertainment specialize in convention and autograph signing bookings.
Outreach Email Template
I run SignedVault, a private-signing and send-in service for authenticated celebrity autographs. Fans pre-order and pay before each signing, so demand is confirmed before the session.
We'd like to book a private signing with [Talent Name]. We prefer a per-signature rate, and we handle item collection, authentication submission, and fan fulfillment — so the session needs very little of [Talent Name]'s time.
What would [Talent Name]'s per-signature rate be for Funko Pops, 8×10 photos, and posters, and is there a minimum? Could we set up a quick call?
Best,
Ted Rubin | SignedVault | [email] | Apex, NC
90-Day Launch Plan
- Form NC LLC ($125) + get free EIN from IRS.gov
- Register domain; deploy business plan site on Vercel
- Open dedicated business bank account + Stripe/PayPal
- Start IMDb Pro free trial; pay month-to-month only during outreach
- Join Whatnot as a buyer — build credibility before selling
- Join 5+ Funko/autograph Facebook groups as a buyer first
- Create Instagram; start posting collector-focused content
- Build email pre-order list via Mailchimp + Instagram bio link
- Identify 2–3 Tier 1 targets; begin outreach
- Secure Tier 1 talent via manager, agency, or convention contact
- Announce signing on social + email with clear pricing
- Collect pre-orders at per-signature price; flat-fee signers — 15 orders before commit
- Execute signing; photograph every item for provenance
- Submit add-on items to BAS (authentication paid by fans at checkout)
- Document everything for social proof and future content
- Ship pre-orders back to fans; list signed extras on eBay + Whatnot live
- Collect buyer photos and testimonials; post on social media
- Review platform performance — fastest sales, highest margin
- Begin outreach for second signing — one step up in talent tier
- Reinvest profit from first signing into extras for the second
- Quarterly goal: 2 signings/month by Month 6
Year 1 Projections
Per-signature prices ($65 to fans, $35 to talent for Tier 1) are placeholders until real quotes arrive. Authentication and return shipping are fan add-ons and are not counted as business costs below.
Why the Old Commission Model Lost Money
| Line (base case / month) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Commission earned (27.5% of $2,880) | +$792 |
| Talent fees (2 signings × ~$300) | −$600 |
| Authentication paid by business (36 × $20) | −$720 |
| Marketplace fees (~11%) | −$317 |
| Result per month | Loss ~$845 |
The earlier 25–30% commission model never subtracted talent fees. This plan replaces it with per-signature pricing.
One Tier 1 Signing (Corrected Model)
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Fan payments (20 orders × $65) | +$1,300 |
| Talent pay (20 × $35) | −$700 |
| Card processing (~3%) | −$39 |
| Supplies and handling | −$40 |
| 4 extras sold (cost $50 each, ~$82 net after eBay fees) | +$130 |
| Result per signing | Profit ~$650 |
| Line | Slow | Base | Strong |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profit from pre-orders | +$2,525 | +$5,610 | +$12,623 |
| Profit from extras | +$585 | +$1,300 | +$2,925 |
| Supplies and handling | −$240 | −$400 | −$900 |
| Launch costs (one time) | −$400 | −$400 | −$400 |
| Fixed costs | −$150 | −$150 | −$150 |
| Year 1 result | ~$2,320 | ~$5,960 | ~$14,100 |
Break-Even & Your Time
- Launch: ~$400 covered by the first signing in the base case (~$650 profit).
- Per-signature pay: ~$28 profit per order at Tier 1 placeholders — signing cannot lose money on talent fees alone.
- Flat-fee talent: $500 flat fee breaks even at ~8 orders at $65 — use the 15-order minimum.
- Price check: if talent asks $50/signature, profit drops to ~$13 — raise fan price to $80 or pick another signer.
- A signing is ~8 hours of work → ~$80/hour at ~$650 profit (before taxes).
Risk Factors & Mitigations
Take payment through Stripe or PayPal so refunds are one click. Full refund if the signing is cancelled or a flat-fee minimum is not met.
Only use in-person witnessed signings or established private signing operators — never buy pre-signed stock for resale.
Pay talent per signature so low turnout still profits; for flat-fee deals, keep the 15-order minimum and show a progress counter.
Get quotes before announcing. Keep at least $25 profit per order by raising the fan price or choosing another signer.
Photograph every item before and after packaging. Ship insured with signature confirmation. Use proper rigid mailers and boxes.
Offer BAS/JSA on every order and on all extras sold. Display the cert number in every listing.
Diversify across 3–4 active signers per quarter. Validate demand via eBay sold listings before committing.
Diversify across 3+ platforms. Build an owned email list to reduce dependence on any one marketplace.
Key Links & References
Authentication Services
| Service | URL |
|---|---|
| Beckett Authentication (BAS) | beckett-authentication.com |
| JSA | spenceloa.com |
| PSA/DNA | psacard.com |
Talent Outreach
| Resource | Notes |
|---|---|
| IMDb Pro — pro.imdb.com | $149.99/yr |
| Contact Any Celebrity — contactanycelebrity.com | $197/yr |
| Demeter Talent — demetertalent.com | Convention bookings |
| Celebrity Direct — celebritydirect.biz | Autograph signing bookings |
Selling & Research
| Platform / Tool | Notes |
|---|---|
| eBay — ~13% seller fee | High-value authenticated items |
| Whatnot — ~8% + processing | Live Funko auctions |
| Mercari — ~10% | Mid-range Pops and photos |
| Pop Price Guide — poppriceguide.com | Funko market values |
| PriceCharting — pricecharting.com/category/funko-pops | Funko pricing data |
| eBay Sold Listings | Most reliable real-time pricing |
Local Conventions (NC)
- Heroes Con — Charlotte, NC — excellent mid-tier talent access
- NC Comicon — Raleigh area
- Fan Expo — regional coverage