Your event ticketing platform is what your attendees will use to purchase tickets or register for your event. Choosing an affordable and reliable event registration platform where event organizers, like you, can maximize profit and revenue for your event can be a valuable decision. One of the important factors to consider when choosing a ticketing platform is the cost, or finding a ticket platform with the lowest fees.
This article is intended to help you decide which ticketing platform can help you maximize your event.
Types of Fees: Commission Fees & Transaction Fees
When planning for your event budget costs and expenses, it is easy to overlook additional costs like your ticket platform fees. It might seem small, but imagine selling hundreds of tickets and how much that will cost in total.
Not all ticketing fees are created equal and some fees are avoidable and some fees are not avoidable. Here are the different types of ticket fees online ticketing platforms charge for processing payments online:
Avoidable – Commission/Ticketing Fees
Commission fees are the fees that the ticketing platform charges for using their platform. These fees can range from 3% – 6% of the ticket price. Some ticket platforms don’t charge a commission fee but charge a flat fee per ticket sold. These fees are avoidable and range based on the platform you choose and the level of service you desire.
While most ticket platforms charge a commission fee, ticket-selling programs like Event Espresso and Event Smart offer zero commission fees on an unlimited number of tickets sold.
Unavoidable – Transaction Fees / Card Processing Fees
Transaction fees are the prices that credit card and bank companies charge to process payments online. These fees are generally unavoidable if you want to accept digital payments. These fees range from 3%-10%.
With Event Smart, you can have attendees help cover the cost of processing payments by adding a surcharge or processing or transaction or convenience fee to your tickets.
Comparison of Ticket Platform Fees
To compare various ticket platforms, let’s consider a scenario: you hosted a cultural event with tickets priced at $25 each, selling a total of 100 tickets. Now, let’s break down the charges imposed by each ticket platform.
Online ticketing platforms are used to sell event tickets and register people for an event. Features of a ticketing platform include the ability to set up multiple ticket types, accept secure payment collection, customizable ticket interface, analytics, smooth ticketing process, and more.
Most of the existing event ticketing platforms already have these ticketing features available but let’s take a look at each and compare fees.
Eventbrite Ticket Pricing
Eventbrite charges a fee per ticket sold PLUS a payment processing fee. According to their site, Service fees are calculated using the ticket price. Payment processing fees are calculated using the total order (including service fees and tax).
For tickets sold in the US:
- Commission/Service fee is 3.7% plus $1.79 per sold ticket.
- The payment processing fee is 2.9% of the total order.
Based on the scenario of selling 100 tickets for $25 each, the average cost you have to pay Eventbrite for ticket fees would be $246.5.
Cvent Ticket Pricing
Ticketing fees of 3.99% per ticket + custom fee for specific sessions, services, or tickets. Reports show that event planners can get their payout 30 days after the event. According to their site, they also have a 2% credit card processing fee.
Given this rate, an estimate of around $100 will be spent on Cvent’s ticket fees based on the scenario given above.
Ticketmaster Ticket Fees
The service fee of Ticketmaster varies depending on the type of ticket, venue, and location. Service fees are typically 10 to 20 percent of the actual ticket price face value. On top of this, the processing fee will be an estimate of an additional 2%.
Based on the scenario, an event organizer will have to take a cut of around $550 as ticket fees and charges imposed by Ticketmaster.
Ticketleap Pricing and Fees
Based on Ticketleap’s fees calculator on their website, for every $20 ticket you sell, Ticketleap gets $2 as a Ticketleap fee and credit card processing. The credit card processing fee will be another 3% of the ticket price.
For the cultural event example, the total fees for Ticketleap and credit card processing will reach up to $225.
Eventzilla Fees
Ticket pricing fees for Eventzilla are divided into tiers. Their basic model charges a $1.50 per ticket fee. Their basic and PRO options charge 1.9% + $1.50 and 2.9% + $1.50 fee respectively. For payment processing fees, they use Eventzilla Payments (powered by WePay, a Chase company), and will cost 2.9%+ 99 cents per transaction.
For the most basic plan, Eventzilla fees will amount to at least $150 for 100 tickets sold at $25 each.
Regfox Fees
RegFox markets itself as the more economical option than platforms like Cvent, Eventbrite, etc. They charge 0.99 cents + 1% per paid registrant + standard credit card processing. Sources state that RegFox’s credit card processing fee is charged around 2.99%.
Without the standard credit card processing fees, event planners would need to pay an estimate of $125 in commission fees alone, based on the given scenario.
Brown Paper Tickets
Similar to the other ticket platforms, Brown Paper Tickets charges a fee per ticket sold. The fee is $1.49 + 6.0% of the ticket price. They don’t charge a fee to use their credit card processor. They handle the processing and you can expect to get your ticket revenue within 10 business days.
Users of Brown Paper Tickets in this scenario can expect fees totaling approximately $299.
Event Espresso Pricing and Fees
If you have an event website on WordPress, Event Espresso is the best fit for you. Compared to other ticketing platforms, Event Espresso charges $0 commission fees on an unlimited number of tickets sold. It also has complete features like a secure payment collection system, customizable registration forms, recurring events and event types, and more.
From our example scenario above, you will pay $0 fees on commissions or ticket fees. You also won’t be charged a credit card processing fee by Event Espresso.
Event Smart Pricing and Fees
If your event site is not hosted on WordPress, Event Smart is an alternative to Event Espresso. This solution provides a fully-functional event site, built using WordPress and Event Espresso. However, you don’t have to worry about creating and maintaining your ticket sites yourself, as they will be set up and hosted for you.
Similar to Event Espresso, Event Smart charges $0 commission fees and card processing fees on an unlimited number of tickets sold. So based on the example scenario above, you will pay $0 commission fees on the number of tickets sold.
Furthermore, both Event Espresso and Event Smart don’t charge a processing fee for payments you receive. The processing fees when using Event Smart or Event Espresso are directly for the payment gateway merchant you use. Event Smart and Event Espresso do not set these fees.
Compared to the other ticketing options above, they are the cheapest ticketing platform option that will give you the best value for your money.
Benefits of Ticket Platforms with Low Fees
Ticket platform fees can play a big role in your events’ success. Imagine this, the outcome of your event attendance happens on this platform. For most ticketing platforms, the more you sell, the more you have to pay for commission fees. Here are why you need to be strategic in choosing a ticketing platform with the lowest fees.
Higher Profit Margins
The first and most obvious reason for choosing a ticketing platform with the lowest fees is for higher profit margins. For example, if you’re selling tickets for $50 each and you sold 100 tickets, you will immediately have to pay Eventbrite at least $339 in commissions.
Compared to using a platform like Event Smart, you can use that money for other business purposes like marketing and promotions.
Competitive Pricing for Event Attendees
Most ticket platforms offer the option to let attendees pay for the ticket fee. As an event organizer, you are constantly competing with other events and your audience’s attention. Eliminate the possible point of resistance by offering competitive pricing for your tickets.
This not only increases the likelihood of higher attendance but also creates a positive perception among potential attendees, encouraging them to participate in a cost-effective and engaging experience.
Flexibility in Ticket Pricing Strategies
When you don’t have to pay for a hefty amount of ticket fees, you can have better flexibility in your ticket pricing strategy. This adaptability allows for strategic pricing decisions that cater to the unique dynamics and goals of the event, maximizing both revenue and attendee satisfaction.
Support for Small up-and-coming Events
Using affordable event ticketing platforms gives way for small events or startups to thrive. Recognizing the challenges faced by emerging organizers, platforms like Event Smart and Event Espresso enable starting event planners to bring their visions to life, contributing to a diverse and vibrant event landscape.
Tips for Minimizing Fees on Ticket Platforms
If you’re planning to start an event and want to minimize fees, you can check out these tips:
Research the different ticketing platforms
Just like how we did in this article, you can list the ticket platforms you are interested in and compare prices. Consider the features and choose the best option that fits your needs. If possible, choose the platform that offers zero commission fees. We suggest a ticketing platform with great customer service and customization options to get the best value for your money.
Consider non-profit platforms
If you’re organizing for charity or fundraising, choose a ticket platform for nonprofit organizations. You might be able to get discounts for that.
Work on a partnership
Collaborating with like-minded businesses, sponsors, or organizations allows for a shared distribution of costs, often mitigating the financial burden imposed by platform fees. By co-hosting events or establishing mutually beneficial relationships, you not only expand your event’s reach but also gain access to alternative distribution channels.
Choose Event Smart to Make Profitable Events
In conclusion, if you’re looking for the cheapest ticketing platform, Event Smart is the ideal choice for you. Event planners have trusted Event Smart as a reliable and affordable choice for their ticketing needs. They will save you lots of headaches as you continue in your event planning. Using Event Espresso can help maximize your event profit by not taking a cut from your ticket sales revenue.
If you don’t have a WordPress site, you can choose a similar platform called Event Smart. It is a hosted platform powered by Event Espresso for your event management and ticket-selling needs. Enjoy the same features without having to set up an event site from scratch.
Selling tickets online doesn’t have to be complicated and expensive. Host paid and free events with Event Espresso and Event Smart. Plan now with our free live demo or our 14-day free trial.
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