Problem → Solution

How to Reduce Event Ticketing Fees

A practical guide for event organizers — with real options and a clear path to fix it.

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The problem

Event organizers typically lose 5-10% of their ticket revenue to platform fees from services like Eventbrite and Ticketmaster. For a medium-sized event selling $50,000 in tickets, this means $2,500-$5,000 in fees eating into profit margins. These fees add up quickly, especially for organizations running multiple events per year or operating on tight budgets.

Why this happens

High ticketing fees exist because traditional platforms were built in an era when payment processing was expensive and technology infrastructure costs were high. Many legacy platforms also need to support large marketing budgets for their event discovery marketplaces. Additionally, some platforms price aggressively because they can - they've captured significant market share and organizers feel locked in due to switching costs and learning curves. The lack of transparent pricing makes it difficult to compare true costs across platforms.
Your options

Common ways organizers try to solve it

Not every fix fits every event. Here's a clear overview of the tradeoffs.

Option 1

Switch to a lower-fee ticketing platform like SwarmTix (1.5% + $0.99 vs 3.7% + $1.79)

Option 2

Negotiate volume discounts with your current platform if you run many events

Option 3

Pass fees to attendees with a 'service fee' line item (though this may reduce conversions)

Option 4

Use free ticketing for smaller events and only pay for larger paid events

Option 5

Build your own ticketing system (expensive upfront, only viable for very large organizations)

Tip: if you’re comparing platforms, check payout timing (cash flow) and whether the platform shows competing events to your attendees.

✓ Recommended Solution

How SwarmTix solves this

Built specifically to address this challenge for event organizers.

The SwarmTix approach

SwarmTix offers the most competitive pricing in the industry at just $0.99 + 1.5% per paid ticket - that's 60% less than Eventbrite. For a $50 ticket, you pay only $1.74 in fees compared to $3.64 on Eventbrite, saving $1.90 per ticket. On a 500-ticket event, that's $950 in savings. Free events remain completely free with no hidden charges. You also get instant payouts via Stripe Connect instead of waiting 5-7 days, improving your cash flow. Plus, your event page stays 100% yours with no competitor ads stealing your attendees.
$0.99 + 1.5%
Per paid ticket
Instant
Payouts via Stripe
100% Free
For free events
Start for free See pricing details

FAQ

What's the average ticketing fee percentage?
Most major platforms charge between 2.5% and 3.7% plus a flat fee per ticket. Eventbrite charges 3.7% + $1.79, Luma charges 3% + $0.99, and Tito charges 2% + $0.75. SwarmTix offers the lowest fees at 1.5% + $0.99 per ticket.
Should I pass ticketing fees to attendees?
While this preserves your revenue, it can reduce conversion rates by 5-15% as attendees see higher checkout prices. A better approach is to use a platform with lower fees like SwarmTix, so even if you absorb the cost, it's minimal.
How much can I actually save by switching platforms?
For a typical event with 500 tickets at $50 each, switching from Eventbrite to SwarmTix saves $950 in fees. If you run 12 events per year, that's $11,400 in annual savings - enough to hire an additional part-time team member or significantly expand your marketing budget.
Are there hidden fees I should know about?
Some platforms charge extra for features like reserved seating, custom branding, or removing their logo from your event page. Always ask for a complete fee breakdown including platform fees, payment processing fees, and any add-on feature costs. SwarmTix includes all features in the base 1.5% + $0.99 fee with no hidden charges.
Is it worth building my own ticketing system?
Only for very large organizations. Building a secure, PCI-compliant ticketing system costs $50,000-$200,000+ upfront, plus ongoing maintenance. You'll need to handle payment processing, fraud prevention, email delivery, refunds, and compliance. For 99% of organizers, using a low-cost platform like SwarmTix is far more economical.

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