Event Ticketing Fees Explained
Ticketing pricing can look simple — until percentage fees, fixed fees, ticket quantity, and who pays the fees are combined. This guide shows organizers how to calculate the real cost of selling tickets online.
How do event ticketing fees work?
Ticketing platforms commonly charge some combination of: a percentage of the ticket value, a fixed per-ticket fee, a per-order fee, payment processing, a monthly subscription, and optional buyer service fees. Not every platform uses every fee type.
The real numbers organizers should compare are the total cost of selling the tickets and the net proceeds to the organizer. A lower headline percentage doesn't always mean a lower total cost — fixed fees, monthly subscriptions, and per-order charges all affect the final number.
Event Ticketing Fee Calculator
See how ticket price, quantity, and fee structure affect what an organizer keeps. No signup required.
Estimates are for planning purposes. Actual totals can vary based on refunds, discounts, promo codes, taxes, ticket quantities, payment circumstances, and changes to platform pricing. Side Quest mode uses the current Side Quest fee structure from the application's pricing logic.
Understanding Fee Types
Different platforms charge different combinations of these fees. Knowing each type helps you compare accurately.
Percentage Fee
What it is: A fee calculated as a percentage of the ticket price.
Why it matters: Scales with ticket price — higher-priced tickets generate higher fees.
Example: A 5% fee on a $20 ticket = $1.00 per ticket.
Per-Ticket Fee
What it is: A fixed amount charged for each ticket sold.
Why it matters: Doesn't scale with price — has a bigger impact on low-priced tickets.
Example: A $0.99 per-ticket fee adds 99 cents to every ticket, whether it's $5 or $50.
Per-Order Fee
What it is: A fixed amount charged per transaction, regardless of ticket count.
Why it matters: Makes order size matter — more tickets per order means fewer per-order charges.
Example: A $1.00 per-order fee on 100 tickets in 25 orders = $25. In 100 orders = $100.
Payment Processing
What it is: A fee from the payment processor (like Stripe) for handling the card transaction.
Why it matters: May be bundled into the platform fee or charged separately. Know which.
Example: Stripe typically charges around 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction.
Monthly / Subscription Fee
What it is: A recurring fee charged whether or not you sell tickets.
Why it matters: Can make infrequent events expensive. Compare against per-ticket alternatives.
Example: A $29/month platform costs $348/year even if you sell zero tickets.
Setup Fee
What it is: A one-time charge to start using the platform.
Why it matters: Most modern platforms don't charge this, but some enterprise solutions do.
Example: A $500 setup fee amortized over 100 tickets adds $5.00 per ticket.
Buyer Service Fee
What it is: A fee added on top of the ticket price that the buyer pays at checkout.
Why it matters: Shifts the cost to the attendee but increases the checkout price.
Example: A $20 ticket with a $2.00 buyer service fee = $22.00 at checkout.
Why Ticket Price Matters
Need to figure out what to charge in the first place? See our how to price event tickets guide — it includes a free interactive ticket price planner that calculates break-even pricing based on your costs, attendance, and fee structure.
Fixed per-ticket fees have a much bigger impact on low-priced tickets as a percentage of the face value. A $0.99 fixed fee is nearly 20% of a $5 ticket but under 2% of a $50 ticket.
This is why you should always calculate the total cost in dollars for your specific ticket price — not just compare headline percentages. A platform with a lower percentage but a higher fixed fee can cost more for low-priced tickets.
| Ticket Price | Fee Per Ticket | Fixed Fee % of Price | Total Effective Fee % |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5.00 | $1.24 | 19.8% | 24.8% |
| $10.00 | $1.49 | 9.9% | 14.9% |
| $25.00 | $2.24 | 4.0% | 9.0% |
| $50.00 | $3.49 | 2.0% | 7.0% |
Table uses Side Quest Utah's current fee structure (5% + $0.99 per ticket, buyer pays).
Why Order Size Matters
Per-ticket fees and per-order fees work differently. Per-ticket fees are charged for each ticket regardless of how many are in one order. Per-order fees are charged once per transaction.
If a platform charges a per-order fee, the number of orders matters — not just the number of tickets. Selling 100 tickets in 25 orders of 4 costs less in per-order fees than selling 100 tickets in 100 separate orders.
100 Tickets in 100 Orders
With a $1.00 per-order fee:
$100.00
in per-order fees
100 Tickets in 25 Orders
With a $1.00 per-order fee:
$25.00
in per-order fees
Side Quest Utah charges per ticket, not per order — so order size doesn't change the total fee. But if you're comparing platforms that charge per order, this difference matters significantly.
Buyer Pays vs Organizer Pays
Many platforms, including Side Quest Utah, let you choose who pays the ticketing fee. Neither approach is universally correct.
Buyer Pays
- ✓ Organizer keeps full face-value revenue
- ✓ Fees visible at checkout
- ✗ Attendee checkout price increases
- ✗ May affect conversion for price-sensitive events
Organizer Pays
- ✓ Buyer sees closer to advertised price
- ✓ Cleaner checkout experience
- ✗ Organizer receives less per ticket
- ✗ Reduces net proceeds
Factors to consider:
- Ticket price — fees are more visible on low-priced tickets
- Event type — fundraisers may prefer organizer-pays
- Audience expectations — some audiences expect fees, others don't
- Conversion sensitivity — will a higher checkout price reduce sales?
- Desired organizer proceeds — how much do you need to net per ticket?
Side Quest Utah supports both modes. You choose when setting up your event, and you'll see the exact fees before publishing.
"Free Ticketing" Explained
"Free ticketing" can mean different things — and they're not the same:
- Free events incur no platform ticket fee — the platform charges nothing for free RSVPs.
- Organizer pays nothing because buyer pays fees — the organizer doesn't pay, but the buyer does at checkout.
- Platform has no monthly subscription — you don't pay recurring fees, but per-ticket fees may still apply.
Side Quest Utah's free-event behavior: Free events are completely free — no booking fee, no per-ticket charge. Free tickets include registration, QR ticket delivery, and check-in tools. Paid tickets are never called "free" just because the buyer pays the fee — the fee still exists, it's just paid by the buyer instead of the organizer.
How Side Quest Utah Ticketing Fees Work
Side Quest Utah uses a simple per-ticket fee structure with no monthly fees and no setup costs:
Percentage Portion
5% of ticket price
Fixed Portion
$0.99 per ticket
Who Pays
Buyer or Organizer (your choice)
Free Tickets
Completely Free
Monthly Fee
None
Setup Fee
None
Minimum Ticket Price
$5.00
Per-Order Fee
None
Refund fee behavior: When a customer requests a refund, Side Quest retains the booking fee. When an event is cancelled, a duplicate charge occurs, or a system error happens, Side Quest refunds the full booking fee. This policy is consistent regardless of whether the buyer or organizer paid the fee.
Realistic Side Quest Examples
These examples use the same pricing logic as the calculator above.
What Organizers Should Actually Compare
Don't compare only the headline percentage. A platform with a lower percentage may cost more once fixed fees, monthly subscriptions, and per-order charges are included.
Comparison Checklist
For a deeper comparison framework, see our guide to choosing a ticketing platform.
Total Cost vs Value
Organizers should consider both cost and what the fee includes. A platform that charges slightly more but includes checkout, ticket delivery, QR codes, check-in, reporting, and event discovery may deliver more value than a cheaper platform that charges extra for each feature.
What Side Quest Utah includes:
Fees by Event Type
Ticketing Fees for Fundraisers
For fundraisers, organizer-absorbed fees reduce proceeds while buyer-paid fees increase attendee cost. Model both scenarios with the calculator above to see which works better for your fundraising goals. Note: ticket sales are not charitable donations — fees apply to ticket purchases.
Learn about fundraiser ticketing →Ticketing Fees for School Events
School events often have low ticket prices and family purchases with multiple tickets. Because fixed fees affect low-priced tickets more heavily, calculate the total cost carefully. Simple checkout and fee visibility matter for parent purchasing.
Learn about school event ticketing →Ticketing Fees for Festivals
Festivals typically have higher ticket volume, multiple ticket tiers, and larger orders. Model the total cost across all tiers — a platform that looks cheaper for VIP tickets may cost more for general admission. Per-ticket fees add up quickly at high volume.
Learn about festival ticketing →Questions to Ask Any Platform
Use this platform-neutral checklist when evaluating any ticketing platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are event ticketing fees?
Event ticketing fees are the charges a ticketing platform adds to process ticket sales. They can include a percentage of the ticket price, a fixed per-ticket fee, a per-order fee, payment processing, monthly subscriptions, or setup fees. The total cost of selling tickets is the sum of all applicable fees.
How are ticketing fees calculated?
Most platforms calculate fees as a percentage of the ticket price plus a fixed per-ticket amount. Some also charge per order or per month. To find the real cost, calculate the total dollar amount for your specific ticket price and quantity — not just the headline percentage. A 3% fee on a $10 ticket is $0.30, while a 5% fee on a $100 ticket is $5.00.
What is a per-ticket fee?
A per-ticket fee is a fixed amount charged for each ticket sold, regardless of the ticket price. For example, a $0.99 per-ticket fee adds 99 cents to every ticket. Per-ticket fees have a bigger impact on low-priced tickets — $0.99 on a $5 ticket is nearly 20% of the face value, while on a $50 ticket it's under 2%.
What is a service fee?
A service fee is a general term for the charge a ticketing platform adds on top of the ticket price. It may include a percentage component, a fixed per-ticket fee, or both. When the buyer pays the service fee, it appears on top of the advertised ticket price at checkout.
Who usually pays ticketing fees?
It depends on the platform and the organizer's choice. Some platforms let the organizer choose whether the buyer pays the fee on top of the ticket price or the organizer absorbs it from their proceeds. Both approaches are common. The right choice depends on your event type, ticket price, and audience expectations.
Should I pass ticket fees to buyers?
It depends on your event. Passing fees to buyers means they pay more at checkout but you keep the full ticket face value. Absorbing fees means buyers see the advertised price but you receive less per ticket. For fundraising events, absorbing fees may feel more donor-friendly. For price-sensitive audiences, consider whether the total checkout price affects conversion.
Are free events really free?
It depends on the platform. Some platforms charge for free tickets; others don't. With Side Quest Utah, free events are completely free — no booking fee, no per-ticket charge. Free tickets still include registration, QR tickets, and check-in tools. Always check whether a platform charges for free RSVPs before assuming 'free ticketing' means zero cost.
Why do low-priced tickets have a higher effective fee percentage?
Because fixed per-ticket fees don't scale with ticket price. A $0.99 fixed fee on a $5 ticket is 19.8% of the face value. The same $0.99 fee on a $50 ticket is only 1.98%. When a platform charges both a percentage and a fixed fee, the fixed portion dominates the effective rate on low-priced tickets. This is why you should calculate total cost in dollars, not just compare percentages.
Are ticketing fees charged per ticket or per order?
It depends on the platform. Some charge per ticket (a fee for each ticket sold), some charge per order (a fee for each transaction regardless of how many tickets are in it), and some charge both. Per-order fees make order size matter — 100 tickets sold in 25 orders of 4 cost less in per-order fees than 100 tickets sold in 100 separate orders.
Do ticketing platforms charge monthly fees?
Some do, some don't. Monthly subscription fees are charged regardless of whether you sell any tickets. Platforms without monthly fees typically earn revenue from per-ticket or per-order fees instead. If you run events infrequently, a platform with no monthly fee may be more cost-effective than one with a lower per-ticket fee but a monthly subscription.
Are payment processing fees separate?
Often yes. Payment processing fees (charged by the payment processor like Stripe or PayPal) are separate from the ticketing platform's fee. Some platforms bundle processing into their fee; others pass it through separately. Always check whether the advertised fee includes payment processing or if it's an additional charge.
What happens to ticketing fees when an order is refunded?
Refund fee policies vary by platform. Some platforms refund their fee when you issue a refund; others retain it. With Side Quest Utah, the booking fee is retained for customer-requested refunds but fully refunded for event cancellations, duplicate charges, and system errors. Always check the refund fee policy before choosing a platform.
How can I compare two ticketing platforms?
Calculate the total cost per order for your specific ticket price and quantity — not just the headline percentage. Compare percentage fees, fixed per-ticket fees, per-order fees, monthly fees, payment processing, refund fee policies, and what's included (checkout, QR tickets, check-in, reporting, event discovery). A platform with a lower percentage may cost more if it has a higher fixed fee or monthly subscription.
How much does Side Quest Utah charge to sell tickets?
Side Quest Utah charges a per-ticket fee of 5% of the ticket price plus $0.99 per ticket. Organizers choose whether the buyer pays the fee on top of the ticket price or the organizer absorbs it from their proceeds. There are no monthly fees and no setup fees. The minimum paid ticket price is $5.00.
Does Side Quest charge for free tickets?
No. Free events on Side Quest Utah are completely free — no booking fee, no per-ticket charge. Free tickets still include registration, QR ticket delivery, and check-in tools. You can mix free and paid tickets within the same event.
Can Side Quest ticket fees be passed to buyers?
Yes. Side Quest Utah lets organizers choose whether the buyer pays the fee on top of the ticket price or the organizer absorbs it from their proceeds. In buyer-pays mode, the buyer sees the ticket price plus the fee at checkout, and the organizer receives the full face value. In organizer-pays mode, the buyer sees only the ticket price, and the fee is deducted from the organizer's proceeds.
Ready to Sell Tickets with Transparent Fees?
Side Quest Utah charges a simple per-ticket fee with no monthly costs and no setup fees. You choose who pays — and you see exact fees before publishing.
Looking for more guides? Browse all ticketing resources.