Ticketo
What does it really cost to sell tickets?
Ticketing systems often say “Free to sign up”. Here's an honest look at how ticket fees work in Denmark and who pays them.
How a ticket fee is put together
1. The acquirer (Nets/Stripe)
Every time a Visa, Mastercard or Apple Pay is used online, the provider takes a percentage (typically 1.5% - 3%) to move the money securely. This can't be avoided.
2. The system (servers)
The ticketing system has to pay for server space, sending text messages, emails and security infrastructure every time a ticket is generated and sent.
3. The profit
The amount the ticketing platform keeps for itself for having developed the software, supporting you and running its business.
Percentage or fixed amount
When you look at the market, you'll find two very different ways the platforms charge.
A percentage plus a fixed amount: Most platforms take a percentage of the ticket price plus a small fixed amount per ticket. The fee follows the price: a cheap ticket means a small fee, an expensive ticket a bigger one.
Only a fixed amount: Some systems take the same amount per ticket regardless of the price. That means a noticeable fee on cheap tickets and a low one on expensive tickets.
Which model ends up cheapest depends on your ticket price. Do the math with your own price, and also look at what the fee doesn't show: what free tickets cost, when you can withdraw the money, and whether there are surcharges for e.g. MobilePay.
Who pays the bill?
As an organizer, you almost always have two options when you create an event, no matter which system you use:
Pass the fee on to the guest (most common)
You set the ticket price to DKK 100. In the cart, the guest sees that a ticket fee of e.g. DKK 5 has been added. The guest pays DKK 105 in total. You get exactly DKK 100 paid out. This is the industry standard.
Absorb the fee (hide it)
You set the ticket price to DKK 100. The guest pays exactly DKK 100. The system automatically deducts the fee of e.g. DKK 5 before the payout, and you get DKK 95 in your account. Perfect for very professional talks.
How do we do it at Ticketo?
You pay DKK 0 to create your account and your event, and free tickets cost DKK 0. On paid tickets, the fee is 2.79% plus DKK 2.99 plus VAT per ticket, paid by the guest by default. You can withdraw the money 5 days after each sale.