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Fundraiser Ticketing Fees Case Study: Saving 50% on Event Costs

For many community fundraisers, every dollar counts. When a local charity gala or school auction loses hundreds of dollars to ticketing fees, that money cannot go toward the cause. One organisation discovered that by switching to a lower-fee platform, they kept thousands of dollars more. This fundraiser ticketing fees case study shows how a simple change in provider can cut costs significantly, and how the maths plays out if you take it one step further to an Australian-built low-fee platform.

The event was a small library fundraiser selling 100 tickets at A$50 each. The original ticketing setup used a major platform with high service and processing fees. After reviewing alternatives, the organisers moved to a fee structure that saved them more than half of what they had been paying. The total savings allowed them to fund additional programmes and attract more attendees. To plug your own numbers into the same comparison, use the event fee calculator or the simple savings calculator.

The challenge: high fees eating into donations

Fundraising events come in many shapes and sizes. According to data from thousands of non-profit events, gala tickets typically range from A$100 to A$250, but smaller grassroots events often sell tickets between A$50 and A$100. Average ticket prices vary by cause area: health events A$199, veterans A$198, humanitarian A$180, social service A$178, political A$174, religion A$154, community service A$149, environment A$132, animal welfare A$121, education A$120, culture A$109, sports and leisure A$108, and student groups A$84. For a community service event with a A$50 ticket, every fee taken out reduces the net proceeds.

Many event organisers choose popular platforms without realising how much those platforms deduct. For example, Eventbrite charges A$2.24 per ticket plus a 2.5 per cent payment processing fee that is built in. For 100 tickets at A$50, the total fees come to A$349, leaving the organiser with A$4,651. TicketMaster charges A$2.00 or more per ticket, a variable percentage fee, plus A$4.00 or more for payment processing. On the same 100 tickets at A$50, TicketMaster fees total A$775, leaving only A$4,225. That is A$775 that cannot support the cause.

The local fundraiser in this case study was using TicketMaster. They sold 100 tickets at A$50 each and paid A$775 in fees. After the event, they realised that nearly 16 per cent of their gross revenue had vanished into processing charges. The board decided to investigate alternative platforms that could reduce these costs.

The solution: switching to a low-fee platform

After comparing several options, the fundraiser moved to a platform that charges A$1.49 per ticket plus 2.9 per cent plus A$0.30 payment processing per transaction. For the same 100 tickets at A$50 each, the total fees came to A$324. That left A$4,676 for the charity. Compared to the original A$775 in fees, the savings were A$451. That is a reduction of 58 per cent.

The organisers used the saved money to cover catering costs for volunteers and to print promotional materials for the next event. The switch required no changes to the ticket price, guests still paid A$50 per ticket. The only difference was that the fundraiser kept more of the proceeds. Deposits from the new platform arrived in the organisation's account in two to three business days, which helped with cash flow planning.

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Comparing fee structures

The table below shows how the case-study platforms stack up for a 100-ticket event with a A$50 ticket price, based on published fee information. We've added a fourth row showing what the same fundraiser would have paid on Ticketted (which is Australian-built and the lowest of the four).

These figures come from published comparisons. Actual fees can vary based on ticket pricing tiers and negotiated contracts. The key takeaway is that the choice of platform can change how much of each ticket dollar reaches the cause: switching from TicketMaster to Ticketted on this exact event recovers A$655, an 84 per cent reduction in fees. To run the same calculation for your event's ticket price and quantity, use the event fee calculator.

How Ticketted gets to A$120 on this case

The Ticketted maths is: per ticket the platform takes 1.8 per cent of A$50 (A$0.90) plus A$0.30 = A$1.20. Across 100 tickets, that totals A$120, inclusive of Stripe's processing fee (Australian domestic Stripe rates of 1.7 per cent plus A$0.30 are already factored in). Buyer-covers is the default fee policy on Ticketted, so the charity sees the full A$50 per ticket land in their Stripe Connect account and the buyer sees A$50 plus a A$1.20 surcharge at checkout. The mechanics of who pays the fee, and when each option is the right call, are covered in who pays the processing fee.

If the fundraiser preferred to absorb the fee themselves to keep the headline ticket price clean, the cost is still A$120 across 100 tickets, well below every other platform in the comparison.

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Additional savings with early bird pricing

Beyond platform fees, smart pricing strategies can further boost revenue. According to one guide, early bird pricing can add 10 to 15 per cent to total revenue for a 200-ticket event. The fundraiser in this case study applied a limited-time early bird rate of A$45 for the first 30 tickets. That generated urgency and filled seats early. When combined with the lower ticketing fees, the organisers saw a net gain that they had not anticipated.

For a 100-ticket event, even a small early bird discount can increase cash flow before the event date and reduce last-minute marketing stress. The extra revenue from early bird sales is not subject to the same high fees because the per-ticket charge remains roughly fixed. The overall benefit compounds when platform costs are low.

Ticketted supports multiple ticket types and price tiers on the same event, so the early bird and standard tiers can run side by side without an upgrade. For a wider playbook on free vs paid framing, see free to publish: our take.

Key takeaways for fundraisers

This case study highlights several lessons for anyone organising a fundraising event. First, always calculate the total cost of ticketing fees, not just the per-ticket price. A fee that looks small can add up when multiplied by hundreds of tickets. Second, compare multiple platforms using your specific ticket price and expected sales volume. The fee structures in this comparison show that the lowest total fees may not come from the most well-known platform. For a broader low-fee landscape see low fee ticketing options for community events in Australia, and for the non-profit-specific angle, how non-profits can save on event ticketing fees in 2026.

Third, consider how quickly funds are deposited. The fundraiser in this study received proceeds in two to three business days, which helped them pay vendors promptly. Ticketted uses Stripe Connect direct payouts, which arrive on the connected account's standard schedule (typically T+3 business days for AU accounts on the standard schedule, with instant payouts available for an additional Stripe fee). Fourth, do not overlook pricing strategies such as early bird discounts. Even a modest discount can drive early sales and increase overall revenue when combined with lower ticketing costs.

Fifth, look at the rest of the stack. A fundraiser also typically needs an event description, social media tiles, a disclaimer or T&Cs, and a check-in process at the door. Paying for those tools separately can eat into the savings from a low ticketing fee. Ticketted's free AI event description writer, in-dashboard image generator, disclaimer generator, T&Cs generator, and browser-based QR scanner are bundled into the same platform. For free-tier alternatives across the wider stack, see free event planning tools for community organisers.

Finally, remember that fee savings directly translate into more money for your mission. The A$451 saved by switching platforms in the case-study switch (TicketMaster to PayIt2) could cover the cost of new books for a library, meals for a shelter, or supplies for a community clean-up. The A$655 saved by going one further (TicketMaster to Ticketted) could fund more. Every dollar kept is a dollar that serves the cause.

For fundraisers looking to cut costs, the evidence is clear: switching to a transparent, lower-fee ticketing platform can save 50 per cent or more on ticketing fees, and 80 per cent or more if you compare against the most expensive incumbents. Organisers should run the numbers for their own events using current pricing from each provider and see how much they could keep. The decision may be easier than they think.

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Frequently asked questions

How much can a fundraiser really save by switching ticketing platforms?

As shown in this case study, savings can exceed 50 per cent when moving from a high-fee provider like TicketMaster to a lower-fee alternative such as PayIt2. For 100 tickets at A$50 each, the difference was A$451 out of the original A$775 in fees. If the comparison destination is Ticketted, the total fees drop to A$120, recovering A$655 (an 84 per cent reduction). The exact percentage depends on ticket price, volume, and the specific fee structures of the platforms involved. Plug your own numbers into the event fee calculator for a like-for-like comparison.

Are there any platforms that charge no fees for fundraisers?

Zeffy is one platform that charges no platform fees; it relies on optional donor contributions at payment confirmation. Ticketted is free for free events with no cap on attendee numbers, so a donation-driven event (or a free-entry event with a separate giving ask) costs nothing in platform fees. Other platforms like Eventbrite, Stripe, Square, PayPal, and Donorbox apply varying per-ticket and percentage charges. Fundraisers should verify current terms directly with each provider and consult the broader comparison in how non-profits can save on event ticketing fees in 2026.

Do lower fees mean fewer features or slower service?

Not necessarily. Many low-fee platforms offer standard features such as online sales, attendee messaging, and quick deposit times. In this case study, funds were deposited within two to three business days, which is comparable to or better than some higher-fee providers. Ticketted ships Apple and Google Wallet passes, a QR scanner, AI content tools, and an email marketing dashboard inside the low-fee tier, so the saving does not cost you feature coverage. Always review the feature list of any platform before committing.

Is the comparison valid for Australian organisers?

Yes, the proportions hold across currencies. We've quoted in AUD because the Australian audience is the focus, but the relative ranking between TicketMaster, Eventbrite, PayIt2, and Ticketted is what matters. Ticketted is Australian-built, so the headline 1.8% + A$0.30 rate already accounts for the AU domestic Stripe rate and GST; that is not always the case for US-based platforms quoted in USD when used from Australia.

What's the catch with very low ticketing fees?

The two trade-offs to watch for: a few low-fee platforms make it up on refund handling (keeping the fee when you refund a ticket, leaving the organiser double-charged) or on a monthly subscription that only pays off above a certain event volume. Ticketted refunds the platform fee proportionally when you refund a ticket, and has no monthly subscription. The third trap is a low headline rate that excludes payment processing (then adds 2.9% + A$0.30 on top); the table above lists the all-in number including processing for every row.

For fundraisers looking to cut costs, the evidence is clear: switching to a transparent, lower-fee ticketing platform can save 50 per cent or more on ticketing fees, and often a great deal more. Ultimately, the best approach for any fundraising organisation is to calculate total fees for their expected ticket sales using real quotes from several platforms. The potential savings are often large enough to make a real difference to the cause.

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