Why Platform Fees Hurt More Than You Think

You’ve probably seen it before. "Just 5% per ticket!" Or worse, "low fees starting at 2.5%." For big events with corporate sponsors, those numbers might seem manageable. But for small community groups, they can be a killer.

Let’s break it down. Say your group is hosting a $15-a-ticket fundraiser for 100 people. That’s $1,500 in revenue. Not bad for a volunteer-run event, right? But if you’re using a platform like Eventbrite, their fees (including payment processing) can easily hit 8% or more. That’s $120 gone — money that could’ve gone toward venue rentals, supplies, or even directly to your cause. Eventbrite’s fee calculator confirms this.

And it gets worse with bigger events or higher ticket prices. The more you raise, the more fees siphon off your hard work. It’s like a tax on doing good.

The Hidden Impact on Small Organisations

Here’s the thing: most community centres and non-profits don’t have the luxury of big budgets. Every dollar counts. When platforms take a cut, it’s not just about the money. It’s about what you can’t do with it. Maybe you cancel an extra workshop. Or skip advertising for the next event. Or worse, you raise ticket prices, making your event less accessible to the very people you’re trying to serve.

For smaller organisations — especially those with 20-500 members running just a handful of events each year — these fees add up fast. And for groups running Pay What You Can (PWYC) events, traditional platforms aren’t even designed to support flexible pricing models. They assume every ticket looks the same. But your community doesn’t.

A Better Way to Keep More of Your Revenue

This is why we built CommunityTix. It’s free to use, with zero platform fees. That means your organisation keeps 100% of your ticket revenue. The only cost? Standard PayPal processing fees (about 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction). So that $1,500 fundraiser? You’d pay around $45 in total — not $120. That’s a $75 difference. Multiply that over a year’s worth of events, and you’re talking real savings.

And for PWYC events? CommunityTix lets you set up to three suggested price points, plus a custom amount field. It’s perfect for equity-focused events where you want to give attendees flexibility but still cover costs. Try doing that with Eventbrite.

What About "Free" Events?

You might be thinking, "But our events are free — no tickets to sell." Even then, platform fees can sneak in. Some platforms charge for RSVP tracking or cap the number of free registrations on lower-tier plans. CommunityTix doesn’t. Free events stay free, period. We built RSVP tracking right into the platform, so you can manage guest counts without paying extra.

Is It Worth Switching?

Short answer: probably. If your organisation runs 5-20 events per year, the savings alone might justify it. Plus, CommunityTix gives you more than just ticketing. You get a branded website (your-org.communitytix.org), a built-in blog, and member management tools. No more juggling spreadsheets or paying extra for features you don’t need.

The biggest objection we hear is, "But we’ve already set up our current system." Fair point. Switching platforms takes time. But how much time are you already spending fighting with tools that don’t quite fit? And how much are you losing in fees every year? It’s worth running the numbers.

Final Thoughts

Platform fees might seem minor at first glance, but for community organisations, they’re a quiet drain on resources. And it’s not just about money — it’s about impact. Every $100 in fees is $100 less for your mission.

If you’re tired of paying for tools that don’t work for your needs, there’s another way. CommunityTix was built specifically for groups like yours. No fees. No lock-in. Just tools that help you focus on what matters: building community.