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Why Non-Profits Should Stop Paying Ticketing Fees (And Keep 100% of Revenue)

Karthi Sivanandan 3 min read April 10, 2026
A community center event with diverse attendees, featuring a sign that reads 'Tickets: Pay What You Can' on a table with...

Tired of Losing Money to Ticketing Fees?

If you’re running a non-profit or a small community group, every dollar matters. But here’s the problem: ticketing platforms like Eventbrite or Ticketmaster are eating into your revenue. They charge 5-10% per ticket in platform fees, on top of payment processing costs. For a $20 ticket, you’re left with $18 (or less). Doesn’t sound like much? Multiply that by 500 attendees, and you’ve just lost $1,000 — money that could’ve gone toward your actual mission.

That’s why we need to talk about zero platform fee ticketing.


Event Ticketing Without Fees: What’s the Catch?

You might be thinking, "No platform fees? That sounds too good to be true." But it’s not. Platforms like CommunityTix actually let you keep 100% of your ticket revenue. The only fees you’ll pay are PayPal’s standard processing costs (around 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction in the U.S.).

How’s that possible? CommunityTix is open-source and built specifically for non-profits, cultural associations, and community groups. It’s not trying to squeeze revenue from your ticket sales — its goal is to give smaller organizations the tools they need without breaking the bank. Ideal, right?


Real Example: How One Community Group Saved Thousands

Let’s say you’re a local cultural association organizing an annual festival. You charge $15 per ticket, and 1,000 people attend. Here’s what happens on some of the popular platforms:

What could you do with that extra $600? Cover volunteer stipends? Print more flyers? Reduce ticket prices so more people can attend? The point is, you get to decide — not the platform.


Pay What You Can Pricing: Flexible, Inclusive, and Still Fee-Free

Here’s another thing traditional platforms don’t handle well: flexible pricing models. Many non-profits want to make events accessible by letting attendees pay what they can (PWYC). But most platforms assume ticket prices are fixed.

CommunityTix solves this with built-in PWYC support. You can set up to three suggested price points (e.g., $5, $10, $15), or let attendees enter their own amount. It’s perfect for equity-focused events where you want to balance accessibility with sustainability. And yes, it’s still 0% platform fees.


But What About Other Features?

You might be wondering, "Do I have to sacrifice features for affordability?" Not here. CommunityTix includes tools for:

It’s all integrated. No jumping between spreadsheets, email threads, and third-party tools.


Ready to Stop Overpaying?

Non-profits often operate on razor-thin margins. Losing 5-10% of your revenue to ticketing fees isn’t just frustrating — it’s unsustainable. Platforms like CommunityTix give you the tools to manage events without those unnecessary costs.

If you’re still using Eventbrite or Ticketmaster, ask yourself this: How much are you really paying for convenience? And is it worth it?

Affordable event ticketing isn’t a pipe dream. It’s already here.


Learn more or start your free trial at CommunityTix.

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