Why Ticketing Fees Are Holding Back the UK Events Industry—and What We Can Do About It
When I first started organizing events for my local cultural association, I thought the biggest challenge was going to be getting people to show up. I spent hours emailing members, posting on social media, and even printing out flyers to stick on bulletin boards around the community center. If we got 50 people to show up to an event, we’d celebrate like we’d just sold out Wembley Stadium. I thought the problem was outreach.
Then I started running the numbers. And I mean really running them. One late night, while staring at a spreadsheet that should’ve been simple but wasn’t, I realized something. It wasn’t just about filling seats. It was about what happened to the money once people paid for those seats. A big chunk of it wasn’t going to our programs, our performers, or our community. It was going to the ticketing platform. And that’s when it hit me: outreach wasn’t the problem. Overhead was.
Now, let’s zoom out from my small cultural group to the bigger picture. The UK business events sector is enormous—valued at £31.2 billion in 2022, according to the Business Visits and Events Partnership. But here’s the catch: it’s not growing as fast as it could. Why? Because of the same problem I faced in my tiny community hall—rising costs and barriers to entry, especially for smaller players. And in my view, one of the most overlooked culprits is ticketing fees.
The Ticketing Fee Problem Isn’t Just for Small Players
You might think, "Sure, high ticketing fees are a problem for community groups, but how does that affect the UK’s global standing in the business events market?" The answer is scale. Imagine you’re hosting a mid-sized international business conference in London. You’ve secured a venue, booked speakers, and now you’re selling tickets. If you’re using a platform like Eventbrite, up to 10% of every ticket sold is going straight to them. For a £200 ticket, that’s £20 gone—per attendee. Multiply that by 500 attendees, and you’ve just handed over £10,000 that could’ve gone towards better amenities, marketing, or reduced ticket prices to attract more people.
To make this even clearer, here’s a comparison table of how ticketing fees stack up across different platforms:
| Platform | Ticket Fee (% Per Ticket) | £200 Ticket Cost | Total Loss for 500 Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eventbrite | 10% | £20 | £10,000 |
| Ticketmaster | 12% | £24 | £12,000 |
| CommunityTix | 0% | £0 | £0 |
| PayPal Fee | ~2.9% + 30p | £5.80 | £2,900 |
Now imagine dozens of events like this happening across Europe, but in cities like Berlin or Amsterdam, where lower fees allow organizers to reinvest more into creating exceptional experiences. It’s not hard to see how the UK could start losing its edge as a go-to destination for global business events. And that’s before you even factor in post-Brexit hurdles like increased visa restrictions and higher costs for international travel.
The Real Cost of Ignoring the Issue
Rising ticketing fees might seem like a small issue in the grand scheme of things, but they’re a symptom of a bigger problem: the UK’s event industry isn’t as competitive as it could be. A 2023 report from Allied Market Research projects the global business events market to grow to $2.5 trillion by 2030. That’s a lot of potential revenue. But to tap into that growth, the UK needs to make it easier and more affordable for event organizers to operate here.
Take this example: a conference organizer in the UK is deciding between hosting their event in London or Paris. Both cities have world-class venues, great transport links, and plenty of accommodation. But the cost of doing business in London is higher—partly because of ticketing fees. If the organizer chooses Paris, that’s not just a loss for the venue; it’s a loss for local hotels, restaurants, and other businesses that rely on event tourism.
How Zero Platform Fees Can Help
This is where platforms like CommunityTix can make a real difference. Unlike the big players, CommunityTix charges zero platform fees. That means 100% of your ticket revenue goes straight to you. The only fees you pay are standard PayPal processing fees, which are unavoidable no matter what platform you use.
Let’s revisit our £200-per-ticket conference with 500 attendees. With a platform like Eventbrite, you’d lose £10,000 in ticketing fees. With CommunityTix? You’d keep all of that—enough to fund better catering, hire top-tier speakers, or offer discounted tickets to attract more attendees.
Here’s an actionable checklist for switching to a zero-fee platform:
- Evaluate Current Costs: Calculate how much you’re currently losing to ticketing fees. Use the comparison table above to understand your savings potential.
- Explore Alternatives: Research platforms like CommunityTix and others that offer zero or lower fees. Compare their features and suitability for your event.
- Test the System: Sign up for a free trial or demo. Test the interface, payment processing, and customer support.
- Communicate Changes: Inform your audience about the switch. Highlight the benefits, such as potential price reductions or improved event experiences.
- Track Impact: After your event, analyze whether the savings from fees helped improve attendance, profitability, or attendee satisfaction.
And it’s not just about the money. CommunityTix also offers features like Pay What You Can (PWYC) pricing, which allows organizers to set multiple suggested price points or let attendees pay what they can afford. This is a game-changer for events aimed at fostering diversity and inclusion, two values that are increasingly important in the global business events market.
Why the Old Belief Persists
If the solution is so simple, why aren’t more people using zero-fee platforms? It’s a fair question. For one, the big players like Eventbrite and Ticketmaster have deep pockets for marketing. They’ve been around for years, so they’re the default choice for many organizers. There’s also a perception that if something’s free (or nearly free), it must be too good to be true. And let’s not forget about the fear of change—switching platforms can feel like a hassle, especially if you’ve already invested time and money into learning one system.
But here’s the thing. Sticking with the status quo has its own costs, and they’re not just financial. When you lose money to platform fees, you’re also losing opportunities to grow your event, attract international attendees, and compete on a global scale.
What We Can Do Differently
So, what’s the way forward? For individual organizers, the first step is simple: reevaluate your tools. Look for platforms that align with your values and your budget. CommunityTix is one option, but there are others out there too. The point is to find a solution that lets you keep more of your revenue and gives you the flexibility to adapt to the changing needs of the global events market.
On a larger scale, the UK government and industry bodies need to take a hard look at the barriers they’re putting up for event organizers. That means addressing not just ticketing fees but also issues like venue costs, VAT on event tickets, and the red tape surrounding international attendees. If they don’t, they risk losing out on a slice of that $2.5 trillion pie.
What I’m Still Not Sure About
I’ll admit, I don’t have all the answers. Switching to a zero-fee platform like CommunityTix is a good start, but it’s not a silver bullet. The UK’s challenges in the global business events market are complex, and they’ll require action on multiple fronts—some of which are outside the control of individual organizers. But one thing I do know is this: if we don’t take a hard look at our costs and our tools, we’re going to keep losing ground to cities and countries that do.
If you're tired of losing revenue to high ticketing fees, CommunityTix could be the solution. Keep 100% of your ticket revenue and take control of your events today.
