How to sell tickets for an event online

The steps

1. 1

   Work out your numbers

   Add up what the event will cost (venue, artists or speakers, production, staff, marketing) and decide how many tickets you can sell. That gives you a break-even price: total costs divided by the tickets you expect to sell. Price above it, and keep some room for complimentary tickets and no-shows.

2. 2

   Choose a ticketing platform

   Look at what the buyer pays at checkout, what you actually receive, when you're paid, whether you get your attendee list, and how tickets are checked at the door. A platform where the buyer pays the booking fee lets you keep your full ticket price.

3. 3

   Create your event page

   Add the name, date, venue, a strong image and a short description that says who it's for and what they'll get. Include the details people check before buying: start and end times, age limits, accessibility and what's included.

4. 4

   Set up ticket types and releases

   Create the tickets you need (general admission, VIP, group or concession) and split them into releases: a limited early bird, then general, then a final release. Each release has its own price and quantity, and selling out the cheaper one gives people a reason to buy now.

5. 5

   Publish and share one ticket link

   Put the same link everywhere: your website, Instagram bio, Facebook event, posts, emails and your performers' or partners' channels. One link keeps every sale in one place.

6. 6

   Promote it, and give others a reason to share

   Announce with the early bird on sale, post as each release sells down, and give promo codes to performers, partners and regulars so their followers have a reason to buy. Most sales come in the first days of a release and the final week.

7. 7

   Check tickets at the door

   Scan every ticket on entry so each one is used once. Mobile QR tickets mean nobody needs to print anything, and dynamic QR codes stop screenshots and forwarded copies getting in.

8. 8

   Get paid and keep your list

   After the event, your money is paid out to your bank. Export your attendee list so you can tell the same people first when your next event goes on sale.

For a week-by-week plan and free ways to get the word out, see how to promote an event.

How much to charge for your event

Your ticket price has to cover your costs at the number of tickets you can realistically sell, not at a sell-out. A quick way to set it:

Then decide who pays the booking fee. If the buyer pays it on top, the price you set is the price you receive. Check the total the buyer sees at checkout, so it still feels fair for your crowd.

Selling tickets on Tickify

Tickify is free for organisers. A flat 5% booking fee is added at checkout and paid by the buyer, with card processing included, so you receive the full ticket price. There are no setup, monthly or payout fees, and free events cost nothing.

Try your own price in the fee calculator. Putting on a gig? See concert and gig ticketing. Running a club night? See club night ticketing. Something smaller? See ticketing for small events. For the door, see the free ticket scanning app.

Events sold on Tickify

Frequently asked questions