Seaty Fees and Pricing for Event Organisers
Seaty uses simple, transparent pricing so you always know what you'll pay. There are no monthly fees, no setup costs, and no per-ticket fixed charges.
At its simplest, fees answer one question: How much will I pay to sell tickets online?
Who uses this: Event organisers managing ticket sales and revenue.
Key capabilities:
- See exactly what percentage applies to online card payments
- Choose whether attendees see fees or you absorb them
- Track fees and revenue through your event dashboard
- Calculate your expected costs before setting prices
How It Works
At a glance: You only pay fees on online card payments. You choose whether to absorb them or pass them to attendees.
1. Understand the fee
A single percentage fee applies only to online card payments processed through Seaty. Cash, bank transfers, box office sales, and free tickets have no fees.
2. Choose your approach
For each event, decide whether to absorb fees (attendees see clean prices) or pass them on (fees added at checkout). Most organisers absorb fees for a simpler customer experience.
3. Track your revenue
View fee breakdowns in your event's Banking section and across your organisation with monthly statements.
Think of it this way:
- The fee is your cost for online payment processing
- Absorbing fees means you factor them into your ticket price
- Passing fees on means attendees pay the processing cost separately
Fees at a Glance
- 7.2% on online card payments only
- No fees on cash, invoice, box office, or complimentary tickets
- No monthly fees or setup costs
- Minimum fee of £0.50 per order on very small transactions
That's it. No hidden charges, no per-ticket fixed fees, no surprises.
When Fees Apply
| Payment Method | Fee |
|---|---|
| Online card payment (via Seaty) | 7.2% |
| Box office (cash, card, or bank transfer) | No fee |
| Card payment outside Seaty | No fee |
| Free tickets | No fee |
Fees only apply to online card payments processed through Seaty.
You can still log payments made outside of Seaty and manage balances owed - all for free. Only online card payments processed through Seaty incur fees.
Will My Customers See Fees?
You choose. For each event, you can either:
Absorb fees (recommended) - Your attendees see clean, round prices. You set £10, they pay £10. The fee comes from your revenue.
Pass fees on - The fee is added at checkout. You set £10, they pay £10 plus the service fee. You receive the full £10.
Most organisers absorb fees for a simpler customer experience.
Interactive Fee Calculator
Adjust the values below to see exactly what you and your attendees will pay.
Pass fees on
Absorb fees
RecommendedAbsorb vs Pass Fees
Absorb Fees (Recommended)
Your attendees see exactly what they'll pay from the start.
How it works:
- You set your ticket price (e.g., £10.00)
- At checkout, attendee pays exactly £10.00
- The fee is deducted from what you receive
Why we recommend this:
- Simpler booking - No surprises at checkout
- Clean pricing - Set prices like £10, £15, £25
- Professional - Matches how major venues display prices
- Trust - The price shown is the price paid
Absorbing fees doesn't mean earning less - simply factor the fee into your ticket price. If you want to receive at least £10, price tickets at £11.00. Your customers get clean pricing, and you receive what you planned for.
Pass Fees On
The fee is added to the order at checkout.
How it works:
- You set your ticket price (e.g., £10.00)
- At checkout, the fee is calculated and added
- Attendee sees ticket price plus service fee
- You receive the full ticket price
When this works:
- You need to receive a specific amount per ticket
- Your audience expects fees at checkout
You can change this setting for each event.
Worked Example
Selling 100 tickets at £15 each (£1,500 total)
| Option | Attendee pays | Platform fee | You receive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absorb fees | £15.00 each | £108.00 | £1,392.00 |
| Pass fees on | £16.08 each | £108.00 | £1,500.00 |
The 7.2% fee on £1,500 is £108.
Minimum Fee
For very small orders, a minimum fee of £0.50 applies. If 7.2% of your order is less than £0.50, the minimum applies instead. This only affects low-value orders - for most transactions, the standard percentage applies.
Tracking Your Revenue
Event level: Navigate to your event's Banking section for a breakdown of sales, fees, and net revenue.
Organisation level: View aggregated fees across all events with monthly statements.
See Banking & Withdrawals for details on accessing your funds.
What's Included
Every Seaty account includes at no additional cost:
Event Setup
- Unlimited events
- Seating plan creation and management
- Ticket categories and pricing tiers
Ticketing & Sales
- QR tickets with PDF and mobile wallet support
- Real-time sales reporting
- Marketing tools and discount codes
Support & Operations
- Order management and refunds
- Box office functionality
- UK-based support
Volume discounts: Organisations selling large volumes may qualify for reduced fees. Contact us to discuss.
Common Questions
About the Fee Structure
Why percentage-based instead of per-ticket?
A percentage fee scales fairly with ticket value. A £5 community event ticket shouldn't carry the same fixed fee as a £50 premium ticket.
How does this compare to other platforms?
Many ticketing platforms charge a percentage plus a fixed per-ticket fee. We keep it simple with just a percentage, and no fees at all on non-card payments. For a broader look at the different fee models you'll find across UK ticketing — per-ticket vs subscription, absorbed vs passed-on, when "free" platforms aren't actually free — see our guide on how UK ticketing fees actually work.
About Attendee Experience
Will attendees blame me for fees?
If you absorb fees, attendees never see them. If you pass fees on, they're shown transparently at checkout as a service fee - standard practice for ticketing.
About Refunds and Extras
Do I pay fees on refunded orders?
No. When you refund an order, the associated fee is also refunded.
Do fees apply to merchandise?
Yes, the same 7.2% fee applies to merchandise and extras sold through your event page when paid online by card.
About Payment Methods
What payment methods are supported?
Seaty accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and most major UK bank cards for online payments.
Advanced: Automated Payouts
For organisations wanting automatic fund transfers, we offer an automated payout option:
- Funds transfer automatically to your bank account
- No manual withdrawal requests needed
- Fees deducted before each payout
Contact us if you're interested.
Need Help?
Email support@seaty.co.uk for help.