What "No Fee" Actually Means
Let's be precise, because "no fee" gets misused in ticketing marketing. Here's exactly what VenueVault means — and doesn't mean — when we say no-fee ticketing:
What We Mean
- No VenueVault per-ticket fees from VenueVault
- No percentage taken from ticket revenue
- Flat monthly subscription regardless of volume
- No hidden fees, scaling fees, or overage charges
What Still Applies
- • Standard Stripe payment processing fees still apply and are billed by Stripe, not VenueVault.
- • This is Stripe's fee, not VenueVault's
- • Applies to any platform using Stripe
- • Can be absorbed or passed to customers
The distinction matters because many platforms advertise "free" ticketing while charging per-ticket fees on paid events, showing ads on your event pages, or restricting access to customer data unless you upgrade. That's not free — it's just a different payment model with hidden costs.
VenueVault's model is transparent: you pay a monthly subscription for the platform, and Stripe charges standard processing on each payment. There are no other costs. Your ticket revenue flows directly to your own Stripe account via Stripe.
Common Fee Models: Per-Ticket vs Monthly vs Mixed
Understanding how ticketing platforms make money helps you evaluate the true cost of each option. There are three dominant pricing models in venue ticketing:
Per-Ticket Fee Model
The platform takes a fee on every ticket sold — typically a percentage plus a flat amount (e.g., 3.7% + $1.79 on Eventbrite). This model is profitable for platforms because costs scale with your success. The more tickets you sell, the more the platform earns.
Example: 300-cap venue, $25 ticket, 4 shows/week
Mixed Model (Low Per-Ticket + Subscription)
Some platforms charge a lower per-ticket fee (e.g., $0.26 on TicketTailor) plus optional paid tiers for additional features. The per-ticket cost is lower, but still scales with volume — and important features are often locked behind premium tiers.
Same venue: 4,800 tickets/month
Flat Monthly Model (VenueVault)
You pay a fixed monthly subscription regardless of how many tickets you sell. The platform earns the same whether you sell 100 tickets or 10,000. Your costs are predictable and don't scale with success.
Same venue: 4,800 tickets/month
The math is straightforward: for any venue selling more than a few hundred tickets per month, flat monthly pricing costs dramatically less than per-ticket models. The higher your volume, the larger the gap. For a detailed comparison, see VenueVault vs Eventbrite.
See what flat-rate ticketing saves your venue
See plans and pricing with a fee comparison based on your actual ticket volume.
Cash Flow Impacts for Independent Venues
Per-ticket fees don't just cost money — they distort cash flow in ways that create operational problems for independent venues. Here's how:
Unpredictable monthly costs
When your platform cost is tied to ticket volume, your expenses fluctuate monthly. A strong month means higher fees. A slow month means lower fees but also lower revenue. You can't budget accurately because the cost changes every billing cycle. Flat monthly pricing eliminates this variable entirely.
Payout delays compound the problem
Per-ticket fee platforms often hold payouts for 5–7 business days. Combined with the fee deduction, a venue receiving $120,000 in monthly ticket revenue might not see it for a week — and when it arrives, $13,000+ has been deducted. With Stripe, revenue reaches your Stripe account, and bank payouts follow its schedule.
Growth creates a cost spiral
The better your programming, the more tickets you sell, the more you pay the platform. This is the opposite of how costs should work. Adding a fourth show night or selling out a higher-capacity room should improve your margins — not increase your platform expenses. Flat pricing means growth only improves your bottom line.
Checkout friction reduces conversion
When a $25 ticket becomes $28+ at checkout due to platform fees, a percentage of customers abandon the purchase. They blame the venue, not the platform. You absorb the reputational cost of fees you don't collect. With no per-ticket fees, your advertised price is the checkout price — improving conversion and customer trust.
For venues operating on 10–20% margins, platform fees represent one of the largest controllable expenses. Switching from per-ticket to flat pricing is often the single highest-impact financial decision a venue operator can make.
How VenueVault Pricing Works
VenueVault uses a straightforward flat-rate model. You choose a plan based on your needs, pay a fixed monthly fee, and sell unlimited tickets with zero per-ticket charges.
| Feature | Starter ($49/month) | Growth ($99/month) | Pro ($250/month) | Enterprise (Custom) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VenueVault per-ticket fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Published events at a time | 10 | 25 | 50 | Unlimited |
| Attendees per event | 500 | 1500 | 3500 | 3,500+ |
Every public plan charges no VenueVault per-ticket fees. The pricing model is the same at every tier. You're paying for additional features and capacity, not for the privilege of selling more tickets.
Published events count toward your plan limit at the same time, not per year. Drafts and archived or unpublished events do not count. Unpublish or archive an event to free a slot.
See full plan details and pricing for complete feature lists by tier.
Example: 300-Cap Venue Running 16 Shows Per Month
Marketplace Model
Flat Monthly Model
That's $87,348/year in retained revenue by switching to flat-fee ticketing.
Illustrative example. Stripe processing fees (2.9% + 30¢) apply to both models and are excluded for clarity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Compare VenueVault to Popular Platforms
See how VenueVault's flat monthly model stacks up against per-ticket platforms on fees, payouts, data ownership, and branding control.
Flat monthly pricing vs marketplace-based per-ticket fees. Compare payout flow, brand control, and data ownership.
Both platforms connect to Stripe, but differ on fee structure and payout control. See which model fits high-volume venues.
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