Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Ticketing Provider
As an event organizer, choosing a ticketing platform is a high-stakes decision. You’re not just picking a payment processor; you’re choosing a partner for your event’s success. Without asking the right preliminary questions, you could end up stuck with a ticketing provider that negatively impacts sales and even attendee trust.
Why These Questions Matter
Given that most ticketing platforms look similar on the surface, it’s easy to assume your experience will be relatively the same across the board. But if you dig a little deeper, you’ll find many platforms come with hidden fees, payout delays, or branding restrictions that can cost you thousands. Asking the following question up front will help you avoid surprises later.
The 10 Essential Questions to Ask
1. Can I Customize My Branding?
Attendees should see your brand—not your provider’s. Many popular ticketing providers will slap their logo all over your event page, but this is your event. Why should anyone else overshadow your unique voice and thoughtful design?
✅ With TicketSpice, you get to call the shots on your branding. You can choose a template if you want to keep the design easy, but you’ll never see our logo. Your event stays front and center.
2. When Will I Get Paid?
Some platforms hold onto your funds for days (or weeks) after your event wraps up. While they sit on your money, you fall behind in payments.
✅With TicketSpice, you get regular weekly event payouts leading up to your event.
3. Are There Hidden Fees?
It’s important to take inventory of all the fees you might incur. Many providers will hit you with extra charges such as refund fees, cancellation fees, convenience fees, or even a cut of the service fee.
✅ With TicketSpice, what you see is what you get. The prices are clear and public, and you get to decide whether you keep the fees or pass them on.
4. Can I Keep My Data?
Your attendee data is gold, but unfortunately, some platforms make you jump through hoops to access it. And if you want to switch providers, these platforms will often hold you hostage by charging you for data access.
✅ With TicketSpice, your data is always 100% yours. Export it to a CSV or Excel file, or view it in the TicketSpice event CRM anytime for free.
5. Do Attendees Need to Create Accounts?
Requiring logins adds friction that can hurt conversions. Ask if attendees can purchase tickets to your event quickly without a barrier.
✅ With TicketSpice, attendees don’t have to go through the hassle of making an account. If attendees want to claim an account later, however, you can offer that as an option.
6. Will My Events Be Shown Elsewhere?
Some ticketing providers promote your events on other event pages. But that also means they’ll use precious space on your ticketing page to promote other events to your audience. That might not align with your goals.
✅ TicketSpice never promotes other events to your attendees. Your event ticketing page is only for your event.
7. Can I Choose My Own Payment Processor?
If you’re locked into one processor, you could be stuck with higher fees. Ask if you can bring your own Stripe, PayPal, or merchant account.
✅ With TicketSpice, Webconnex Payments is the preferred payment processor, but you’re never boxed in. You’re free to choose the option that works best for your event.
8. How Easy Is It to Switch Later?
Avoid platforms that trap you with long-term contracts or make it difficult to export your data. Technology changes quickly, and you may want to switch providers to better meet your needs in the future. Some platforms use a contract to lock you in, making it impossible to switch providers.
✅ With TicketSpice, you don’t need a contract to do business, and you can leave at any time.
9. Is There Purchase Protection for Attendees?
From illness and emergencies to unexpected conflicts and last-minute shiftwork calls—life happens. In unforeseen events, many ticketing providers will either leave your attendees stranded or force you to cover the refund. Purchase protection builds trust, but find out if the cost is passed on to attendees or deducted from your revenue.
✅ With TicketSpice, we offer an optional Purchase Protection program, so attendees can get a refund (at no cost to you) when life throws them a curveball.
10. What’s Customer Support Like?
Event day rarely goes exactly as planned. Reliable support—whether via live chat, phone, or dedicated reps—can save the day. On the other hand, long wait times, limited hours, or outsourced support can turn a small issue into a major headache.
✅ With TicketSpice, you get fast, U.S.-based support from people who know events inside and out. Whether it’s live chat, phone, or email, our team is ready to step in and help you solve problems quickly so your event runs smoothly.
⚡Bonus Tip: Try Before You Buy. Don’t just take a sales rep’s word for it. Request a free trial or demo and test the experience yourself. From setting up pages to processing refunds, get a feel for what it’s like.
Final Checklist for Evaluating Ticketing Platforms
- Can I fully control the branding?
- How quickly will payouts arrive?
- Are there hidden or extra fees?
- Do I fully own my attendee data?
- Can people register without logging in?
- Will my attendees see other events?
- Can I bring my own payment processor?
- How easy is it to leave if needed?
- Is purchase protection available?
- What level of customer support is offered?
Choosing the right ticketing provider is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your event. If you’re ready to see results, you can get started with TicketSpice today, or reach out to our support team with questions.
We’re here to help you have the best event ever!
— The TicketSpice Team
