How to Sell Tickets to an Event Online in 2026 (Step-by-Step)
Everything you need to know to sell event tickets online — choosing a platform, setting up your event page, collecting payment, and getting paid. A practical guide for first-time organizers.
Selling tickets to an event doesn't require technical skill or a large budget. It requires picking the right platform and understanding a few basics. Here's the complete process.
Step 1: Choose your ticketing platform
The platform you choose determines your fees, payout timing, and how much setup work is involved. Key questions:
What are the fees? Look at what the platform takes per ticket, not just the percentage. On a $20 ticket, Eventbrite takes $2.53 — Eventreels takes $1.50. That difference compounds across every attendee.
When do you get paid? Some platforms hold your revenue until after the event. Others pay in real time as tickets sell. If you're fronting venue costs, real-time payouts matter.
Is it easy to set up? If you're running your first event, you don't need enterprise features. You need a form that works on mobile and doesn't take 45 minutes to configure.
Eventreels is built for exactly this use case — independent organizers and creators who want simple ticketing without a complicated setup or high fees. Free to start, no monthly cost.
Step 2: Create your event page
Once you've chosen a platform, you'll fill in:
- Event name — Clear and searchable. Include the location and date if it fits naturally: "Austin Salsa Social — June 2026"
- Date and time — Include timezone if attendees might be in multiple locations
- Location — Full address for in-person events; meeting link for virtual
- Ticket price — Set what you need to cover costs and make the event sustainable
- Capacity — Set a real cap. Running out of tickets creates urgency; overselling creates problems
- Description — What attendees should expect. Be specific. Who is this for? What happens at the event? What should they bring?
A cover image makes your event page significantly more credible. A photo from a previous event, or a well-designed graphic, is worth the extra 10 minutes.
Step 3: Set your refund policy
Decide before you launch:
- Full refund up to X days before the event — standard and attendee-friendly
- No refunds, but transfers allowed — protects your revenue while being fair
- No refunds — only for events where you've already committed to vendors
Whatever you choose, state it clearly on the event page before attendees buy. Surprises after purchase create disputes.
Step 4: Set up your payment account
Most platforms pay out through Stripe. If you don't have a Stripe account, you'll create one during event setup — it takes about 5 minutes and requires your bank account details and identity verification.
Stripe processes card payments and direct-debits your bank account on a rolling basis. You don't need a business account, LLC, or EIN as an individual organizer.
Step 5: Share the link
Your event page has a direct URL. This is what you share everywhere:
- Instagram bio link (use a link-in-bio tool if you're juggling multiple links)
- Email to your list
- WhatsApp or group chat
- Story posts with the link sticker
- Any Facebook groups relevant to your audience
The link works on mobile — attendees can register and pay in under 2 minutes on their phone.
Step 6: Monitor and communicate
Once tickets are selling:
- Check your dashboard for registration numbers
- Send a reminder email 48 hours before the event
- Communicate any changes (location, time, what to bring) immediately through the platform's messaging tools or your own channels
What you don't need
You don't need:
- A business entity or LLC to sell tickets
- A website (your event page on the platform is your webpage)
- A merchant account (Stripe handles this)
- Design skills (a clear description beats a complicated graphic)
- A big audience (30 people at a well-run event is a success)
Start here
Create your first event on Eventreels →
No monthly fee. Setup in minutes. Your attendees register and pay directly — you get paid as tickets sell.
See also
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest way to sell event tickets online?
Eventreels is one of the simplest — create an account, fill in your event details (name, date, location, ticket price, capacity), and share the link. Most organizers have their first event live in under 10 minutes. Payments go directly to your bank via Stripe.
How much does it cost to sell tickets online?
It depends on the platform. Eventreels charges a small per-ticket fee with no monthly cost — on a $20 ticket you keep significantly more than you would on Eventbrite. Stripe's payment processing (2.9% + $0.30) applies separately on most platforms.
Do I need a business account to sell event tickets?
No. Most ticketing platforms including Eventreels let you sign up as an individual organizer. You'll need a Stripe account to receive payouts, which takes about 5 minutes to set up and doesn't require a business entity.
What information do I need to create an event ticket page?
At minimum: event name, date and time, location (or online link), ticket price, and capacity limit. Optional but recommended: event description, cover image, and a refund policy. Most platforms walk you through these fields during setup.
Create your first event free
3.5% + $0.30 per ticket. No monthly fee. Direct payouts. Setup in minutes.
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