Every ticket sold online passes through at least two hands before it reaches yours, and each takes a cut. Knowing the shape of that lets you price deliberately instead of discovering your margin after the event.
What comes off a sale
A processing fee charged by the payment provider, usually a percentage with a cap, and any platform fee. Transfers and cards often carry different rates, so your effective cost depends on how your audience chooses to pay.
Absorb or pass on
Absorbing the fee gives a cleaner headline price and slightly better conversion. Passing it on protects margin but must be visible early. The worst option is passing it on and revealing it at the final step, which produces abandoned checkouts and support messages in equal measure.
Round the final number
If you pass fees on, set your base price so the total lands somewhere clean. A total of ₦5,000 sells better than ₦4,873, and the difference costs you very little.
Refunds are not free
Processing fees are frequently not returned on a refund. Build that into your refund policy and state the policy on the checkout page.
Reconcile after every event
Gross sales, fees, refunds, net payout. Do it while you still remember the event. The organizers who know their true cost per ticket are the ones who price the next one correctly.