Ticket Resale Fee Comparison Guide

Ticket Resale Marketplace Overview

Reselling event tickets has become popular side income. Major platforms offer different fee structures, which significantly impact your net profit.

Major Ticket Resale Platforms

StubHub (eBay-Owned)

**Fees:**

• Buyer''s fee: 10-18% (added to buyer''s cost)
• Seller''s fee: 1.5-2.5% (deducted from seller proceeds)
• Payment processing: Included
• Total seller cost: 1.5-2.5%

**Advantages:**

• Low seller fees (among lowest in industry)
• Large buyer base
• International availability
• Mobile app well-designed

**Disadvantages:**

• Buyer fees make your tickets more expensive
• May impact competitiveness

SeatGeek

**Fees:**

• Buyer''s fee: 10-25% (varies by event)
• Seller''s fee: 2-3% (deducted from seller)
• Total seller cost: 2-3%

**Advantages:**

• Very low seller fees
• Good mobile experience
• Price comparison integration

**Disadvantages:**

• Lower volume than StubHub
• Smaller audience

Ticketmaster Resale

**Fees:**

• Buyer''s fee: 10-20% (added to buyer cost)
• Seller''s fee: $0.50-2.50 per ticket + payment processing
• Total seller cost: $1-3 per ticket

**Advantages:**

• Official Ticketmaster program
• Customer trust is higher
• Built into primary platform

**Disadvantages:**

• Higher fixed fees
• Limited geographic availability

Vivid Seats

**Fees:**

• Buyer''s fee: 5-15% (added to buyer)
• Seller''s fee: 5-15% (deducted from seller)
• Total seller cost: 5-15%

**Advantages:**

• Good mobile app
• International availability
• Relatively user-friendly

**Disadvantages:**

• Among highest seller fees
• Slower payment processing

Facebook Marketplace

**Fees:**

• Buyer''s fee: None (free marketplace)
• Seller''s fee: None
• Total seller cost: $0

**Advantages:**

• Zero fees
• Local transactions avoid shipping
• Built-in buyer verification

**Disadvantages:**

• No buyer/seller protection
• Scam risk
• Limited to local audience

Fee Comparison Example

**$500 Concert Ticket:**

| Platform | Buyer Fee | Seller Fee | Seller Pays | Seller Gets |

|----------|-----------|-----------|------------|------------|

| StubHub | 15% | 2% | $10 | $490 |

| SeatGeek | 15% | 2.5% | $12.50 | $487.50 |

| Ticketmaster | 12.5% | $1.50/ticket | $1.50 | $498.50 |

| Vivid Seats | 10% | 10% | $50 | $450 |

| Facebook | 0% | 0% | $0 | $500* |

*Facebook assumes no platform middleman protection

Pricing Strategy by Platform

StubHub/SeatGeek (Lowest seller fees)

Price competitively. Your 1.5-2.5% fee is minimal, so focus on beating competitor prices. Buyer fees are what buyers see, so competitive pricing is about market price.

Vivid Seats (Higher seller fees)

Price higher to compensate for 10-15% seller fees. Buyers see total cost including Vivid Seats'' 10-15% fee.

**Example:**

• Want net $500
• Vivid Seats charges you 10-15%
• Must sell at ~$571-588 to net $500
• This is more expensive for buyer than competitors

Facebook Marketplace

Price at market rate. Zero fees mean you can beat platform competition. Locally-only limits buyer pool.

Best Practices for Ticket Resale

Timing

Ticket resale follows predictable patterns:

• First few days: Lower demand, lower prices
• 1-2 weeks before: Moderate demand, moderate prices
• Last few days: High demand, highest prices

**Strategy:** List immediately after purchase to capture early demand, but re-price 1 week before if still unsold.

Condition and Delivery

Tickets must be:

• Valid and non-transferable proof of ownership
• Correct quantity and date
• Proper format (mobile, physical, printable)
• Delivered on schedule (or earlier)

Choose Right Platform for Event Type

Popular high-demand events: StubHub (largest volume)

Local events: Facebook Marketplace (zero fees)

International: Vivid Seats or eBay''s StubHub (international reach)

Calculating True Profit

**$200 Concert Ticket Bought at Face Value:**

StubHub scenario:

• List price: $200 (market price)
• Buyer pays: $230 (with StubHub''s buyer fee)
• Seller fees (2%): $4
• Seller gets: $196

Vivid Seats scenario:

• Need to list at $250 to net same $196
• Buyer pays: $290 (with 10% + $20 processing)
• Much less competitive

Recommendation

For maximum sales, use StubHub or SeatGeek. Accept lower profit margin. Higher volume compensates. Lower profit × higher volume = better total income.

Conclusion

Ticket resale fees vary dramatically across platforms. StubHub and SeatGeek offer lowest seller fees (1.5-2.5%). Vivid Seats charges significantly higher (10-15%). Facebook offers zero fees but no protection or buyer reach. Choose based on event type, urgency, and desired profit margin.