Paid Events & Ticketing

Paid events allow hosts to charge for tickets and accept payments directly through LavishMade. This guide covers creating paid events, payment processing, refunds, and managing ticketing.

Setting Up Stripe Connect

Before creating paid events, you must set up Stripe Connect:

1. Go to your Publishing Settings
2. Navigate to the Payment Processing section
3. Click "Connect to Stripe"
4. Complete the Stripe onboarding process (see our detailed Stripe setup guide for step-by-step instructions):
   • Select your bank account for payouts
   • Provide personal details and verification information
   • Enter customer support details and website address
   • Complete any additional verification requirements
5. Once connected and verified, you can create paid events

Important: You cannot create paid events without Stripe Connect set up. The system will check your Stripe status when you select "Paid Event" and prompt you to connect if needed. Learn more about connecting your Stripe account.

Creating a Paid Event

To create a paid event:

1. Start creating your event as usual
2. When setting pricing, enter a price greater than $0
3. If Stripe is not connected, you'll see a prompt to set it up
4. Once Stripe is connected, you can set your event price
5. Complete the rest of your event details
6. Submit for review

You cannot save a paid event as draft without Stripe connected - you must complete Stripe setup first.

Platform Fee

LavishMade charges a 10% platform fee on all paid events:

• The fee is automatically deducted from each payment
• You receive 90% of the ticket price
• The fee covers payment processing, platform maintenance, and support
• Fees are clearly shown in your payout information

Example: If you charge $50 per ticket, you'll receive $45 per ticket (90%), and LavishMade keeps $5 (10%).

Payment Processing

How payments work for attendees:

• Auto-approve mode: Attendees are redirected to payment immediately after RSVPing
• Request-to-attend mode: Attendees RSVP, host approves, then they're redirected to payment
• Payment must be completed within 24 hours or the spot may be offered to someone else
• Payments are processed securely through Stripe
• Attendees receive payment confirmation emails

Payment Status

You can track payment status for your paid events:

• Pending: Attendee has RSVPed but payment not yet completed
• Completed: Payment successfully processed
• Failed: Payment attempt failed (attendee can retry)
• Refunded: Payment was refunded (typically due to cancellation)

You can send payment reminders to attendees with pending payments.

Payouts

How you receive money from paid events:

• Payments are processed through Stripe Connect
• Funds are held until after the event (to handle potential refunds)
• Payouts are typically processed within a few days after the event
• Funds are transferred to your connected bank account
• You can view payout information in your Stripe dashboard

Refunds

Refunds are handled automatically in certain situations:

• Event cancellation: Automatic refunds for all confirmed attendees
• Attendee cancellation: Refunds typically available if cancelled more than 48 hours before event
• Host cancellation: Automatic refunds when host cancels the event

Refund policies:

• Refunds are processed through Stripe
• Refund processing time depends on payment method (typically 5-10 business days)
• Platform fees are also refunded (you don't keep the fee on refunded tickets)
• Attendees receive refund confirmation emails

External Ticketing

If you prefer to use an external ticketing platform:

• You can mark your event as using external ticketing
• Provide a ticket URL linking to your external platform
• Attendees can still RSVP on LavishMade to show interest and receive updates
• Payment is handled through the external platform
• You can still send messages and manage RSVPs through LavishMade

External ticketing is useful if you need features not available on LavishMade or want to use a platform you're already familiar with.

Free Events

You can also create free events:

• Set price to $0
• No payment processing needed
• No Stripe Connect required
• RSVP is instant confirmation (in auto-approve mode)
• Perfect for community meetups, casual gatherings, or events you want to keep accessible

Best Practices for Paid Events

• Set prices that reflect the value of your event
• Consider your costs (venue, materials, time) when pricing
• Be transparent about what's included in the ticket price
• Set clear refund policies in your event terms
• Communicate payment deadlines clearly to attendees
• Send payment reminders if needed
• Process refunds promptly when required

Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions:

• Can't create paid event: Make sure Stripe Connect is set up and verified. See our Stripe setup guide for detailed instructions.
• Payment failed: Attendees can retry payment. Check with Stripe if issues persist.
• Payout delays: Check your Stripe dashboard for payout status and any holds
• Refund issues: Contact support if refunds aren't processing correctly