If you have looked at online ticketing platforms, you have probably seen "Stripe" mentioned. But what actually is Stripe Connect, and why does it matter for your events?
This article explains Stripe Connect in plain English, with a focus on what it means for event organisers.
What is Stripe?
Stripe is a payment processing company. When someone pays for something online with a credit or debit card, Stripe handles the transaction — securely moving money from the buyer's card to the seller's bank account.
Stripe processes payments for companies like Amazon, Google, and Deliveroo. It is one of the largest and most trusted payment processors in the world.
What is Stripe Connect?
Stripe Connect is a specific Stripe product designed for platforms and marketplaces — businesses where payments need to go to multiple different recipients.
A ticketing platform is a perfect example. When a fan buys a ticket, the money should not go to the ticketing platform. It should go to the event organiser. Stripe Connect makes this possible.
With Stripe Connect, each organiser has their own Stripe account. When a fan buys a ticket, Stripe routes the payment directly to the organiser's account. The ticketing platform facilitates the transaction but never holds the funds.
Why this matters for organisers
You control your money. On platforms that use Stripe Connect (like tickts), the payment goes to your Stripe account. You can see it immediately. You can set your own payout schedule. The platform cannot withhold your funds or delay your payouts.
Instant access. Unlike platforms that hold your money until after the event, Stripe Connect means the funds are in your Stripe account the moment a ticket is sold. Stripe then pays out to your bank account on your configured schedule — typically within 2 business days.
Transparent fees. Stripe's processing fees are straightforward: 1.5% + 20p per successful card charge in the UK. There are no hidden fees, no monthly minimums, and no long-term contracts.
How it compares to other models
Not all ticketing platforms use Stripe Connect. Some use different models:
Platform-held funds: Some platforms (like Eventbrite) collect all payments into their own account, then pay you out later — usually days after the event ends. This means the platform is sitting on your money, and you have no direct control over it.
Platform-processed payments: Some platforms process payments through their own merchant account and take their fees before passing the remainder to you. Again, you are dependent on the platform to release your funds.
Stripe Connect (direct): The payment goes to your Stripe account. The platform never touches the money. This is the model tickts uses.
Setting up Stripe
If you do not already have a Stripe account, setting one up takes about five minutes. You need:
- Your business or organisation details
- A bank account for payouts
- ID verification (for UK regulations)
Once your Stripe account is set up, connecting it to a platform like tickts is a single click. Stripe handles the secure linking process.
Is Stripe safe?
Stripe is PCI Level 1 certified — the highest level of security certification in the payments industry. It processes hundreds of billions of pounds per year for millions of businesses worldwide.
Your card details are encrypted and handled entirely by Stripe. The ticketing platform never sees or stores your card number.
The bottom line
Stripe Connect is the reason platforms like tickts can offer zero booking fees while still processing secure card payments. The organiser connects their own Stripe account, payments go directly to them, and the platform never holds or controls the funds.
For organisers, this means faster access to your money, full control over your finances, and transparent processing fees. It is the most organiser-friendly payment model in ticketing.
Stripe Connect in Detail
Stripe Connect is a payment infrastructure product from Stripe that enables marketplace and platform businesses to accept payments on behalf of their users. For ticketing platforms like Tickts, it solves a fundamental problem: how to handle money that belongs to someone else.
Without Stripe Connect, a ticketing platform would need to collect all ticket revenue into its own bank account and then manually distribute it to each organiser. This creates regulatory burden (the platform would need an e-money licence), trust issues (organisers worry about the platform holding their money), and operational overhead (manual payouts are slow and error-prone).
How the Direct Charge Model Works
Tickts uses Stripe Connect in direct charge mode. This means:
- Each organiser connects their own Stripe account to Tickts
- When a fan buys a ticket, the payment goes directly to the organiser Stripe account
- Stripe automatically deducts their processing fee (1.5% + 20p in the UK)
- The remaining amount is available in the organiser Stripe dashboard
- Stripe pays out to the organiser bank account on their regular schedule (typically 2 business days)
At no point does Tickts hold or touch the organiser money. This is the most transparent and secure payment flow available for marketplace platforms.
Alternatives to Stripe Connect
Other payment models used by ticketing platforms include:
- Platform-held funds: The platform collects all money and pays organisers after the event. This gives the platform control but creates risk for organisers if the platform has financial difficulties.
- PayPal Commerce Platform: Similar concept to Stripe Connect but using PayPal infrastructure. Less common in UK ticketing.
- Manual invoicing: Some platforms simply invoice organisers for their fees after the event, with the organiser handling their own payment collection. This is clunky and does not scale.
Why Stripe Connect Is Better for Organisers
- You control your money: It is in your Stripe account, not the platform account. If the ticketing platform disappeared tomorrow, your money is safe.
- Faster access: Standard Stripe payouts arrive in 2 business days. Instant Payouts can deliver funds in minutes.
- Full transparency: Every transaction is visible in your Stripe dashboard with complete fee breakdowns.
- Existing relationship: If you already use Stripe for other payments, your ticketing revenue flows into the same account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does connecting Stripe cost anything?
No. Creating a Stripe account and connecting it to Tickts is free. Stripe only charges when transactions are processed — 1.5% plus 20p per UK card payment.
What if I already have a Stripe account?
You can connect your existing Stripe account to Tickts. Your ticket revenue will appear alongside your other Stripe transactions in the same dashboard.
Is Stripe Connect secure?
Stripe is PCI Level 1 certified — the highest level of payment security certification. All data is encrypted in transit and at rest. Stripe handles billions of pounds in transactions annually for millions of businesses worldwide.
Curious how tickts compares? See our side-by-side comparison of tickts vs Eventbrite: fees, payouts, and features for UK organisers.
