How to Sell Event Tickets Online in Nigeria

Selling tickets at the gate means counting cash, guessing how many people will come, and finding out on the day whether you broke even. Selling online tells you weeks ahead. This guide covers what to decide before you put tickets on sale, and how the money moves once you do.

1. Decide what you are selling before you set a price

One price for everyone is the simplest, and for a first event it is often right. Add ticket types only when they describe something real:

• Regular and VIP: only if VIP guests get something they can see, such as seating, a meal or early entry.
• Early bird: a lower price that ends on a date you announce. It rewards the people who commit first and gives you early cash.
• Group or table: one ticket type priced for several people, when your event is sold by the table.

Give each type a limit that matches your venue. A hall that seats 300 should not be able to sell 400 tickets, and a VIP section with 40 chairs should stop at 40.

2. Know what the buyer pays and what you receive

Price in naira, and be clear with yourself about the two fees involved in any online ticket sale.

• A booking fee, paid by the buyer. This covers the cost of processing the card or bank payment. On TavernCentral it is added on top of your ticket price at checkout, so it does not come out of your share.
• A platform fee, taken from the ticket price. On TavernCentral this is 10% of each ticket sold. A ₦5,000 ticket pays you ₦4,500.

Work backwards from what you need to earn per seat. If you need ₦4,500 a head to cover the hall, sound and food, the ticket is ₦5,000, not ₦4,500.

3. Set up where the money goes first

Before a paid event can be published on TavernCentral, you add the bank account your ticket sales are paid into. The account name is checked against the bank, so a typing mistake cannot send your money to a stranger.

Each payment is split at the moment the buyer pays: your share goes towards your bank account through Paystack, usually on the next business day. You can choose weekly or monthly payouts instead if you prefer fewer, larger transfers.

4. Make the page do the selling

1. Lead with the flyer. Upload your cover image. It is what people see when your link is shared.
2. Say when and where in plain words. Date, start time, venue and city. Do not make people open the flyer to find them.
3. Write three sentences on why to come. Who is speaking or performing, what happens, and who it is for.
4. Keep the form short. Name and email are enough to issue a ticket. Every extra question loses buyers.

5. What happens when someone buys

The buyer picks their tickets, pays with a card or bank transfer, and receives each ticket by email as a PDF with its own QR code. Seats are held for 30 minutes while they pay, so two people cannot buy the last ticket.

If someone buys several tickets, each one can carry a different guest's name. That saves you sorting out group bookings at the door.

6. Mistakes that cost sales

• Opening sales the week of the event. People plan around payday. Open at least three to four weeks ahead.
• Hiding the price. “DM for price” loses everyone who will not message a stranger. Put it on the page.
• No limit on tickets. Overselling a venue is the fastest way to lose a crowd's trust.
• Sharing a screenshot instead of the link. A screenshot cannot be tapped. Always share the event link itself.

Ready to try it? Every TavernCentral plan can sell tickets, including the free one.