A higher entry fee can put people off at checkout, even when they want to take part. Staged payments remove that barrier. Participants pay in manageable instalments, you sell more entries, and eventrac collects every payment automatically, so there’s no chasing.
What can staged payments do for your event?
Organisers who offer staged payments typically see:
20–30% more people completing checkout. A lower upfront cost turns “maybe later” into “I’m in”.
Up to 40% more premium entries sold. When the cost is spread out, participants are more willing to choose the VIP package, the longer distance or the add-ons.
40–60% higher average order value. Participants spend more per booking when they don’t have to find it all at once.
Steadier cash flow. Instead of one spike when entries open, income arrives regularly in the run-up to your event.
A more inclusive event. People on tighter budgets can still take part, which widens your audience.
You get all of this with almost no extra admin. Payments are scheduled and collected for you.
How do staged payments work?
The set-up is simple for you and flexible for participants:
You set a minimum and maximum number of instalments.
At checkout, participants choose the plan that suits them.
eventrac spreads the payments monthly across the time left before your entries close.
Each instalment is taken from the participant’s card automatically on its due date.
Tip: Participants get the most flexibility when entries first open, because there’s more time to spread the cost. Mentioning staged payments in your early-bird promotion is a great way to drive sales early on.
ℹ️ Staged payments are not “buy now, pay later”
This is not a scheme like Klarna or Clearpay. It works like a subscription: you receive each instalment as it’s collected rather than a lump sum upfront. Participants also avoid third-party credit checks or borrowing. They’re simply paying for their entry over time.
Before you start: turn off Direct Debit in Stripe
⚠️ One quick step first
Stripe turns on both card and Direct Debit payments for payment plans by default. eventrac doesn’t currently support Direct Debit, so turning it off now prevents payment problems later.
Follow this guide: Disable Direct Debit payments
How do I set up staged payments?
Setting up staged payments takes a couple of minutes:
Go to Organisation Settings → Account Settings → Payout Accounts.
Click Manage on the payout account you want to use.
Tick I want to offer staged payments.
Enter a Name for the plan. Only you will see this, in your reports.
Set the Minimum number of instalments. This is the fewest payments a participant can choose.
Set the Maximum number of instalments. This is the longest plan you’ll offer. A higher maximum means smaller instalments, which makes your event more affordable.
Save your changes.
Can I choose which items are paid in instalments?
Yes, so you stay in control of what’s spread out and what’s paid upfront. You can exclude items such as:
Products, like merchandise
Gift cards
Participants pay for excluded items in full at checkout.
How do I keep track of payments?
The Staged Payments report shows every plan in real time, so you always know what’s been paid, what’s due and what needs attention. You don’t need spreadsheets or manual reconciliation.
Where to find it: Dashboard → Reports & Analytics → Financial Reports → Staged Payments
Anything that needs your attention is highlighted at the top, so you can spot problems quickly. You can sort by Payment Plan, Amount, Paid Amount or Subscription Status.
Payment plan (subscription) status
Status | What it means |
Paying | The participant is part-way through their plan. |
Paid | Every instalment has been collected. |
Failed | There’s a problem with the participant’s payment method. This is often just a replacement bank card and is usually quick to fix. |
Instalment status
Status | What it means |
Active | Scheduled and processing normally. |
Requires action | The participant needs to do something, usually because a payment failed or their card expired. |
Failed | The payment couldn’t be collected and won’t be retried. |
Paid | The instalment has been collected. |
Seeing the full picture for any participant
Click View on any plan to see everything in one place: payment reference, status, instalment amounts, paid and due dates, full payment history and the original invoice. When a participant has a question about their payments, you can answer it straight away.
What happens if a payment fails?
Most failed payments sort themselves out without you lifting a finger, because recovery is largely automated:
Stripe retries automatically, up to 5 times.
The participant is emailed with a button to update their card. You’re copied in, so you’re always informed. Updates are processed securely through Stripe.
If every retry fails, the plan is cancelled and the participant is notified. You’re copied in again.
💡 Always check your Stripe account first before taking any action on a failed payment.
⚠️ A cancelled plan can’t be reactivated. If you see a failed payment, a quick reminder to the participant to update their card usually resolves it before it gets that far.
Can I collect a payment outside eventrac?
Yes. If an instalment has failed and you collect the money another way, such as by bank transfer, you can update the plan so the participant is never charged twice:
Open the plan from the Staged Payments report.
Find the failed instalment.
Mark it as Paid, or Write off the amount if you’re not collecting it.
Keep the participant’s booking record up to date too.
How do I cancel a payment plan?
If a participant withdraws, you can cancel their plan at any time. Once it’s cancelled:
No further instalments are collected.
The report updates automatically.
Payments already made stay visible, so your records are always complete.
FAQs
Will staged payments really increase my sales?
Most organisers see more completed bookings and higher-value entries, because a lower upfront cost removes one of the biggest reasons people hesitate at checkout.
Do I get the full entry fee upfront?
No. You receive each instalment as it’s collected, which gives you a steady income in the run-up to your event.
How much admin is involved?
Very little. Payments, retries and participant emails are all handled automatically. You only step in if a payment can’t be recovered.
Can participants pay by Direct Debit?
Not at the moment. Staged payments are card-only.
What if a participant gets a new bank card?
Their next payment may fail, but they’ll be emailed a link to update their card and Stripe will retry the payment automatically.
Can I restart a cancelled payment plan?
No. Once a plan is cancelled it can’t be reactivated.