The Payment Plan feature allows you to offer attendees the option to split their order total into multiple scheduled payments, making higher-priced events more accessible and easier to commit to.
TicketSpice automatically creates a dynamic payment plan based on the ticket buyer's purchase date, total order amount, and your selected final due date. Payments are evenly distributed between the purchase date and the due date.
When using this feature, ticket buyers complete a single order and can choose to enroll in a payment plan without a credit check. This creates a simple, frictionless experience for your buyers while giving you more flexibility in how you price and sell your event. Please note that as the event organizer, you assume the risk for any missed or failed payments when offering this feature. This article covers how to enable payment plans, how to manage orders with payment plans, and how attendees experience this feature.
Note: Payment plans are only supported on certain page types and are not compatible with some TicketSpice features.
Payment plans are available on Standard pages only. Payment plans are not supported on date-based, Series of Events, or Reserved Seating pages
Payment plans cannot be used with pre-registration
Payment plans are not compatible with offline payments. Customers using a payment plan must pay by credit card
Payment Plan Pricing
This feature is currently in beta and featured locked, and available to a select group of customers for no additional fee.
Once this feature is released to all customers, standard TicketSpice pricing applies to the initial order. Each future scheduled payment that processes successfully will incur a $0.99 fee per payment, plus standard credit card processing fees.
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Payment Plan Schedule and Installment Calculation
TicketSpice automatically generates a custom payment plan based on the ticket buyer's total order amount and signup date. Payment Plans include most paid items, such as ticket options and merchandise. Payment plan schedules are determined by the purchase date and final due date, so the number of payments varies depending on when the customer purchases tickets.
To set up payment plans, you set a final due date for when all payments must be completed
You set the total amount due at the time of purchase
First Scheduled Payment will be the Deposit Amount (Even Split): This option divides the total order amount evenly across all scheduled payments, including the initial payment at purchase. The amount due at purchase is one of these equal installments
Custom Deposit Amount: This option allows you to set a custom percentage of the total order that must be paid at the time of purchase
TicketSpice automatically creates a payment schedule based on the purchase date, the amount due at purchase, the final due date, and the selected payment plan frequency
Note: Payment Plans do not include Donations, Donation tickets, or Purchase Protection fees. These fields are excluded from the payment plan and must be paid at the time of purchase.
Pro Tip: If you are using the Purchase Protection feature, ticket buyers who opt in for Purchase Protection will pay for all Purchase Protection fees at the time of purchase. These fees must be paid up front.
Calculating a Payment Plan - First Scheduled Payment Will Be the Deposit Amount (Even Split)
Calculating a Payment Plan - First Scheduled Payment Will Be the Deposit Amount (Even Split)
With the even split option, TicketSpice uses the order total and the number of payments to determine the total due at the time of purchase and each future installment. Here is how TicketSpice calculate a payment plan when the even split option is chosen.
TicketSpice automatically calculates the order total
TicketSpice then determines the number of payments. Using the selected payment frequency, TicketSpice calculates how many payments will occur between the purchase date and the final due date. This includes the initial deposit and all scheduled future payments
The order total is evenly divided between all payments, including the initial deposit and future payments
Note: If the ticket buyer's order total breaks out evenly between the scheduled payments, the payments are divided evenly.
If the total does not split exactly evenly between the number of payments, TicketSpice will add the difference to the initial deposit total, so each of the future scheduled payments are even. The overage is applied to the first deposit payment.
Example Calculation
Example Calculation
The event organizer chooses to have the first scheduled payment as the deposit amount.
Example Order Details
Order Total: $775
Purchase Date: April 14
Final Due Date: October 12
Payment Frequency: Monthly
Deposit Type: Even Split
Payment Plan Calculation
The system determines that there are 6 total payments before the final due date on October 12
1 deposit (paid at purchase)
5 future monthly payments before the final due date
The total is divided evenly across all payments, with any remainder added to the deposit
There is $129.16 per payment, with a $0.04 remainder
The $0.04 remainder is added to the deposit, for a total deposit payment of $129.20
Payment Schedule
April 14: $129.20 (deposit payment)
May 14: $129.16
June 14: $129.16
July 14: $129.16
August 14: $129.16
September 14: $129.16 (final payment)
After the final payment on September 14, the order is fully paid, and the attendees receives their tickets for check-in.
Calculating a Payment Plan - Custom Deposit Amount
Calculating a Payment Plan - Custom Deposit Amount
With the custom deposit amount, TicketSpice uses the custom deposit you set and the number of future installments to determine the total due at each future payment.
To create the payment schedule, TicketSpice automatically calculates the deposit payment due at the time of purchase. This deposit payment is based on the order total and the percentage you set
TicketSpice calculates the remaining balance after the deposit
TicketSpice then determines the number of payments. Using the selected payment frequency, TicketSpice calculates how many future payments will occur between the purchase date and the final due date. Only future scheduled payments are included. The initial deposit is not counted in the number of payments
The remaining balance (after the deposit) is evenly divided across those future payments
Note: If the ticket buyer's total breaks out evenly between the scheduled payments, the payments are divided evenly.
If the total does not split exactly evenly between the number of payments, TicketSpice will add the difference to the initial deposit total, so each of the future scheduled payments are even. The overage is applied to the first deposit payment.
Example Calculation
Example Calculation
Your event organizer chooses to have a 20% deposit for payment plans.
Example Order Details
Order Total: $950
Purchase Date: April 14
Final Due Date: August 8
Payment Frequency: Monthly
Deposit Type: 20% deposit
Payment Plan Calculation
TicketSpice initially calculates a $190 deposit ($950 * 20%)
The final balance for the order is $760
TicketSpice calculates 3 future payments that will occur monthly on May 14, June 14, and July 14
The remaining balance is divided equally across all payments, with any remainder added to the deposit
There is $253.33 due at each future payment, with a $0.01 remainder
The $0.01 remainder is added to the deposit, for a total deposit payment of $190.01
Payment Schedule
April 14: $190.01 (deposit payment)
May 14: $253.33
June 14: $253.33
July 14: $253.33 (final payment)
After the final payment on July 14, the order is fully paid, and the attendee receives their tickets for check-in.
Enable Payment Plans
Note: Payment plans are only available on Standard pages. You cannot enable payment plans on date-based, Series of Events, or Reserved Seating pages.
From the Pages screen, click the pencil icon on the page you want to edit
Scroll down to the Billing Information section
Hover your mouse over the Payment Method field, and click the pencil icon
Toggle Allow Payment Plan to On
Set the amount of the order that is due at the time of purchase
The First Scheduled Payment will be the Deposit Amount option divides the total order amount evenly across all scheduled payments, including the initial payment at purchase. TicketSpice calculates the number of payment dates between the purchase date (including the initial purchase payment) and the final balance due date, then splits the total evenly across those payments. The amount due at purchase is one of these equal installments
The Custom Deposit Amount option allows you to set a custom percentage of the total order that must be paid at the time of purchase. When this option is selected, TicketSpice charges the ticket buyer the percentage you set when initially purchasing tickets. The system then calculates the number of future payments that will take place between the purchase date and balance due date, and evenly distributes the remaining balance between these dates
Example: Assume that a ticket buyer wants to purchase a $625 order. They are purchasing tickets on March 4, and the order due date is July 15.
When First Scheduled Payment Will Be the Deposit Amount is selected, the deposit amount due at purchase is calculated by evenly splitting the order total amount across all payments, including the initial payment at purchase. TicketSpice calculates that there are 5 payments (including today's payment) between the purchase date and July 15 (March 4, April 4, May 4, June 4, and July 4). TicketSpice evenly splits the $625 order total between these 5 payments, leading to a deposit payment of $125
When Custom Deposit Amount is selected, you enter a custom percentage of the order total that the ticket buyer pays at the time of purchase. For example, assume you have set a custom deposit amount of 40%. In this case, the ticket buyer pays $250 at the time of purchase. The order's remaining balance of $375 is split evenly between the four future payments that will occur after the purchase date and July 15 (April 4, May 4, June 4, and July 4). This leads to future payments of $93.75 payment on each of these dates.
Choose the payment plan frequency the ticket buyer can choose from. Right now, monthly payment plans are the only option, but we are looking to add weekly and bi-weekly payment plan frequencies soon!
Set the Balance Due Date to specify when all payment plans must be paid in full. TicketSpice uses this date, along with the purchase date, to calculate how many payments occur between purchase and the final due date
Click Done
Click Save Now in the upper-right corner of your page to save your changes. Click Publish to publish these changes to your live page
Add a Follow-Up Payment or Credit
TicketSpice automatically processes payment plan installments on the set schedule, but you can also record additional payments or apply credits at any time between those dates. This is helpful if an attendee wants to pay ahead or if you need to make an adjustment.
Note: Currently, only event organizers can manage payment plans and make additional payments on behalf of a ticket buyer. Ticket buyers cannot currently make extra payments themselves, but we are looking to add this feature soon.
Add a Follow-Up Payment
Add a Follow-Up Payment
When you add a follow-up payment, TicketSpice reduces the order's remaining balance. You can choose to charge the card on file, use a different card, or record an offline payment for the order.
Pro Tip: When you add a payment, TicketSpice automatically recalculates the payment plan. After the payment is made, the remaining balance is evenly redistributed across the remaining scheduled payments.
If the total does not split exactly evenly between the number of payments, TicketSpice adds the difference to the final payment.
Click the Orders tab
Select the Pending Payment tab to see all pending payments at a glance, or search for a ticket buyer's name, order number, or email in the search box
Select the eye icon next to the order where you want to add a payment
Pro Tip: When searching for your orders, you can select the Pending Payment tab to see all orders with a pending payment. This tab includes payment plans that have not been completed and pending offline orders.
On this tab, you can quickly see the name of the ticket buyer, the amount they have already paid, the amount due, and the number of payments made. You can also see their final due date.
Click Add a Payment
Add the new payment you want to apply
Select the payment method for this payment. You can charge the card on file, charge a different credit card, or record an offline payment
Click Add Payment
Apply a Credit
Apply a Credit
When you apply a credit, TicketSpice offsets the final balance due by adding a credit to the final balance due. This credit manually decreases the amount owed on the order. Often, an individual may use the option to apply a credit if a ticket buyer has a scholarship, prize, or late discount on their order.
Pro Tip: When you add a credit, TicketSpice automatically recalculates the payment plan. After the credit is made, the new remaining balance is evenly redistributed across the remaining scheduled payments.
If the total does not split exactly evenly between the number of payments, TicketSpice adds the difference to the final payment.
Click the Orders tab
Select the Pending Payment tab to see all pending payments at a glance, or search for a ticket buyer's name, order number, or email in the search box
Select the eye icon next to the order where you want to add a credit
Pro Tip: When searching for your orders, you can select the Pending Payment tab to see all orders with a pending payment. This tab includes payment plans that have not been completed and pending offline orders.
On this tab, you can quickly see the name of the ticket buyer, the amount they have already paid, the amount due, and the number of payments made. You can also see their final due date.
Click Give a Credit
Add the credit amount you want to give
Click Apply Credit
View, Edit, or Cancel a Payment Plan
In TicketSpice, you can easily manage your payment plans. View the full payment schedule, update the card on file for future payments, make changes to the order, or cancel the payment plan when needed.
View a Ticket Buyer's Payment Plan Details
View a Ticket Buyer's Payment Plan Details
You can view payment plan details at any time, including the remaining payments, the card on file, and the full payment schedule.
From the top menu bar, select the Orders tab
Select the Pending Payment tab to see all pending payments at a glance, or search for a ticket buyer's name, order number, or email in the search box
Select the eye icon next to the order you want to view
Click View Scheduled Payments
View the payment plan information
Edit the Card Details for a Payment Plan
Edit the Card Details for a Payment Plan
In TicketSpice, you can update the credit card used for future payments. This is helpful if a customer’s card has expired or if they’d like to use a different card than the one used for the original order.
Pro Tip: Currently, only your TicketSpice users can update the credit card for a payment plan. Attendees can’t currently update the card on their own, but we are looking to add this option soon.
Note: Right now, you cannot update the payment frequency or due date, and you cannot disable or re-enable a payment plan once it's created.
If you need to make these changes, we recommend canceling the order and creating a new one. We're working on adding the ability to update the payment frequency and due date soon.
From the top menu bar, select the Orders tab
Select the Pending Payment tab to see all pending payments at a glance, or search for a ticket buyer's name, order number, or email in the search box
Select the eye icon next to the order you want to update
Click View Scheduled Payments
Click Update Payment Card in the top right corner
Update the card details
Click Update Card
Edit the Order Details for an Order on a Payment Plan
Edit the Order Details for an Order on a Payment Plan
You can edit an order with a payment plan at any time. If the order total changes, TicketSpice automatically recalculates the remaining payments and adjusts future installments accordingly. No immediate charge or refund is processed. Instead, the changes are applied to the remaining balance.
Note: Attendees cannot currently edit orders with an active payment plan, but we're looking to add this functionality soon.
For now, attendees will need to contact a TicketSpice user to make any updates to their order.
From the top menu bar, select the Orders tab
Search for the order ID, name, or email in the search box
Click the pencil icon next to the order you want to edit
Edit the order
If your edits result in an upcharge or refund, choose how to handle payment
If your edit(s) result in an upcharge, you can charge the saved card on file or choose not to charge for the changes
If your edit(s) result in a refund, you can refund the saved sard on file or to skip issuing the refund for these changes
Click Send Updated Confirmation to send an updated confirmation email to the ticket buyer with their new order details. You can include a custom message at the top of the email, and the ticket buyer's updated information will automatically populate below this message
Save your order
Pro Tip: When you make changes to an order that results in a charge or refund, TicketSpice updates the payment plan instead of processing the charge or refund right away. The remaining balance is recalculated and split across the remaining scheduled payments.
For example, if an attendee has 4 payments left and upgrades their order by $100, TicketSpice adds $25 to each of the 4 remaining payments. This allows you to handle upgrades or downgrades without immediately charging or refunding the card on file.
Cancel a Payment Plan
Cancel a Payment Plan
To cancel a payment plan, you must cancel the order, which stops all remaining scheduled payments. When canceling, you can choose to refund the amount paid, issue a coupon code, or keep the collected funds.
From the top menu bar, select the Orders tab
Search for the order ID, name, or email in the search box
Click the eye icon next to the order you want to cancel
Click Cancel Order on the right-hand side
Choose how you'd like to handle the refund. You can cancel the order without issuing a refund, offer a coupon code for future use, or issue a partial or full refund
Select whether you would like to send a cancellation email to the ticket buyer. If you select to send a cancellation notice, add a custom cancellation message if desired. The cancellation notice will resend the confirmation email with your custom message at the top notifying them that their order has been cancelled
Select the checkbox indicating that you understanding that canceling an order cannot be undone
Click Cancel Order
Pro Tip: When canceling an order and choosing to refund or issue a coupon code, TicketSpice only refunds or issues a coupon code for the amount the ticket buyer has already paid.
Any future scheduled payments are simply canceled and are not refunded.
Managing Missed or Declined Payments
When a payment is declined, TicketSpice sends an email to the ticket buyer letting them know the payment was unsuccessful. The system will automatically retry the same card two additional times, every other day. If the third attempt also fails, the scheduled payment is deactivated. The missed amount is added to the final scheduled payment, while the other payments stay unchanged.
TicketSpice will then proceed to the next scheduled payment and repeat the same retry process if necessary.
Note: If a ticket buyer does not update their card and payments continue to decline, TicketSpice will keep attempting charges based on the declined payment schedule. On the final payment, it will attempt the last payment up to three times. If those attempts fail, no further charges are made, and the order will remain in a pending final payment state until the order is canceled or the ticket buyer provides updated card information.
When offering payment plans, we recommend monitoring these orders to ensure payments are completed successfully.
Attendee Experience
When ticket buyers go to your page, they will see a banner on each of your ticket levels sharing "as low as [lowest possible fee]/month with payment plans."
They can select the "payment plans" hyperlink to learn more about payment plans. This pop-up will share that they can reserve their spot today and pay over time without any fees.
At the bottom of the page, after selecting their options, attendees can choose to pay in full or enroll in a payment plan
If they select installments, they’ll be able to choose a payment frequency, view the amount due today, and see a breakdown of the scheduled payments and total cost before saving their selection and entering their billing information
In the confirmation page, they will see that their spot is reserved, but that their tickets will not be issued until their order is paid in full
The confirmation page and confirmation email will show the amount they paid today, the frequency of their payment plan, their scheduled payments, and a schedule outlining when they will pay their payment plan
Pro Tip: Attendees will not receive their tickets until their order is paid in full. Once the attendee's balance is paid in full, they will receive a new confirmation email with their tickets.
After a payment plan installment is successfully processed or declined, TicketSpice automatically sends attendees an email with their payment details and payment plan schedule. Learn more about these emails here
Once the order is paid in full, the status updates from Pending Final Payment to Completed, and the attendee receives a new confirmation email with their tickets.
Note: On TicketSpice, a payment plan can be completed in several different ways. Here is how a payment plan can be completed:
A user adds payments that together cover the remaining balance before the final payment date
TicketSpice automatically charges the ticket buyer's card for the remaining balance on the final payment date
Payment Plans (Beta): Current Features and What's Coming Soon
Core Payment Plan features are available in Beta, with additional enhancements coming soon.
FAQs
Does TicketSpice send email notifications when a payment plan charge is successful or declined?
Does TicketSpice send email notifications when a payment plan charge is successful or declined?
Yes, TicketSpice sends email notifications when a payment plan charge is successful or declined. Here are the list of emails we send out for payment plans.
Payment Plan Payment Received Email
Payment Plan Payment Received Email
After processing a scheduled installment payments, TicketSpice sends an automatic email telling the attendee that their payment plan payment has been received. This email includes the payment details, remaining payments, and the balance due, and gives attendees a link to review their scheduled payments.
Note: The Payment Plan Payment Received email is standard and cannot be customized right now, but we are looking to add the ability to customize this email soon.
Pro Tip: If attendees reply to the payment plan payment received email, TicketSpice sends the email to the "reply to" email set on your confirmation email. If this email is not set, the system sends the email to the organization email for the account.
Payment Plan Payment Declined Email
Payment Plan Payment Declined Email
After a payment plan payment is declined, TicketSpice sends an automatic email telling the attendee that their payment plan payment has been declined. This email tells attendees to contact your organization to update their payment information.
Note: The Payment Plan Payment Declined email is standard and cannot be customized right now, but we are looking to add the ability to customize this email soon.
Pro Tip: If attendees reply to the payment plan payment declined email, TicketSpice sends the email to the "reply to" email set on your confirmation email. If this email is not set, the system sends the email to the organization email for the account.