To set up deposits and payment schedules for event bookings, decide the trigger points (confirmation, a fixed date before the event, and final numbers), attach an amount or percentage to each, and let your system request, track and reconcile the payments automatically. The goal is that revenue is secured before the event and nobody spends Friday afternoon chasing a bank transfer.
A schedule that works for most venues
- On confirmation: a deposit that makes the booking real, commonly 10 to 25 percent or a fixed per-head amount.
- At a mid-point: a second instalment, often when the pre-orders are collected and the shape of the event is fixed.
- Before the event: the balance, due once final numbers are confirmed, so event day is about hospitality rather than invoicing.
Why automation matters more than the policy
Most venues already have a deposit policy; the leak is enforcement. When requests are raised by hand, they go out late, get missed on busy weeks, and are awkward to chase. When the schedule is attached to the booking, requests and reminders go out on time, every time, and the events team can see at a glance which bookings are paid, part-paid or overdue.
How Creventa handles it
CreventaFlow attaches a payment schedule to the booking from the first proposal, takes deposits and payments through PCI-compliant providers including Stripe, Adyen and Planet Pay, and shows payment status against every event. Guests can also pay for their own pre-orders in advance through Prinq, which moves even more revenue ahead of event day. More on enquiry management or book a demo.
