Simple, Transparent Pricing
No hidden fees. No surprises. Just honest pricing that works for everyone. Organizers pay a small service fee. Vendors list for free and keep more of what they earn.
"What's the Catch?"
There isn't one. Vendors often ask us this, and we love the transparency it creates.
"Our business model is simple: we only succeed when you succeed. That's why we keep vendor costs minimal and focus on bringing you quality bookings."
— The Backdrop Team
How Pricing Works
Clear, straightforward fees for organizers and vendors
For Event Organizers
When you book a vendor on Backdrop, you pay their listed price plus a 10% service fee. This fee is similar to what you'd find on trusted platforms like Airbnb and Turo, and it covers:
- Secure Stripe payment processing
- Platform maintenance and development
- Customer support and dispute resolution
- Booking protection and secure transactions
- Marketing and vendor discovery tools
Example:
Vendor price: $500
Service fee (10%): $50
Total: $550
For Event Vendors
List unlimited services and accept unlimited bookings with zero platform fees. You keep 100% of your listed price—we cover all payment processing costs.
- Keep every dollar you charge — No hidden deductions
- Payment processing covered — Backdrop absorbs all Stripe fees
- Launch partner advantage — Most platforms charge 15-30%. We're at 0%
Future Vendor Fee
After 6+ months, we'll introduce a small 3% vendor fee to cover cancellations and refunds. We'll give you plenty of advance notice before this happens—transparency is our priority.
Example (Current):
Your listed price: $500
Platform fee: $0
You receive: $500
Payment processing fees covered by Backdrop
How Backdrop Compares
More value for vendors, better pricing for organizers
| Feature | Backdrop | Other Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor Platform Fee | 0% (promo) | 15-30% |
| Listing Fees | Free | $0-$50/mo |
| Organizer Fee | 10% | 0-15% |
| Secure Payments | Stripe | Varies |
| Vendor Controls Pricing | Sometimes | |
| Transparent Fees | Rarely |
Fair pricing that benefits everyone in the marketplace
Why We Price This Way
Most event marketplaces charge vendors 15-30% per booking. We think that's unsustainable and unfair. Vendors work hard to deliver exceptional service—they shouldn't lose a quarter of their revenue to platform fees.
By charging organizers a transparent 10% service fee and keeping vendor fees minimal (or zero during our promotional period), we create a healthier marketplace where vendors can grow profitably and organizers get competitive pricing.
This is about building sustainable, long-term partnerships—not extracting maximum fees from vendors who power the platform.
Pricing Questions Answered
Everything you need to know about costs and fees on Backdrop
Ready to Experience Fair Pricing?
Join Backdrop's marketplace where transparent pricing and vendor-friendly terms create a better event planning experience for everyone