Free Event vs. Paid Event: Why I Wish I Had Started Charging Sooner

If you believe in the value you create for your guests, start charging for your events—even before the experience is delivered. Encourage participants to pay upfront during sign-up not at the end of the event.

When I first started running Casual Tech Meetup two years ago, I didn’t charge participants anything. I was concerned that if people knew there was no cost to me—participants paid for their own food and drinks, and the venue had no rental fee—they’d think I was just trying to make money without offering real value.

But in May, I began charging for the events I hosted because I wanted to enhance the experience for our participants. The logistics remained the same—participants still cover their own food and drinks, and there’s still no venue expense—but now, we charge for the curated experience, the thoughtfully crafted workshop content, the materials we prepare, and the unique collective memory we build together. I see it as a cover fee, similar to the bars in Tokyo where you pay around 1000 yen to enter, and in return, you enjoy the atmosphere and experience the bar owner creates.

Since making this change, I’ve noticed key differences between paid and free events.

1. Motivation to Deliver Value

Charging a fee pushes me to focus on delivering a better experience. Even if the fee is modest, I want participants to feel they’re getting their money’s worth. This mindset shift encourages me to minimize costs and prioritize delivering intangible value—beyond food and drinks. It forces us to think deeply about event structure, designing gatherings that foster genuine interaction and allow participants to engage in conversations they rarely have elsewhere.

1. Higher Attendance Rates

This one’s pretty straightforward: the show-up rate for my free events was already high at 70%, but for paid events, it skyrockets to 90%. When people pay, they commit.

3. Confidence and Reputation Building

Charging for events builds confidence for both the participants and the host. Participants view your event as more legitimate and well-organized if you’re confident enough to charge for it. For the host, it strengthens your reputation. Over time, this leads to more thoughtful events that create a greater impact on everyone involved.