Check Payments are a Bad Idea for your Event

March 14, 2024, 1:20 PM
Illustration of a woman pushing away a paper check marked with a red prohibition symbol, symbolizing the rejection of check payments.
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As an event organizer, every decision you make impacts your event budgeting, your financial planning, and ultimately your attendees’ guest experience. One outdated choice that still shows up on registration forms is the option to pay by check.

While it may seem harmless, check payments can derail your cash flow, add unnecessary work, and create stress you don’t need. Accepting checks is like waiting weeks to develop photos from a film roll slow, uncertain, and outdated.

Here are three clear reasons why event organizers should stop accepting check payments and what to do instead.

1. Checks Delay Your Cash Flow

Check payments can take days or even weeks before funds are available. You first have to receive the check, get it to the bank, and then wait for it to clear. In contrast, online event payments typically arrive in your account within 2–5 business days, giving you faster access to revenue for essential upfront costs like venue deposits, supplier payments, and marketing.

Actionable Insight: Build your financial planning around predictable, fast-moving cash flow. With quicker access to funds, you can confidently reinvest in promotions that strengthen your event marketing strategy and boost registrations.

2. Checks Create Extra Work

Organizers already juggle logistics, vendors, and expense tracking. Accepting checks adds repetitive manual tasks:

  • Monitoring whether all checks arrive on time
  • Collecting and depositing each check
  • Recording payments in your budgeting system
  • Following up on bounced or missing payments
  • Chasing attendees to resolve payment issues

Actionable Insight: Save your team’s time. By eliminating checks and moving to event payment processing online, you reduce admin work, simplify your event budgeting, and free up time to improve the guest experience.

3. Checks Increase Risk

Every payment method carries some risk, but checks create more problems than most:

  • Errors & Delays: Illegible handwriting or incomplete details slow processing
  • Bounced Checks: Non-sufficient funds lead to bank fees and awkward conversations
  • Fraud Risk: Paper checks are easier to manipulate than secure digital transactions

Actionable Insight: Protect your finances. Modern event payment processing tools use encryption, fraud prevention, and secure gateways to minimize risk. By moving away from checks, you avoid surprise fees and ensure a reliable flow of revenue with secure online event payments.

Why It’s Time to Eliminate Check Payments

Checks slow revenue, add extra work, and increase risk. Saying goodbye to them simplifies financial planning, strengthens event budgeting, and delivers a smoother guest experience without the stress.

Final Takeaway: Eliminating checks isn’t just about convenience; it’s about financial confidence. With faster payments, fewer risks, and simplified expense tracking, you can focus on what really matters: creating exceptional events. The sooner you switch to secure online event payments, the sooner you’ll free up time, protect your finances, and deliver the kind of guest experience your attendees expect.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why shouldn’t I accept check payments for event registration?

Checks slow down cash flow, create more manual work, and carry higher risks like bounced payments and fraud. Digital payments are quicker, more reliable, and streamline event budgeting and financial planning.

Are credit card payments really safer than checks?

Yes. Credit card and online payment gateways use encryption and fraud protection, making them far more secure than paper checks. This safeguards your finances and helps build trust with attendees.

How do delayed payments affect my event budgeting?

Delayed funds from checks can leave you scrambling to cover upfront expenses like venues, marketing, and supplies. Faster payments improve financial planning and give you more flexibility to reinvest in your event.

What’s the best alternative to check payments for events?

The best alternative is secure online event payments, such as credit cards or digital payment gateways. Our event ticketing solutions provide quick deposits, easier reconciliation, and a smoother guest experience compared to handling paper checks.

Do attendees still prefer paying by check?

While a few may still request it, most prefer convenient online options. Offering event payment processing not only improves the attendee experience but also reduces stress for organizers.

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