Check Payments are a Bad Idea for your Event
As an event organizer, every decision you make affects your event budgeting, your financial planning, and your attendees’ guest experience. Yet one outdated option, accepting check payments, still sneaks into some registration forms. While it might seem harmless, checks can derail your cash flow, increase your workload, and add stress you don’t need.
Accepting checks today is like waiting weeks to see photos from an old film camera. It's slow, uncertain, and outdated. Before you include checks as a payment option, here are three essential reasons to avoid them...And why event organizers should stop accepting check payments!
1. Checks Cause Delays in Your Cash Flow
With check payments, you wait days or even weeks before funds are available. First, you have to receive the check, then deposit it, then wait for the bank to clear it. In contrast, secure online payments typically transfer funds to your account within 1–2 business days, giving you faster access to revenue for upfront costs like venues, suppliers, and marketing. Also consider the time saved trying to fit getting to the bank on time to deposit the check.
Actionable Insight: Build your financial planning around predictable, fast-moving cash flow. When money arrives quickly, you can reinvest in promotions that strengthen your marketing strategy and boost registrations.
2. Check Payments Create Extra Work
Organizers already juggle logistics, vendors, and expense tracking. Processing checks adds unnecessary manual steps, such as:
- Monitoring to ensure all checks arrive before the event
- Collecting and depositing each check
- Tracking payments in your budgeting system
- Following up on bounced or missing payments
- Chasing down attendees to fix payment issues
Actionable Insight: Automate wherever possible. By eliminating checks and moving to digital payments, you reduce repetitive admin, 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: Poor handwriting or incomplete info slows processing
- Bounced Checks: Non-sufficient funds result in costly bank fees and awkward attendee conversations
- Fraud Risk: Paper checks are easier to manipulate than secure digital transactions
Actionable Insight: Protect your event’s finances. Relying on secure, traceable online payments reduces fraud risk, prevents bank fees, and ensures reliable revenue flow for your marketing strategy and operations.
Why It’s Time to Eliminate Check Payments
Checks delay your revenue, create avoidable work, and expose you to financial risk. By saying goodbye to checks, you simplify your financial planning, strengthen your event budgeting, and deliver a smoother guest experience, without the stress.
Final Takeaway: Eliminating checks isn’t just about convenience, it’s about building financial confidence. With faster payments, fewer risks, and simplified expense tracking, you can focus on what really matters: delivering an exceptional event.
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 faster, safer, and simplify your event budgeting and financial planning.
Are credit card payments really safer than checks?
Yes. Credit card and online payment platforms use encryption and fraud detection tools, making them far more secure than paper checks. This not only protects your finances but also 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 marketing strategy.
What’s the best alternative to check payments for events?
The best alternative is secure digital payments, such as credit cards or online payment gateways. They offer quick deposits, easy expense tracking, and a smoother guest experience compared to handling paper checks.
Do attendees still prefer paying by check?
While some attendees may request it, the majority prefer convenient online payment options. Offering secure digital payments enhances the guest experience and reduces stress for both organizers and attendees.