Now event organizers and Facebook Page owners  in 20 countries around the world including India that meet the platforms partner monetization policies can start charging for online events enabling millions of small business to make money on Facebook

Facebook has created a new events feature that would enable businesses to launch online events on their Facebook pages free of cost except for payments made via Apple’s IoS App. Facebook has mentioned that it doens’t  take a fee from purchase made via Android version of the App.

From now on small businesses, creators, artists, educators and media publishers can generate revenue from holding online events on the Facebook platform. Facebook Pages can host events on Facebook Live to reach broad audiences, and the platform is testing paid events with Messenger Rooms for more personal and interactive gatherings.

“Today we’re launching the ability for businesses, creators, educators and media publishers to earn money from online events on Facebook. Now Page owners can create an online event, set a price, promote the event, collect payment and host the event, all in one place,” said Fidji Simo, Vice President, head of Facebook App in a blog post.

Simo said Facebook requested Apple to reduce App Store’s  30 per cent commision but they refused.

“We asked Apple to reduce its 30% App Store tax or allow us to offer Facebook Pay so we could absorb all costs for businesses struggling during COVID-19. Unfortunately, they dismissed both our requests and SMBs (Small and Medium Businesses) will only be paid 70% of their hard-earned revenue. While Facebook is waiving fees for paid online events we will make other fees clear in the product.”

Simo’s post stated that  Facebook saw live broadcasts from pages double in June 2020 compared to the previous year. “In our most recent State of Small Business Report with OECD and World Bank, we found that access to cash continues to be the most common ongoing challenge for SMBs. Only 19% of surveyed businesses were getting any financial help (down from earlier in pandemic). Many businesses are struggling and every cent matters. Shifting in-person events to online is costly enough that businesses shouldn’t have to worry about fees charged by platforms.”

Facebook said a one-time access charge is collected when guests register to attend. “Enabling an admission fee is done through the event set-up process and requires you to sign our terms of service and have a payment account on file”.

Simo said to support small businesses and creators, Facebook will not collect any fees from paid online events for at least the next year. “For transactions on the web, and on Android in countries where we have rolled out Facebook Pay, small businesses will keep 100% of the revenue they generate from paid online events.”

Once your Facebook page has cleared monetization review, Page owners can move forward with creating their event. For the time being, online events can only be created on a computer.

Event organisers can select one price per event. Once an event is published, the event organisers will not be able to change the price.

Paid online events are currently available to eligible Facebook Pages in the following countries: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, the U.K. and the U.S.

You can join Fidji Simo for a Facebook Live with entrepreneur, fitness business coach, and mentor, Rachel Holmes on Tuesday, August 18 at 9:00 AM PT. (India time August 18, Tuesday 9.30 PM).