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LIVE AUCTION SOFTWARE FOR UK CHARITY EVENTS

Live auction software for UK charity dinners, balls and golf days

Preview the lots before the night, take pre-bids, enter hammer prices as the auctioneer calls them, and settle every guest with one invoice. Payments land in your own account, never ours. Built for the way UK charity auctions run: a gala dinner or sportsman's dinner, an auctioneer or MC on the mic, and a room that needs to settle up before the band starts.

INFORMATION & PRICING
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Build anticipation before the dinner, drive energy in the room, and settle every invoice without a queue.

Lots on show weeks before the live event

Start generating excitement before your auctioneer picks up the gavel.

Publish the live lots in the same catalogue as your silent auction. Guests see photos, videos, terms and reserve prices in advance, tell their table about the signed shirt or the Lake District cottage, and arrive ready to bid.

Live lots can include high-quality images, videos, full descriptions and clear terms. This early visibility builds confidence and helps event guests arrive ready to bid.

One invoice, one checkout, no queue

When the gavel falls, GalaBid keeps everything moving smoothly behind the scenes.

Guests get a single itemised invoice by email or SMS. Charge cards stored at check-in, or let winners check out on their own phones. No queues for a PDQ machine at midnight!

  • One invoice covering live lots, silent auction wins, raffle tickets and pledges
  • Cards stored securely via Stripe UK at check-in, charged after the auction
  • Cash, cheque and BACS payments recorded against the same invoice

Hammer prices entered in seconds

As each lot sells, your team enters the winner and hammer price in seconds.

GalaBid's live auction tools help you:

  • Publish lots weeks before the dinner so guests arrive ready to bid
  • Take pre-bids , switched off with one click before the lot is called
  • Allocate paddle numbers to event guests' accounts
  • Show the leaderboard and big-screen display with lots, sponsors and totals
  • Notify winners instantly by email and SMS with a payment link or enable event staff to process payments with winners in person.

Planning a live auction?

Set up the lots in an afternoon. Real people to help before and during the night.
‍Book a call with our team today to see how GalaBid can help you run a smoother live auction and raise more on the night.

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Fundraising payment confirmedfunds go straight to account

Other platforms hold your funds.
With GalaBid, funds go directly to you.

Every dollar your supporters give goes straight to you, not through us.
GalaBid never holds, delays, or touches your funds.
No holding accounts. No delays. No platform float. No risk transferred to you.
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INFORMATION & PRICING
PAYMENTS & FUNDS SAFETY
DID YOU KNOW?

You can sell event tickets and manage guests with GalaBid!

No need for a separate platform, logins or spreadsheets. Everything for your UK fundraising event lives in one place.

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Live auction software FAQs for UK charities

What is the difference between a live and a silent auction?

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A live auction has an auctioneer calling lots in the room while guests bid with paddles or a raised hand. A silent auction runs online or on paper with bidders entering amounts themselves. GalaBid runs both in one campaign.

Can guests bid online during the live auction?

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Not simultaneously. You can display live lots in the catalogue, take pre-bids before the auction, then process the winning bids through GalaBid. Online and in-room bidding on the same lot at the same time is not supported.

Do I need an auctioneer?

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For a live auction, yes. A professional charity auctioneer or a confident MC makes a large difference to the hammer prices.

Can I claim Gift Aid on live auction bids?

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Generally no. HMRC treats a winning bid as payment for the lot. Gift Aid may apply only to the amount paid above a lot's market value in limited cases. Take advice from your accountant.

How do winners pay?

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By card stored at check-in and charged after the auction, by payment link on their phone, or by cash, cheque or BACS recorded against their invoice.

Can I use GalaBid's no-risk auction lots in a live auction?

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Yes. The UK catalogue includes experiences such as a supercar drive at Silverstone, a Tuscan wine escape and a Barbados villa. If a lot does not sell there is no charge.

Does GalaBid provide big-screen display for the auction?

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Yes. The leaderboard display is projector ready. Use it to show the current lot, sponsor logos and running totals on any screen in the venue.

Can I offer multiples in my live auction?

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Yes. If you are using prizes on consignment from GalaBid please enquire with us first to ensure we have multiples available of your prize.