How to start a market stall Market stalls are an excellent, low-budget way to launch your brand. From costs to equipment to legal legislation, here’s everything you need to know to get going. Written by Ross Darragh Updated on 14 December 2022 About us Startups was founded over 20 years ago by a serial entrepreneur. Today, our expert team of writers, researchers, and editors work to provide our 4 million readers with useful tips and information, as well as running award-winning campaigns. Our site is governed by the Startups editorial manifesto. Written and reviewed by: Ross Darragh Writer Robyn Summers-Emler Digital Growth Editor While market stalls were some of the first businesses to reopen after the COVID pandemic thanks to their Covid-friendly outside set-ups – the impact of the current economic crisis, and reduction in consumer spending, is leaving them with a substantial loss of footfall.As a result of this, if you are planning to start a market stall, you’ll need to consider the important areas of business planning such as marketing and outreach, in order to attract a consumer base that is now used to online shopping and door-to-door sales deliveries.Luckily, the Startups team are experts on the various priorities and considerations that SMEs need to know.In the below guide, we’ll take you through how to create, finance and insure your market stall, as well as the top tips for advertising, so you can build a business that’s fit for the post-Covid, modern consumer. Startups.co.uk can help your business succeed At Startups.co.uk, we’re here to help small UK businesses to get started, grow and succeed. We have brilliant resources for helping new businesses get off the ground – you can use the tool below to get started today. What Does Your Business Need Help With? Choosing a POS System Creating a Website Getting a Business Loan Marketing Get Started In this article, we cover: Writing a market stall business plan Conducting market research Sourcing your products to sell Getting market stall equipment Working out the costs of starting up your market stall Market trading rules and regulations Promoting your market stall The key skills needed for market selling Becoming a member of the NMTF 7 top tips from experts Robin Longden, founder of successful artisan granola business Rollagranola, explains why he got into market stall trading…“Markets are a great opportunity for brands to test their product, speak to consumers directly and really define their proposition.“We wanted to get our brand of artisan granola into the hands of consumers to see how it would be received, so we applied for stalls across London.“Those early days of exposure were invaluable to us. They taught us what consumers really wanted and helped us shape and define our brand in order to take it to the next level.” How has COVID-19 changed the market stall landscape?Market stalls have not been immune to the impact of national or local lockdowns. Figures from research company Springboard showed that, even when lockdown restrictions for instore shopping were lifted in April 2021, retail footfall was still 32.7% lower than pre-Covid levels.This means it’s important to factor in the loss of high street footfall to your market stall launch plan.One top tip: plan to sell your products online as well as in-person, both in the short and long term.If you find the right website builder, selling online can even be done for zero charge. Our top choice, Square Online has an impressive free tier that allows you to sell products for zero cost (and the site won’t take much time or effort to set up either).Visit Square online to see whether its completely free plan could suit your small retail business – and help you not miss out on sales during lockdown periods. Write a market stall business planWhile the process can be time consuming, writing a business plan is crucial to creating a successful market stall business. Thankfully, there are tools out there that can help budding entrepreneurs create an informative document that covers all the necessary areas. Nathan Thompson, a former market stall owner, says:“The Business Model Canvas and the Value Proposition Canvas can provide practical and visual ways to map out your market stall and business, without spiralling into unfocused 40 page documents which often represent little more than a box ticking exercise. They also come with great videos and FAQs, which are written in plain English and designed for business owners and entrepreneurs as opposed to academics.” As a result, you’ll have a business plan that gives you a sense of direction, defined financial targets, and a clearer idea of how much time you need to dedicate to your business to make it a success. Not only that, if you ever want to turn your market stall business into a bricks and mortar shop, banks and other money lenders will need to see your business plan in order to ensure your idea is a viable investment. So what should you include in your market stall business plan? The list below gives you a brief overview:Explain whether you’re setting your market stall up as a hobby, a side-hustle, or a business ventureDescribe the products you’re going to sell, and why you’ve chosen to sell themProvide proof that the market you’ve chosen is a viable place to sell your stockDetail how much you’re looking to sell your products for, and what profit margin you’re expecting to achieveWhile these points are a good start, business plans need to be detailed documents. There’s heaps of information online to help you create an in depth business plan. Why not check out our full guide to writing a business plan for more information? Need help staying on track?Whether you’re working alone or with a co-founder, project management tools can help make sure that everything stays on track. From assigning tasks and deadlines, to tracking progress and workflows, it’s an excellent way to keep things moving in the direction they need to go.Read our guide to the top project management software for small businesses to find out which software provider we think is best for SMEs. Market stall ideas What products are trending in the market stall space right now? We’ve had a look at the top consumer trends of 2020 and beyond, and condensed them into the list below. Organic produceChutneys and saucesConvenience goods, such as grocery itemsFairtrade and ethically conscious goodsFloristryHealth and wellness productsVintage fashion Vegan and meat-free produce Conduct market research for your market stall businessWithout conducting proper market research, you won’t know whether there’s a demand for your product in your local area. You won’t know who your audience is, and you won’t know how to market your product to them. To put it simply, market research is essential. To carry out effective market research, make sure you use multiple channels to get the most reliable information. Explore local markets to see what people are selling, and what the local competition looks likeConduct surveys to gauge whether there’s a demand for your product in the area, and how much people are willing to payHave a look online to discover the latest consumer trends, and see whether there’s any conversation about the products you’re looking to sellRollagranola’s founder Robin reiterates the importance of researching local competition: It's a good idea to review other market stall traders. What kind of products do they offer? Are they in line with your brand? Are they sold at a similar price point? A quick guide to market typesChoosing the right marketplace is essential to your success. But what are the different types?Permanent marketStalls are usually set up as permanent units. In permanent outside markets, market operators allow people to set up outside of vans, although spaces are often available on a first come first served basis. Street marketsUsually held once or twice a week in areas that are closed off to traffic, such as side streets and squares. Street markets are great for anyone looking to run a market stall as a side-hustle. Farmers marketsFarmers markets are growing in popularity, and great for anyone looking to sell local produce, including meat, vegetables, chutneys, and jams. One day open air marketsIf you’re looking to make handmade products and sell them, one day open air markets are ideal for anyone wanting to start a market stall as a hobby. Source your products to sellIt goes without saying that if you’re not selling your own produce, you’ll need to find suitable stockists. A good place to start is local wholesalers. Just bear in mind the following:Make sure your values alignThe stockists you choose to partner with should reflect your own brand identity and values. So if you ‘pride yourself on selling the finest ethically sourced products’, your stockists should, too. Keep an eye on profit marginSelecting the right stockist also comes down to profit margin. Refer back to your business plan to ensure you’re selecting partners that’ll help you to fulfill your business’ financial potential. Get market stall equipmentIt’s pretty easy to get hold of market stall equipment. There are plenty of companies that you can hire equipment from, or you can choose to purchase yours from online suppliers. Take a look at the table below to see how much you can expect to purchase market stall equipment for. You should also think about investing in an EPOS system, and purchasing (or even making) market stall displays that create a visual impact when people approach your stall. Thompson comments:“One of the areas I’ve often seen market stalls falter at over the years is their visual merchandising and point-of-sale displays. You really don’t have to spend a fortune on these initially, but equally, you want your stall to exude a professional yet personal feel.” He recommends that stall owners look at retail sites such as Etsy for unique handmade market stall displays, or try browsing Pinterest for inspiration, then having a go at making their own visual displays. EPOS suppliers such as Square can set you up with a merchant account and card machine in a matter of days. You can download its free, intuitive software onto a tablet or mobile phone, and transparent pricing means you’ll always be aware of any extra costs and fees involved. That being said, there’s an abundance of EPOS suppliers out there, so make sure you compare quotes from a range of providers to get the best deal. Choose a market to sell inFirst things first, you’ll need to research the types of markets that are out there. Generally, different markets attract a different kind of audience: for example, you won’t find the same crowd perusing a country farmers market as you would in the tourist markets of Camden Town. Walk around your local markets to soak up the vibe, and gauge the trends among stall holders.You’ll then need to conduct thorough research into the local markets on your list. Think about: How often you’d like to trade – for example, is it a weekly or bi-weekly market?The average footfall of the area – implies whether there will be a solid number of market visitorsPitch and rental costs – make sure you balance this with expected profit marginsTravel and parking arrangements – is the market accessible for you and your customers? Whether the market is indoors or outdoors – this can have an effect on footfall, as well as your selling environmentWhat kind of vibe you’re after – are you looking for a competitive selling environment, or something more relaxed? Robin Longden, former market stall owner and founder of Rollagranola, says: “Finding the right market stalls are key – it’s important to identify those that fit your product/service well. There are no wrong markets, but low footfall is a long day so choose busy markets and be prepared to take risks. More often than not if you have the footfall, you will get the trade and if you don’t? It’s not the right fit for your product/service.” Why not take a look at our guide to the best markets in the UK to get an idea of the different types of market out there? Work out the costs of starting up your market stallWe’ve already covered potential equipment costs, but what else do you need to think about? One-time costsMarket stall equipment From £400 (based on table above)Market stall signage (foamex board)From £32On-going costsStockProduct dependentMarket stall licenseArea dependent (usually around £1,000 paid annually)Business insuranceFrom £59/yearStaff wagesDependent on hours workedMarketing and websiteAgencies cost from £1,200 a monthEPOSFrom £19 (+1.75% ongoing processing fee)How to finance your market stallYou can’t start a market stall from nothing. You’ll need to have cash to hand in order to invest in the necessary licenses, insurance, and equipment. Thompson advises:“It’s business 101 here, but developing an initial proof of concept can work wonders. If you can finance your initial business yourself, either from your salary, savings, or by borrowing from close family or friends, it’s worth starting small to assess the viability and feasibility of your market stall idea.” While it’s perfectly possible to start a market stall with your savings, if your goal is to turn your market stall into a fully-fledged bricks and mortar store, you may need more of a cash injection behind you. Thompson continues: “There are lending organisations and bodies such as Responsible Finance who offer impartial advice, and can point you in the direction of non-predatory lending providers according to your business size and scale.”This is where business loans come into play. There are a couple of business loan providers we would recommend:Start Up Loans – a government-backed scheme where you can borrow up to £25,000, with a fixed interest rate of 6% p.a.Business loans – similar to startup loans, except they are not just for new businesses and don’t have the same caps. Compare providers today to make sure you business gets the best deals.You should also consider how you will track your finances. It’s best practice to use a business bank account to separate your personal and business expenses and income. filling in our simple comparison formThere may be additional sources of support you can lean on, too. According to a specialist trend report conducted by Marketing Donut, local councils across the country are looking to splash extra cash on supporting local and farmers markets. What Does Your Business Need Help With? Choosing a POS System Creating a Website Getting a Business Loan Business Bank Account Get Started Get up to date with market trading rules and regulationsUnsurprisingly, you can’t just rock up to your local market and start selling. There are rules and regulations that you need to research and adhere to before you start trading. ✓ Obtain a market stall traders’ licenseAccording to existing market traders, a trader’s license can cost in the region of £1,000. However, you need to get in touch with your local council to apply for one, and to find out exactly how much it’ll cost. There are temporary, casual, or permanent licenses available. However, according to gov.uk, you’ll need to have held a temporary or casual market trader license before you can apply for a permanent one. You’ll only be allocated a fixed pitch once you have a permanent license. ✓ Register for self-assessment with HMRCAs a self-employed business owner, you’ll need to file your own tax returns. Keep a solid record of your income so you can correctly fill in the necessary online forms at the end of the year. Bear in mind that you could be heavily fined if you don’t register for self-assessment within three months of starting your business. ✓ Get market trade insuranceYour business insurance should cover you for:Public liability insurance – to cover you if a customer injures themselves at your stall. You’ll typically need cover up to £5mProduct liability insurance – to cover you if any items or produce you sell cause harm to the buyerEmployer’s liability insurance – a legal requirement if you hire staff, even if they’re casual helpersIf you’re wondering whether or not you need a specific license for the products you’re selling, the government has a useful web tool that can tell you which licenses you need based on the information you enter. Promote your market stallAccording to a survey carried out by US company Clutch, 75% of people are more likely to shop somewhere that aligns with their own values. As a market stall holder, you can hone in on those values, whether they’re all about sustainable produce, local specialties, or organic products.How? By communicating your values through digital marketing. But how do you use these channels well? Consistent brandingKeep your branding consistent across all of your communication channels. Your social media channels and website should resonate with your values, just as much as your stall signage, business cards, and carrier bags. Have a business websiteThese days, a business website is essential. Many potential customers will want to learn about who you are and what you do before they decide to buy anything from you. You may even want to create an ecommerce website to supplement your face to face sales. Website builders such as Wix and GoDaddy allow you to build attractive, professional websitesYou can purchase a domain name (i.e. the name of your website) for as little as £15/year. The cost of hosting your website starts from £6 a month for a shared server, while private servers with the highest security credentials can cost up to £75 a month.Building a website is a time-consuming process. You’ll need to source high quality images and high quality content, then spend time playing around with the drag-and-drop functionality of your chosen template to create the best design.Alternatively, you can pay a digital agency to build a website for you. However, this can cost upwards of £1,000. Promotional material for your market stallIt’s worth investing in signage for your stall so that people become familiar with your brand name. Durable foamex boards cost from around £32, and hold up well in outdoor conditions. Branded carrier bags are a good way of spreading your name around your local area. Make sure you include your brand name and an image or slogan that encompasses the products you sell, so people know why they should come to you. Rollagranola CEO Robin wishes he’d known the importance of marketing materials before he started his market stall.“One thing we didn’t have straight off the bat was marketing materials so in hindsight, we lost a few folks that could have become Rollagranola customers. “Leaflets that people can take away are invaluable for driving people to your website and encouraging repeat or first-time purchases. But remember, anything loose will blow away and get wet, so keep it close!”Social mediaSocial media is a free and powerful tool that, when used wisely, has the potential to increase your stall’s footfall.FacebookSet up a Facebook page where you can interact with your customers. Encourage customers to leave reviews, and use your profile to engage in conversations that demonstrate your values.InstagramSet up an Instagram account where you can share photos of your products, and create posts that reflect your brand values. Make sure you use the same tone across all of your social media channels, and use hashtags to participate in trends.TwitterTwitter is also great for engaging in current trends. You can support topics that resonate with your brand, and use hashtags to create and join conversations with people within your community.Offer incentives for repeat purchasesSimon Paine is the co-founder of the PopUp Business School – an organisation that helps people from all walks of life start their own business. His advice for market stall holders looking to encourage customer loyalty is as follows: “Have dialogue with your customers to understand their problems. That way, you can sell higher value items to the customers you’ve built trust with. It’s not so much about getting more customers – it’s about getting smart with the customers you do get.” Many people come to markets for a more personable experience. They want to build relationships with market stall holders, so if you notice someone is becoming a regular customer, offer them a loyalty card or give them special discounts. Customer service: become the face of your market stallIf people like who you are, they’ll come back. Be friendly to your customers. Talk to them about their day if you’re not too busy. Smile. On top of that, make the purchasing process as convenient as possible. If customers don’t have cash, have the pay by card option ready. A card reader and a mobile phone may be all you need – our guide to the best card reader for a small business will help you choose. Practice the key skills needed for market sellingYou don’t need to have the sales skills of a stereotypical car salesman to run a market stall, but you do need to be chatty, good at negotiation, and quick at cash counting. Robin Longden, former market stall owner and founder of Rollagranola, says: “As a start-up remember: Consumers are your friends, engage and chat – don’t think about the sale – people buy if they are happy and they are genuinely interested in the products.” This means it’s important to have: An approachable, personable and enthusiastic attitude. Friendly customer service goes a long way in market sellingA good grasp of English. On a busy day, you might be fielding questions left right and centre, and will need to be able to provide customers with the information they’re seeking before they buyA flair for sales, and confidence in negotiatingGood numeracy skills. You’ll need to be able to add up prices speedily, and if you’re given a wad of cash, you’ll need to return the right change quicklySome prior experience in retailMoreover, you should be able to endure long and challenging days. Samantha Wallace gives an idea of the hours you might expect, although these won’t be the same for everyone, and may depend on your market’s opening and closing times: “On a market day, we’re up at 7am, checking emails and doing last minute bits of admin, and then we’re off to the stand. We open at 10am, having stocked up and tidied up. It’s then all on, chatting to customers until we close at 5pm. We usually leave by 6pm, having mopped floors, cleaned surfaces, etc.” Aside from having the required professional experience and personal skills, you’ll need to familiarise yourself with the processes that come with owning a small business. These include:BookkeepingUnderstanding profit margins and costsSalesGeneral business skillsThere are plenty of short courses online that will bring you up to speed with the above. The beginners course to business provided by the Open University is free, and requires just 15 hours of study. Become a member of the National Market Traders Federation (NMTF)The NMTF is an organisation that represents market traders, street traders, events retailers, and mobile caterers. It’s there to assist market traders with general, legal, and financial advice. By becoming a member of the NMTF, you’ll also have access to market traders’ insurance, liability protection, and access to discounted mobile card machines. So what are the annual subscription rates?Single/Sole Trader Membership: £140.00Dual Membership (two persons in partnership) £210.00Triple Membership (three persons in partnership) £280.00Quadruple Membership (four persons in partnership) £350.00 Starting a market stall: 7 top tips from expertsWe talked to several people who have plenty of experience in the market trade. They’ve offered us the following advice:Talk to other traders – learn as much as you can about the trade before startRegister as a sole trader, not a limited company (to reduce tax bills in the early stages)Brush up on your social media skills; this is an effective marketing channel!Take a measured approach when it comes to initial stock purchasesNegotiate small minimum order quantities to test product, price, and promotion combinationsAsk for feedback in real time; keep a dialogue open with existing customersStay on your feet, stay passionate, engage with your customersWhat’s next? Beyond the marketplaceDid you know Marks and Spencer, Dunelm, Poundland, and Superdry all started off as market stalls? The founders of these big brands had two things in common – a unique concept, and an immense amount of drive. To take your business from a market stall to a shop, you’ll need a great concept, a hefty cash injection, a confident business plan, and the drive to battle through any roadblocks. One person who managed to do that was Levi Roots. Before making it big in British supermarkets, Roots began his business selling his Reggae Reggae Sauce from a market stall at London’s Notting Hill Carnival. He grew his brand’s popularity by playing reggae music as people perused his products.However, it took him 16 years of rejection and an eventual £50,000 investment from investor Peter Jones to take him and his products to new heights. His story goes to show that having a market stall really is just the beginning. If you can create a brand, a social buzz, a reason for people to come back, and you have plenty of drive, you have the perfect recipe for a future retail store. Make sure your market stall accepts card payments Comparing quotes for merchant accounts and card readers will get you the best deal for your small business Get quotes for free It only takes 2 mins Share this post facebook twitter linkedin Written by: Ross Darragh Writer Ross has been writing for Startups since 2021, specialising in telephone systems, digital marketing, payroll, and sustainable business. He also runs the successful entrepreneur section of the website. Having graduated with a Masters in Journalism, Ross went on to write for Condé Nast Traveller and the NME, before moving in to the world of business journalism. Ross has been involved in startups from a young age, and has a keen eye for exciting, innovative new businesses. Follow him on his Twitter - @startupsross for helpful business tips.