Local one-day festival organiser

Ticket buyers from the local area, stallholders paying site fees, and local businesses paying for sponsorship or advertising.

Ticket sales, stall and vendor fees, sponsorship packages and sometimes a share of food and drink sales. Most costs (site, hire, insurance, acts) are paid before the event.

• Planning and organising
• Negotiating with suppliers and sponsors
• Marketing and social media
• Staying calm under pressure

• Council event permits and site hire conditions, which vary by council and state, so check early
• Liquor licensing if alcohol is served; check your state's liquor regulator about temporary licences
• Temporary food stall notifications and registration, usually through the local council or state system
• Public liability insurance, which councils often require at a set minimum, plus cancellation or weather cover
• Music licensing for live or recorded music; check what you need with the relevant licensing bodies
• Safety planning such as first aid, crowd management, toilets, waste and traffic
• Deposits paid up front put your money at risk if tickets sell slowly or the weather turns

Startup costs are typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on the site, scale, suppliers and insurance. Deposits are paid up front, so your money is at risk if tickets sell slowly or the weather turns. Treat these as estimates.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on ticket sales, stallholder fees and sponsorship. Planning often takes about 15 hours a week or more. These are estimates, not guarantees.

Check council event permits and site hire conditions early, as they vary by council and state. Also check liquor licensing if alcohol is served, temporary food stall registration, public liability insurance, music licensing, and safety planning such as first aid and crowd management.