Run a monthly farmers' market

Stallholders pay you a fee to trade. Shoppers usually get in free, though some markets add sponsors or a small community stall.

Stall fees per market day (often a flat fee or a site fee plus a small extra for powered sites). Some organisers also take sponsorship or sell advertising on the market's social media and newsletter.

• Organising people and logistics
• Talking with growers and makers
• Promoting events on social media
• Staying calm under pressure on market day

• Public liability insurance for the event, and check whether your venue or council requires a specific cover amount
• Council event or temporary use approval, and check road, parking and traffic requirements for your site
• Food stallholders usually need to register or notify with the local council, so check what you need to verify from them
• A slow start: a new market can take months to build a regular crowd and reliable stallholders
• Weather risk on outdoor sites, so check whether you need a wet weather plan or covered area
• Check your state or territory rules for selling produce and for any market-specific codes or accreditation schemes

Startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on your venue, insurance, signage and promotion. These are estimates only, so get quotes for your own site and event size before you commit.

Monthly revenue is typically around $500 to $4,000 as an estimate, mostly from stallholder fees, depending on stall numbers, fee levels and how established the market is. A new market can take months to build a regular crowd.

Check public liability insurance and any cover amount your venue or council requires. Also check council event or temporary use approval, road and traffic requirements, how food stallholders register with the council, and your state or territory rules for selling produce.