Pottery market stall

Market visitors, tourists and locals buying gifts or something for their own home.

You earn the margin between your buying price and the shelf price. Busy markets and festive seasons bring the best sales, and a mailing list helps bring buyers back.

• Friendly selling and chatting to customers
• Eye-catching display and styling
• Handling stock carefully and keeping simple records

• Market stall fees and application rules vary, so check with each market organiser
• Public liability insurance, which many markets require
• Fragile stock: breakages on busy days and in transit
• Weather exposure and heavy lifting when setting up and packing down
• Check whether you need to register for GST and how to take card payments

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,500 to $6,000, depending on how much stock you buy, how you set up your stall and which markets you choose. Include stall fees and insurance when you work out your own budget.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $600 to $3,500, depending on the markets you attend, your range of stock and how many hours you trade. That is revenue, not profit, so allow for stock, stall fees and other costs.

Check each market organiser's stall fees and application rules, whether you need public liability insurance (many markets require it), how you will handle breakages of fragile stock, and whether you need to register for GST and how to take card payments.