Community craft fair organiser

Makers and crafters pay for a table or booth. Visitors may pay a small admission fee, and a local sponsor may add some income.

Stall fees are the main income, with optional admission fees at the door. Your profit is the money left after hall rental, advertising, insurance and any helpers.

• Organizing and planning
• Dealing with makers and venues
• Local promotion and social media
• Staying calm on the day

• Event liability insurance, which many venues require; check what the venue and your insurer ask for
• If you serve food or drinks, check with your local public health unit about permits
• Check with your municipality about any event permits, signage or fire capacity rules
• Sales tax: makers may need to handle GST/HST or PST themselves, and your stall fees may need it once you pass the small supplier threshold; check with the CRA and your province
• Weather and winter travel can cut visitor numbers, so plan dates and a backup date carefully

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $500 to $3,000, depending on the venue, insurance, promotion and how many fairs you plan to run. Getting quotes for hall rental and event liability insurance will help you firm up your own figures.

Check what event liability insurance your venue and insurer require. If you serve food or drinks, ask your local public health unit about permits. Ask your municipality about event permits, signage and fire capacity rules, and check sales tax with the CRA and your province.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue of typically around $300 to $3,000, depending on stall numbers, admission fees and sponsors. The time needed is estimated at a minimum of about 6 hours a week, so it can work part-time.