Candy stall at markets and seasonal events

Market visitors, families at events, tourists and people buying gifts around holidays.

Retail sales at the stall, with stronger sales at big events and during seasonal peaks such as Christmas and Halloween.

• Friendly selling face to face
• Display and presentation
• Planning stock and event schedules

• Vendor permits and market rules, and whether your local public health unit requires a food permit even for prepackaged goods
• Outdoor selling in cold, rain or heat, which affects both sales and chocolate quality
• Stall fees at big events can be high, so check they pay off before booking
• Allergen and bilingual labelling rules for packaged products
• Commercial general liability insurance, which many markets ask to see
• Sales concentrated in a few months, so budget for quiet periods

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on your tent, displays, stock and any stall fees. Monthly revenue is estimated at around $1,000 to $6,000, depending on the events you book and the season.

Check vendor permits and market rules, and whether your local public health unit requires a food permit even for prepackaged goods. Also check allergen and bilingual labelling rules, and commercial general liability insurance, which many markets ask to see.

Sales tend to be concentrated in a few months, so budget for quiet periods. The estimate is at least about 10 hours a week. Check that big-event stall fees pay off before booking, and plan for cold, rain or heat.