Paan stall for events and festivals

Wedding hosts and event organizers who book you, plus festival and market visitors who pay per paan.

Flat fee or per-guest price for private events, and per-paan sales at markets and festivals. Weekends and festival seasons bring most of the income.

• Hands-on food preparation
• Showmanship and friendly service
• Event planning and timing
• Packing and transporting fresh ingredients

• Temporary food permits are often needed per event, and rules vary by province and municipality
• Check Health Canada and CFIA rules on areca nut (supari) and on importing betel leaves before choosing ingredients
• Tobacco-containing paan falls under tobacco rules, so check requirements or offer tobacco-free paan only
• Commercial general liability insurance, which many events and markets ask to see
• Winter slows outdoor markets, so plan for indoor venues and festival bookings
• Keep leaves and fillings fresh and stored safely during transport and long events

Estimates are typically around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on your portable counter, ingredients and equipment. A stall avoids a shop lease, which keeps the startup cost lower than a storefront.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $6,000, depending on how many weddings, festivals and markets you book. Estimates suggest at least about 10 hours a week, and winter can slow outdoor markets.

Check whether temporary food permits are needed per event, as rules vary by province and municipality. Also check Health Canada and CFIA rules on areca nut and betel leaf imports, tobacco rules, and event insurance requirements.