Start a seasonal souvenir market stall

Tourists and festival visitors, plus locals shopping for gifts.

You sell stock at a mark-up and pay a stall fee or a share of sales. A lower fixed cost than a shop, but income is limited to event days and good weather.

• Friendly selling face to face
• Product sourcing
• Setting up an attractive display
• Handling cash and card payments

• Many markets and festivals require vendor applications, so book early
• Check whether your municipality requires a vendor or business licence for street or event sales
• Commercial general liability insurance, often required by event organizers
• Summer income may need to cover the whole year, and bad weather can wipe out a day
• Collect and remit GST/HST and any provincial sales tax once required, and check your province's rules
• Check that products do not copy trademarked designs or Indigenous art without permission

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on your stall setup, display and opening stock. Summer income may need to cover the whole year, so think about how you will manage the quieter months.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on the markets you book, your products and the weather. Bad weather can wipe out a day, so check how many events you can realistically attend.

Check whether markets and festivals require vendor applications, and book early. Also check whether your municipality requires a vendor or business licence, whether organizers require commercial general liability insurance, GST/HST and provincial sales tax rules, and that products do not copy trademarked designs or Indigenous art.