Sweet stall at markets and events

Market shoppers, families at events, visitors and people buying small gifts.

You sell sweets by weight or in bags at a mark-up on wholesale cost. Busy event days and Christmas markets can bring much of your income.

• Friendly selling
• Setting up an eye-catching display
• Handling cash and card payments
• Planning stock for each event

• Food business registration with the council where you are based, check what applies
• Street trading consent may be needed for some pitches, check with the council or organiser
• Public liability insurance, which most markets and event organisers ask to see
• Scales used to sell by weight generally need to be approved for trade use, check the rules
• Allergen information and labelling for loose and pre-packed sweets
• Weather, melting chocolate in warm spells and lugging stock and kit around

Startup costs are typically around £800 to £4,000, depending on your stall setup, jars, scales and opening stock. These are estimates, so price up your own kit and insurance before committing to a first market or event.

Monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £2,500, depending on how many markets and events you do and how busy they are. That is revenue rather than profit, so stock and running costs come out of it.

Check food business registration with your local council, whether street trading consent applies to your pitches, and that you have public liability insurance. Also check the rules on trade-approved scales for selling by weight, and allergen labelling for loose and pre-packed sweets.