Variety stall at local markets

Market shoppers looking for bargains, local households and people buying small gifts or seasonal items.

You buy stock cheaply in bulk and sell at a mark-up. Takings depend on the pitch, the day, the weather and how well your range matches what shoppers want.

• Spotting bargain stock
• Friendly selling face to face
• Setting up and packing down efficiently
• Handling cash and keeping simple records

• Street trading licence or consent if you trade on a council-run street market, check with your council
• Public liability insurance, which many market organisers ask for
• Product safety and labelling rules for items like toys and electricals, check trading standards guidance
• Weather and early starts can affect both takings and how much you enjoy the work
• Somewhere dry to store stock, and a vehicle for moving it

Startup costs are typically around £500 to £3,000, depending on the stock you buy and the equipment you need. These are estimates, so keep early stock orders small while you test what sells at your markets.

Monthly revenue is typically around £600 to £3,000, depending on which markets you trade at, the stock you choose and how many hours you work. This is revenue rather than profit, so allow for stock and pitch costs.

Check whether you need a street trading licence or consent if you trade on a council-run street market, and ask your council. Also check public liability insurance, which many organisers ask for, and trading standards guidance on product safety and labelling.