Candy stand at markets and events

Market and event visitors, families, and gift shoppers at holiday fairs.

You sell by weight, by bag or by gift box. Event days can be strong, so your income depends on the number of events you book.

• Friendly selling to passing customers
• Display and signage
• Planning stock and event schedules

• Temporary food vendor permits, which may be needed per event or per county, so check locally
• Sales tax registration, and whether your state requires you to collect tax at events
• General liability insurance, which many markets require as a condition of entry
• Heat melting chocolate in summer, so plan storage and shade
• Scales used to sell by weight may need to be certified, so check with your state weights and measures office

Estimates put startup costs typically around $2,000 to $8,000, depending on your stall setup, stock and display. Many markets require general liability insurance as a condition of entry, so check that too.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on how many events you attend and the season. Plan storage and shade, since heat can melt chocolate in summer.

Check whether temporary food vendor permits are needed per event or per county. Also check state sales tax registration and collection at events, and whether scales used to sell by weight need certification through your state weights and measures office.