Farmers market produce stand

Local households, home cooks and shoppers who want fresh, seasonal produce.

You buy at wholesale prices and sell at a markup, by weight or by the item. Bundles such as a mixed box or a 'soup pack' can raise the average sale.

• Judging produce quality and freshness
• Friendly customer service
• Pricing and handling cash and card payments
• Early mornings and lifting

• A business license, seller's permit or sales tax registration is commonly needed before trading (some states exempt unprocessed produce from sales tax, but rules vary), so confirm with your state and county
• Check whether the market requires general liability insurance and a certificate naming them
• If you resell produce you did not grow, some markets limit or separate resellers from growers, so ask before applying
• Scale must be certified legal for trade in many states, check with your state's weights and measures office
• Spoilage risk: unsold produce loses value fast, so start with small orders

Startup costs are typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your stall setup, first produce orders and market fees. These are estimates only. Starting with small orders can help limit spoilage.

Monthly revenue is typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on how many markets you attend, the produce you sell and local demand. This is revenue before produce costs and fees, and the figures are estimates only.

A business license, seller's permit or sales tax registration is commonly needed, but rules vary, so confirm with your state and county. Also check the market's insurance requirements, limits on resellers, and whether your scale must be certified.