Register your business
Register as a sole trader with HMRC or set up a limited company before you start trading.
Guide hub
Starting out as an event trader
Pick a product that sells well at a stall, register your business, get insurance in place and book a small number of pitches to test demand before you invest in a full setup. These guides walk through each step.
JM
Written by Jason MaceSpecialist in entrepreneurship and payments
The short answersSet up Cover Test Costs
Four first steps for new event traders
Get insurance first
Organisers usually ask to see public liability insurance before they confirm a pitch, so arrange it early.
Try a few pitches
Book two or three pitches with a small range to learn what sells before you buy more stock and kit.
Know your break-even
Add up pitch fees, stock, fuel and your time per event so you know how much you need to sell.
The guides
Every guide on starting out
How to start trading at events
The steps from idea to first pitch, in the order most new traders take them.
How to find events and markets
Where to look for markets, fairs and festivals, and how to judge which ones are worth the pitch fee.
Choosing what to sell at events
What makes a product work at a stall, and how to test an idea before you commit.
Sole trader or limited company?
The main differences between the two for a new event trader.
Your first market day checklist
What to bring, when to arrive and what to do before the doors open.
How much does it cost to start trading?
The items to price up before your first pitch, from stock and kit to insurance.
What is a market stall?
The parts of a stall, where stalls operate and what a trader needs to know first.
Types of market stall
Street markets, farmers' markets, craft fairs, festivals and indoor units, and how to choose.
How to get a market stall
Finding the market, contacting the organiser, preparing paperwork and booking a casual pitch.
How to set up a market stall
A step-by-step set-up from arrival to pack-down.
How much does a market stall cost?
The cost components to add up, from pitch fee and stock to insurance, payments and storage.
Common questions
Starting out: frequently asked questions
Do I need to register as self-employed to trade at events?
If you trade as an individual you normally register as a sole trader with HMRC. GOV.UK sets out the current rules on when to register, so check it before your first sale.
Should I be a sole trader or a limited company?
A sole trader is simpler to set up and run. A limited company keeps the business separate from you personally and brings more admin. Many traders start as sole traders, and an accountant can advise on the right time to change.
What should I sell at events?
Choose products with a clear, quick appeal, a price that suits an impulse purchase and a size that fits a small pitch. Walk the events you plan to attend and note what sells.
Can I start trading at weekends alongside a job?
Yes, many traders begin this way. You still report your trading income to HMRC, so register as required.
How much money do I need to start?
It depends on your product and kit. Budget for stock, pitch fees, insurance, a gazebo and table, and a way to take payment. The cost guide lists the items to price up.
From Gala Tent
Gazebos built for regular pitches
Once a pitch is confirmed, the stall needs to fit it. Gala Tent makes market stall gazebos for traders who set up week after week.
More from the Gala family
Useful pages on our sister sites
Event Industry Trader is published by Gala Tent. These pages from Gala Tent and the wider Gala group go further on the kit, branding and payments covered here.
- Gala Tent
How to start a market stall
Kit, pitch and first-day set up from a company that supplies traders every week.
- Gala Tent
Gazebos and kit for market traders
What regular traders use to set up and pack down quickly.
- Gala Graphics
Branding guide for market traders
What to print first and where it pays back.
Sources
Where to check the rules
Rules vary by council and by event. Confirm requirements with the organiser and the relevant authority before you act.