How to Become a Flea Market Vendor in 4 Simple Steps

by Melissa Oaks

Flea markets offer individuals a great low-cost option to make money. You can rent a booth at a flea market for as low as $5/day. The money that you make can vary depending on the items that you sell, the competition that you have, and the demand for the items that you sell. Becoming a flea market vendor in the US is simple. This article will cover the basics of getting set up as a flea market vendor.

Step 1: Locate a Flea Market That You Want to Set Up At.

To find the local flea markets in your area, you can use your favorite search engine and do a search for “flea market directory”. Visit the flea market directory websites and find flea markets in your area. Some of the largest and most popular flea market directories are: www.keysfleamarket.com, www.fleamarketguide.com, and www.collectors.org

Once you have found some local flea markets you will want to do some research to determine which one you will want to sell at. Visit some of the local flea markets in your area, and take note of:

- Some of the products available,
- How the booths are set up,
- Amount of traffic flow (customers),
- Number of vendors,
- Booths that attract a lot of attention,
- Overall appearance and atmosphere of market, etc.

Then you will want to choose a flea market to sell at. Each flea market vendor’s needs and preferences are different. Some vendors prefer small flea markets (less competition) versus large flea markets (more traffic). When choosing a flea market, a few things to consider would be:

- Size and price of booth
- Number of vendors
- Amount of traffic
- Open air or indoor flea market
- Distance from your home

Step 2:Find Some Flea Market Products to Sell

The last thing you want to do, when becoming a flea market vendor, is to spend a lot of money on obtaining inventory. So here are some tips to obtaining flea market items for free or at low cost in your local area.

- Ask friends and/or family members for unwanted items.
- Talk to local crafters about selling their items.
- Scope out the local auctions held in your area.
- Check out the local yard sales and garage sales.

Step 3: Make Your Flea Market Business Legal

Obtain a sales tax id number and other business licenses needed. Most flea market owners will tell you where you can obtain a sales tax ID number for your area. They will also tell you which other licenses you will need (if any).

Step 4: Start Selling Your Flea Market Items

Pay the booth rental fee and set up your items for sale. Some flea markets provide you with a table. If not, you will need to bring in your own. Arrange your items neatly on the table and start selling.

Things You’ll Need to Become a Flea Market Vendor:

- A flea market to sell at.
- A few dollars to pay for your booth rental.
- Items to sell.
- A sales tax ID number and a vendor’s license (or other license).
- At least a few $1, $5, and $10 bills to make change.
- A sheet to cover your table.
- A welcoming booth and a smile.

About the Author:
Melissa Oaks provides tips, articles, courses and more for flea market vendors on her site: www.flea-market-vendor-resources.com

Read her Beginner’s Course for more start-up tips and tools.

Note to Publishers and Flea Market Owners: You may reprint this article in your newsletter or on your website as long as the article remains intact. Including the "about the author" information and active links. You can view and download all my articles on Ezine Articles.

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