Starting a small flea market business can take very little money or it can take quite a bit, depending on what products you wish to sell at the flea market. Most flea markets are open from Thursday through Sunday, and you could be at your stall all or any of those days. If there is more than one flea market in your area, check the traffic at all of them, choosing the best one. If two are good, you can set up for two days at one, then two days at the other, depending on how many days each flea market is open.
Step 1
Procure a sales tax certificate from the state. In order to sell items, you must pay tax into the state, so you will need a certificate. Most flea markets will not allow you to set up without a sales tax certificate.
Step 2
Contact each flea market where you would like to display your items. Ask operators if they have any other requirements other than the sales tax certificate. If so, obtain any other certificates or licenses that particular flea market requires. You will also need to find out what the daily fee is to set up on property. Usually, you can pay per weekend or yearly.
Step 3
Decide what products you want to sell at the flea market. Find a wholesaler local to you to provide you with the products. You can also order products from many wholesalers online, but many require a minimum order of $200 or more. Order the products you wish to sell, and have them delivered to your home.
Step 4
Go through the order, making sure you received everything you ordered and that nothing is broken or otherwise defective. Set the prices you wish to sell each item for and mark each item. You can purchase string tags or you can purchase a pricing gun from any big box office supply store so you can mark the prices. Repack the inventory in such a way that it will not take you a long time to set up once you get to your stall at the flea market.
Step 5
Purchase a cash register. These are also available at most big box office supply stores. Program the register for your state and county's sales tax rates. You will have to check with your state's department of revenue. Some states have a sales tax, and the county may have a sales tax on top of it, but all collected sales tax is generally turned into the state's department of revenue.
Step 6
Arrive as early as allowable at the flea market to set up. Set up your wares and cash register table. Make sure you have a couple hundred dollars in change, as you will not be able to leave to get more change, unless you have a second person helping you, or unless you want to close your booth.
Skill: Moderately Easy
Keyword: flea market
