1. Quiz
  2. Your result
  3. Your plan
  4. Your guide

Step-by-step guide

Car boot sales and pop-up sales: your step-by-step start

Sell household items, clothes, books and bits you no longer need, or bargains you find, from the boot of a car at weekend car boot sales and community pop-up sales.

  • 20 lessons
  • 5 modules
  • About 1 hour
  • First lesson free

Is this guide for you?

Good fit if

  • People with a car and a cupboard of things to clear, who want quick cash and like a bargain hunt.

Think twice if

  • You have no way to get to customers or move your kit.

Honest expectations

  • First income usually takes about 10 days.
  • This is usually pocket money: helpful, but rarely enough to live on by itself.
  • The main risk to plan for: running out of things to sell: this is a quick cash source unless you start sourcing.

What is inside

  1. Module 1

    Is this right for you?

    What it involves, who pays, and honest expectations.

    1. How car boot sales and pop-up sales worksFree · 5 min
    2. Honest expectations4 min (in the full guide)
  2. Module 2

    Set up and price

    What you need and what to charge.

    1. Your startup kit, costs and skills5 min (in the full guide)
    2. Pricing and getting paid5 min (in the full guide)
    3. Your numbers: a worked example in rands5 min (in the full guide)
  3. Module 3

    Your first week

    The first steps, in order.

    1. Your first week, step by step6 min (in the full guide)
    2. Week one, step 2: Clean them and price each one with a sticker3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Week one, step 3: Find the next car boot or pop-up sale and ask the pitch fee3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Week one, step 4: Aim for pack a float of small change and bags3 min (in the full guide)
    5. Finding your first customers: who to message5 min (in the full guide)
    6. Messages to copy: your first customers5 min (in the full guide)
  4. Module 4

    Your first month

    A routine that brings in customers.

    1. Your first 30 days: build a routine4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Month one, task 1: Do your first sale day and note what sold first3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Month one, task 2: Bundle leftovers and try them on Facebook Marketplace3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Month one, task 3: Ask friends and family for things they want gone3 min (in the full guide)
  5. Module 5

    Months two and three

    Repeat what works, grow and stay safe.

    1. Days 31 to 90: repeat what works and grow4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Months two and three, task 1: Decide whether to source stock (thrift and auctions) or stop when your cupboard is clear3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Months two and three, task 2: Aim for if sourcing, track cost and selling price for every item3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Getting paid safely and spotting scams4 min (in the full guide)
    5. Risks, rules, tax and staying safe5 min (in the full guide)

What it costs to start

R0 to R500 to get started, from our research

What you will use:

  • Folding table
  • Price stickers
  • Cash float and bags
  • Phone with a QR payment app

Prices change and differ by area, so check two places near you before you buy.

Try it before you buy

Lesson one is free. If it helps, the whole guide is R149 once-off.

Start the free lesson

Reviewed 24 October 2026 by the Earn Path team. Next review due 24 October 2027.