Car boot sales and pop-up sales
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.
- To startR0 to R500
- First randabout 10 days
- WhereIn person
- Effort Easy to start
Is this for you?
Best for
People with a car and a cupboard of things to clear, who want quick cash and like a bargain hunt.
In South Africa: Good in metros and towns.
What you need
- A phone is enough to start
- Works on everyday data
- No camera needed
- No cold selling
- At least 3 hours a week · age 18+
The money
What it can earn
- Pocket money
- A top-up
- A second income
- Can become a full income
This is usually pocket money: helpful, but rarely enough to live on by itself.
What people charge
No reliable SA figure yet
Prices depend on what you sell. Pitch fees are set by each organiser, so ask before you book.
Costs to plan for
- Start-up
- R0 to R500
- Every month
- Pitch fee per sale day (set by each organiser), fuel.
- Payment fees
- Mostly cash; a QR code or card machine helps.
- Margin
- Items from your own home cost nothing; bought-in bargains need a clear margin.
How it is paid: Cash for each item sold. Our viability score for it: 55 out of 100 (how we score).
How to start
Test it cheaply Before you spend
- Collect 30 items you will not miss
- Find two car boot or pop-up sales within 30 minutes of you
- Success signal: R500 or more on your first day
First week Days 1 to 7
- Sort your home and pick 30 items to sell
- Clean them and price each one with a sticker
- Find the next car boot or pop-up sale and ask the pitch fee
- Pack a float of small change and bags
First month Days 8 to 30
- Do your first sale day and note what sold first
- Bundle leftovers and try them on Facebook Marketplace
- Ask friends and family for things they want gone
By three months Days 31 to 90
- Decide whether to source stock (thrift and auctions) or stop when your cupboard is clear
- If sourcing, track cost and selling price for every item
One sale day is enough for your first rands. First income usually takes 3 to 30 days. A day-by-day version for your situation is in the full plan.
Car boot sales and pop-up sales: your step-by-step start
20 short lessons with scripts, templates and rand prices to copy. R149 once-off, and the first lesson is free.
See what is insideCustomers and demand
Who pays
Bargain hunters, collectors and families looking for cheap household goods.
Turns unused things into cash, and gives buyers cheap second-hand goods.
Is there demand?
Car boot sales and school or church pop-up sales run in most cities and towns. We could not find a published list of pitch fees we trust, so check with each organiser.
Weekend car boot salesSchool and church fundraisersCommunity pop-up salesFacebook events in your area
Getting customers
Arrive early, lay things out neatly, price everything and keep bundles for the end of the day.
In-person networkingWord of mouth and referrals
Risks and rules
Watch out for
- Running out of things to sell: this is a quick cash source unless you start sourcing
- Haggling all day can be tiring
- Carrying cash: bank it the same day
Competition: Moderate. Clean, sorted and fairly priced goods sell first.
Room to grow: Low on its own. Many sellers move on to sourcing stock and selling online too.
Legal and tax in South Africa
- Sell only things you own and describe them honestly.
- Buying in to resell regularly is a business: keep records.
- Register for income tax with SARS once you earn above the tax threshold, and keep a record of every sale and every cost (stock, materials, transport and fees are business costs).
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start car boot sales and pop-up sales in South Africa?
Our research puts start-up costs at about R0 to R500. Recurring costs: Pitch fee per sale day (set by each organiser), fuel.
How long until the first income?
Typically about 10 days, and between 3 and 30 days. One sale day is enough for your first rands.
Can I do it with only a phone?
Yes, a smartphone is enough to start, although a laptop helps as you grow.
What about tax and legal rules?
Sell only things you own and describe them honestly. Buying in to resell regularly is a business: keep records. Register for income tax with SARS once you earn above the tax threshold, and keep a record of every sale and every cost (stock, materials, transport and fees are business costs).
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Researched by the Earn Path team · editorial policy