Markets and trading

Selling at craft, flea and weekend markets

Rent a table at a craft, flea or weekend market and sell goods you make or buy in, face to face, with a card machine and a WhatsApp catalogue for repeat buyers.

Some evidenceLast checked 24 Oct 2026

See how this fits you, freeAbout 6 minutes, no sign-up.

Is this for you?

Best for

People who enjoy chatting to shoppers, can stand for a day and have a product people pick up and buy on the spot.

In South Africa: Works in every province; tourist towns and metros have the most markets.

What you need

  • A phone is enough to start
  • Works on everyday data
  • No camera needed
  • No cold selling
  • At least 6 hours a week · age 18+

The money

What it can earn

  1. Pocket money
  2. A top-up
  3. A second income
  4. Can become a full income

Part time, most people earn a modest top-up from this. Treat bigger numbers you see online with care.

What people charge

R170 to R550 per stall per day

Published stall fees at the markets we checked: about R170 to R550 a day (Hoedspruit, Field Market, Cedar Market). Takings per day are not published, so we do not model monthly income.

Costs to plan for

Start-up
R300 to R3 000
Every month
Stall fee for every market day (about R170 to R550 at the markets we checked), stock, transport, a gazebo or table cloth, card fees.
Payment fees
Cash, SnapScan or Zapper, Yoco card machine 2.30% excl. VAT.
Margin
Depends on your goods. The stall fee is a fixed cost, so work out how many items you must sell just to cover it.

How it is paid: Margin on every item sold on the day, plus repeat orders on WhatsApp afterwards. Our viability score for it: 55 out of 100 (how we score).

How to start

  1. Test it cheaply Before you spend

    • Visit two markets as a shopper and note what sells, prices and how busy it is
    • Work out how many items you must sell to cover the stall fee and transport
    • Success signal: you cover your costs on your first day and three people ask for your number

  2. First week Days 1 to 7

    • List three markets within an hour of you with their stall fees and application rules
    • Photograph your products and a mock-up of your table in daylight
    • Price every item and print small price tags
    • Set up a WhatsApp Business catalogue and print cards with your number

  3. First month Days 8 to 30

    • Apply to two markets and trade at the first one
    • Keep a sales sheet: what sold, at what price, what people asked for
    • Take a card machine so you never lose a sale for lack of cash

  4. By three months Days 31 to 90

    • Keep the market that pays best and drop the slowest
    • Add the three items people asked for most
    • Start taking WhatsApp orders between markets

Your first sales come on your first market day. Getting a stall at a busy market can take a few weeks. First income usually takes 7 to 60 days. A day-by-day version for your situation is in the full plan.

Step-by-step guide

Selling at craft, flea and weekend markets: your step-by-step start

21 short lessons with scripts, templates and rand prices to copy. R149 once-off, and the first lesson is free.

See what is inside

Customers and demand

Who pays

Weekend shoppers, families, tourists and gift buyers looking for something local.

A fun place to find gifts and local goods that are not in the malls.

Is there demand?

SA markets publish stall fees of about R170 to R550 a day (Hoedspruit, Field Market, Cedar Market), which shows a steady supply of paying traders. Market organisers choose traders, so popular markets have waiting lists. We found no reliable data on what a typical trader takes on a day.

Neighbourhood Saturday marketsSchool and church fairsCraft markets in tourist townsNight marketsFestive season pop-ups

Getting customers

Apply to markets with good photos of your table, then hand every buyer a card with your WhatsApp number so they can order again.

In-person networkingWord of mouth and referralsDirect messagesResponding to enquiries

Risks and rules

Watch out for

  • A quiet or rainy day can mean you do not cover your stall fee: visit as a shopper first
  • Stock that does not sell ties up cash
  • Carrying cash: use a card machine and bank the cash quickly

Competition: Moderate to high. Markets limit how many traders sell the same thing, which helps once you are in.

Room to grow: Grows with more market days, a second person on the stall, or selling to the same buyers on WhatsApp.

Legal and tax in South Africa

  • Market organisers set their own rules (insurance, gazebo weights, food permits for food traders).
  • Describe goods honestly under the Consumer Protection Act.
  • 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 selling at craft, flea and weekend markets in South Africa?

Our research puts start-up costs at about R300 to R3 000. Recurring costs: Stall fee for every market day (about R170 to R550 at the markets we checked), stock, transport, a gazebo or table cloth, card fees.

How long until the first income?

Typically about 21 days, and between 7 and 60 days. Your first sales come on your first market day. Getting a stall at a busy market can take a few weeks.

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?

Market organisers set their own rules (insurance, gazebo weights, food permits for food traders). Describe goods honestly under the Consumer Protection Act. 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).

Sources (4)

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Researched by the Earn Path team · editorial policy