| Have you ever grown tired of working for someone | | | | afford more accommodating transportation and |
| else and thought about starting your own business and | | | | storage for your merchandise. Most vendors own |
| going to work for yourself? Many people have but | | | | large cargo vans and tow enclosed trailers, as they |
| give up on the idea after finding out how complicated | | | | not only have merchandise but also displays, awnings, |
| or expensive it can be to get their own endeavor off | | | | tables, etc. |
| the ground. Are you are one of those who is about to | | | | Once you get to a show, you will need a place to |
| give up on making money on your own because you | | | | display your wares. A display can range from a simple |
| can't get your hands on the start up funding you need | | | | folding table and chair to elaborate glass cases and |
| or because you don't have the skills or education that | | | | shelving. Just as with your merchandise, you can start |
| running your own show often takes? Here's some | | | | with what you already have available and work up to |
| good news: flea markets and swap meets may just | | | | the beautiful show-stopping mini-universe of your own. |
| hold the answer for you. | | | | As your business grows and you gain experience you |
| There are many benefits of selling at flea markets and | | | | will learn what types of displays draw the best crowds |
| swap meets. The best one for those who are not | | | | and sales and you will be more able to buy what is |
| able to leave full time jobs is that you can keep your | | | | needed as you learn. You can go out and buy some |
| day job while starting up your business on weekends. | | | | elaborate cases to start with, but you may find out |
| Flea markets and swap meets are, for the most part, | | | | that a less expensive display would have worked |
| weekend events. Many vendors began small, put most | | | | better. Remember - you don't need to spend a lot of |
| or all of the profit back into their new business by | | | | cash to start out. Give yourself time to learn the ropes |
| purchasing additional merchandise and let it build to the | | | | before you spend on items that seemed like a good |
| point where they are earning more than their full-time | | | | idea but turn out not to be. And keep in mind |
| job during the week. | | | | everything must be portable. |
| Once your profits are high enough you might have fun | | | | Other than your merchandise, your only other costs will |
| telling your boss what he can do with the job, but you | | | | be space rent and a permit, but they are quite |
| have plenty of time to increase your earnings to a | | | | affordable. |
| point that you can do that safely before taking the | | | | You will need to pay for your booth rental. How much |
| plunge. You can continue to make full time earnings | | | | you will need to pay will vary a bit from show to show. |
| working just weekends once you have liberated | | | | You can expect to spend a very low end of $5.00 |
| yourself, or you might choose to continue working | | | | upward to $50.00 for a booth. If you don't have a lot |
| while supplementing your income on weekends. It's | | | | of money to place on a booth, you will simply want to |
| more than possible to double your income. | | | | find a market that has a booth fee that you can |
| There are only a few things you need to start your | | | | afford. A high fee doesn't need to put you out of the |
| business as a flea market vendor. | | | | running. There will always be another flea market or |
| The first thing a flea market vendor needs is | | | | swap meet right down the road. |
| merchandise to sell. How much money do you have to | | | | Many people work without them but if you are going |
| buy merchandise? If you can make a bit of investment, | | | | to be in business you really should get a state resale |
| that's great, but a large investment is not necessary to | | | | license (tax permit). Uncle Sam will want his cut, which |
| start. I began with only $200. | | | | is the sales tax on the items you sell. Essentially, when |
| If you don't have the money, you can start by selling | | | | you sell something, the state wants you to also collect |
| items you already have around the house or can get | | | | the sales tax from the customer at that time and then |
| free from "free" ads around the Internet or in your local | | | | send it to the state once every three months. You can |
| paper. You can then use the proceeds from those | | | | get your permit through your local Tax Revenue |
| items to start buying merchandise from other sources | | | | Office. |
| for your booth. As your profits grow, so will your | | | | The price will vary from state to state. In some it is as |
| inventory and the funds you can keep for yourself as | | | | little as $12.00 per year and they hand you the permit |
| well. | | | | within minutes after filling out the short application. |
| You will need a place to store your merchandise | | | | Some states will mail the permit to you and it could |
| during the week when you are not selling. Do you | | | | take as long as six weeks. Certain states require a |
| have a garage or shed? What about a spare room or | | | | refundable deposit, but that is the exception rather than |
| a closet? How much space you will need will be | | | | the rule. To find out how your state does it, contact |
| determined by what line of goods you choose to sell | | | | the state taxation office/department of revenue. |
| and how much of it you will need to keep stocked. Will | | | | Many flea markets will not require you to have your |
| you be able to store a lot of large items or will you | | | | own permit and will allow you to sell using theirs, and |
| need to stock a line of smaller goods? You might have | | | | you submit the tax money to them at the end of each |
| a lot of space to store your goods when you are | | | | day and they send it to the state. |
| selling locally but if you decide to travel to events you | | | | Starting and operating your own successful flea |
| will have to be able to store your goods at that | | | | market or swap meet business is delightfully |
| location. That brings us to transportation. | | | | inexpensive and uncomplicated. But don't let the ease |
| You will need a way to transport your goods. If you | | | | of set-up make you think there is no money in it. Many |
| have limited transportation, you will want to stock | | | | of the people you see selling their wares at flea |
| smaller goods to begin with. Jewelry takes very little | | | | markets and swap meets are making more working |
| space. You might already have a trailer that will fit | | | | just on weekends than most people do working |
| plenty of stock and will be suitable for storing goods on | | | | 40-hour weeks for someone else. Rather than |
| the road as well. Consider your transportation before | | | | working for a paycheck and making someone else |
| buying a lot of merchandise that will become a | | | | rich, starting your own business, especially this type of |
| problem getting to and from meets. | | | | business, is one way to put yourself on the fast track |
| As your business and profits grow, you will be able to | | | | toward financial success. |