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Free printable · For vendorsCraft fair vendor checklist: what to bring
Bring your booth (tent, weights, table, covering), display and price tags, payments (card reader, charged phone, cash and change), bags and business cards, paperwork (permits, sales tax ID, insurance), and comfort items (chair, water, food, sunscreen). Print the checklist below.
Updated November 15, 2026.
Craft fair and market vendor checklist
Booth
- Pop-up tent (10x10), sidewalls if it may rain
- Weights for every tent leg
- Folding tables and floor-length table covers
- Chair or stool
- Extension cord and power strip (if power is provided)
- Lights for evening or indoor shows
Display
- Risers, crates, racks or shelves
- Banner or sign with your business name
- Price tags or price signs
- Mirror (jewelry, clothing, hats)
- Samples or a display piece people can touch
Payments
- Card reader, charged and tested
- Phone, charger and battery pack
- Cash box with small bills and coins for change
- QR code or handle for payment apps
- Receipt book
Packing and selling
- Inventory, packed by category
- Bags, tissue, boxes
- Business cards and an email sign-up sheet
- Order forms for custom work
Paperwork
- Vendor acceptance email and booth number
- Sales tax or seller's permit
- Cottage food or health permit (food vendors)
- Liability insurance certificate
- Inventory and sales log
Tool kit and comfort
- Zip ties, clamps, tape, scissors, bungee cords
- Pens, markers, paper
- Trash bags, wipes, paper towels
- Water, lunch, snacks
- Sunscreen, hat, layers, rain gear
- First aid kit and hand sanitizer
The week before
- Confirm arrival time, booth number and parking with the organizer
- Practice setting up your booth once at home
- Check the weather
- Post the show on your social accounts
After the show
Write down what sold, what didn't, the weather and the crowd. Comparing shows is how you decide which fairs to return to and what to make more of.
Selling food? Check your state's cottage food rules for permits, sales caps and label wording. New to markets? Read how to become a market vendor.
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Start freeCommon questions
What do I need for my first craft fair?
A tent if outdoors, weights for each leg, a table and covering, display pieces, price tags, a way to take cards and cash with change, bags, business cards, and any permit or sales tax registration your state requires. Bring water, food and a chair for yourself.
How much inventory should I bring to a craft fair?
Organizers and experienced vendors often suggest bringing more than you expect to sell so the table looks full until close. Track what sells at each show and adjust the next time.
Do I need a permit to sell crafts at a craft fair?
Usually you need to collect sales tax, which means a seller's permit or sales tax license from your state. Some cities also require a temporary vendor or business license. Food items need the state's cottage food permit or a health permit.
Do I need insurance to sell at a craft fair?
Many shows require vendors to carry general liability insurance and name the show as additional insured. Ask the organizer before you apply.
More guides
- How much a vendor booth costsReal booth fees at farmers markets, craft fairs, state fairs and comic cons, plus booth sizes.
- Craft fair and vendor insurance costWhat vendor liability insurance costs per year and per event, and what shows ask for.
- Vendor break-even calculatorBooth fee, insurance and gas against your margin: how much you need to sell to come out ahead.
- Are craft shows worth it?How to judge a show before you pay the booth fee, and what to track after.
- How to have a successful vendor boothSetup, pricing, talking to shoppers and follow-up that turn a booth into repeat sales.
- Vendor booth ideas and displaysLayouts, displays, height, color and small touches that make a 10x10 booth stand out.
- Vendor booth lightingLighting a booth at night or at a craft show with no electricity.
- Vendor booth signs and bannersWhat your banner, price signs and payment signs should say, and what sizes work.
- Cottage food laws by statePermits, sales caps and label rules for selling homemade food in all 50 states and DC.
- Can I sell it?Permit answers for baked goods, lemonade, coffee, dog treats, crafts and more.
- Food truck permits by stateWho issues them, what they cost and how long they take.
- Find a farmers market7,000+ markets by state and city.
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