Flea Market Sales Tips with notes on Cost and Tax

1. To determine how much you should charge for each item, take into account how much the item cost you, tax, and shipping charges, then multiply that total 2 to 3 times for sales to your customers.
2. Before you set up your booth, place price tags on each and every piece of merchandise you intend to sell.
3. If you are selling items in a state that requires you to charge sales tax at a flea market, then be sure to note on each price tag that there is “tax included.”
4. Some states require you to obtain a business license with tax ID and display it in your booth. They may also require you to charge state and/or federal income tax, but you can pass that cost along to your customers as noted above. Usually they will offer temporary licenses for each time you set up a booth at a flea market, but some will require you to pay an annual license tax amount.
5. Make a checklist of items you need to bring for the business side. We recommend:

pens and markers

price tags

scissors

scotch tape

stapler

notebook

reference table of sales tax

calculator or adding machine

an extra roll of receipt tape

cash box with adequate change and smaller bills