7 Hidden Costs of Your First Year at a Farmers Market

Cause number one.

The ramp up.

This is the cost that nobody budgets for.

You show up at a farmer's market with great product, a clean display, a good attitude, and nobody shows up.

Neil Robinson, a farmer that I talked to in New Zealand, told me that $400 was a good day for his first 15 weeks.

15 weeks of showing up, $400 before the needle even moved.

Michael Russo made $750 at his market, but it was huge.

So you can have a big range in terms of what you might make at a farmer's market.

But the pattern is consistent.

It will take time.

And time is money you're not making yet.

Michael Bell, a farmer who I've talked to in the past, told me the first thing every new farmer he talks to will say is, hey, I want to go to the farmer's market.

And his response is always the same.

Just because you show up at a farmer's market doesn't mean more customers magically appear.

You're splitting the existing pie.

It's easy to get into, which means everybody does it, which means you're competing against everyone.

The men.

If your target is $800 a week, but you average $400 for the first 15 or 20 weeks, that's $6,000 in lost revenue against your goal.

That's not going to be on your startup budget.

The move.

Before you commit to any market, visit for four consecutive weeks as a shopper.

Count the veg vendors.

Watch who has lines.

Ask yourself honestly whether this market has room for you.

or whether you're showing up at a market to split the existing pie.