Tips for Beginning a Farmer's Market Small Business

With the economy slowly moving in a forward motion many people are still out of work or face the possibility of being laid off. For married couples, one lay off can put a family in a financial bind, but it is also a great time to consider starting your own business.

Within a few months, farmer's markets are going to start their sale season and this is the perfect time to consider a farmer's market booth as your new place of business. Income might not be completely stable and dependable, but it will not disappear with the words lay off and a pink slip, unless you choose to stop working and promoting your business.

Markets exist even in the smallest of towns and communities, but if you live in a larger city you will have a large customer base from which to work and increase your income. You can even choose to run a farmer's market booth in different places during the week according to your product and client operation.

Research farmer's markets in your area. You can call your county extension or chamber of commerce for locations. You can also find outlet through the local gardening clubs and newspaper ads regarding locations, time, and cost for a booth site. Ask about customer base and the number of people during any given time. You will need to have a good customer access in order to provide the right product for profit.

Once you are sure this is what you want to do you will need to begin with a product. Many farmer's markets today are a combination of produce, plants, and art products. Begin simple. If you have a talent for art or crafts produce enough to provide half your sales for your first market. Keep your prices reasonable. Do not over price, but keep your prices at a level that will provide a profit.

Do you want to be involved in providing a gardening product or your own produce? If you would like to grow a garden or begin with a small urban farm order your seeds early in the season. January or February are a great time to make a decision on what you are going to grow for your first season.

Choose a well liked and known produce that grows well in your zone area and is easy to grow. You can begin with producing tomatoes. Use small containers or early plant starter grow kits to plant your seeds indoors and grow early in spring until they are ready for transplanting. Save only a few for your own garden and sale the early start plants. This small ready to plant tomato plants will be one of your first products along with your art work.

If you get a local wholesale license you can order gardening supplies at a discount rate to fill out the rest of the products at your stand. As you sale out of your current produce look for suppliers willing to sale their produce to you at a discount price until your own garden is producing products for your stand.

Keep complete and honest records of investment and sales. This will help you learn what makes a profit, when your best sales are for the items you sale, and your best location at any one time. You can sale everything from starter plants for gardens to produce and even house plants and flowers. Each has it's own season from early spring to late fall and beyond.

Set up your booth in a professional manner with a good, sturdy table laid out according to product. List prices on a chalk board so customers do not have to ask. If they can see the prices they are more likely to stop and see if what you offer fits their needs.

Have your change ready when the farmer's market opens for business and catch the early customers. Make them welcome with a friendly smile along with information regarding your products and service. Give your small business a name and provide business cards with contact information. If they cannot decide on a purchase now they may decide to contact at a later date.

Present a clean product and present yourself in a professional way to represent the best of your business. You do not have to over dress, but be clean, keep your hair away from your face and if the product calls for it wear gloves when handing produce.

If you follow these tips and return to the market each week your business will grow as repeat customers continue to buy and they pass the word on to new customers about your great products, produce and friendly manner.