Estimated Foot Traffic
Select your market size or enter a custom number.
💡 Pro Tip: Ask the market organizer for foot traffic estimates. If unknown, count vendor booths — multiply by 30–50 for a rough estimate.
Conversion Rate
What percentage of foot traffic will buy from your booth?
💡 Pro Tip: New vendors typically convert 2–5%. Established vendors with signage and samples hit 5–10%. Strong brands with repeat customers can see 10–15%+.
Units Per Customer
How many items does each customer typically buy?
💡 Pro Tip: Single-item vendors average 1.2–1.5 units. Offering bundles or variety (e.g., "3 for $12") can push this to 2–3. Price anchoring with a multi-pack deal works wonders!
Average Selling Price
The average price per unit across your products.
💡 Pro Tip: Cottage food best sellers hit the $5–$15 sweet spot. Under $5 feels impulse-friendly; over $15 needs premium packaging and storytelling. Always price in whole dollars — it speeds up transactions.
Costs & Profit Margin
Track your costs to understand profitability.
Ingredients + packaging + labor per item
Market stall rental, setup fees, permits
Display materials, samples, signage, transportation
💡 Pro Tip: Most successful cottage food vendors target 60–70% profit margins (selling at 3–4x cost). Factor in ALL costs: ingredients, packaging, labels, samples, gas, booth fees. Track these religiously to find your break-even point.
Safety Buffer
Extra inventory to prepare beyond the estimate.
💡 Pro Tip: Perishables (baked goods, jams): keep buffer low (5–15%) to minimize waste. Shelf-stable items (honey, granola, sauces): go higher (25–40%) since leftovers sell next time. New vendors: lean toward 20–30% until you learn your market.
Product Mix (Optional)
Break down your total units by product. Ratios should add to 100%.
💡 Pro Tip: Lead with 1–2 hero products (50–60% of inventory). Fill out with 2–3 supporting items. Having a low-cost impulse item ($2–$4) captures browsers who weren't planning to buy.
Your Prep Plan
Product Breakdown
Market Day Success Tips
Arrive Early & Set Up Smart — Position best sellers at eye level. Use vertical displays to maximize table space and create visual appeal from 10 feet away.
Offer Samples — Free samples can boost conversion by 30–60%. Cut costs by offering quarter-size portions. Always have hand sanitizer visible.
Accept Cards & Digital Pay — Vendors accepting cards see 20–30% higher sales. Square, Venmo, and Zelle are market favorites.
Bring Change for $20s — Start with at least $50–$75 in small bills and coins. Nothing kills a sale faster than "sorry, no change."
Track Everything — Log what you brought, what sold, and what time items moved. This data is gold for your next market. Adjust this calculator based on real numbers!