Getting Ready for a Holiday Craft Fair: A Seller’s Checklist
From early November through mid-December, church halls, school gyms and community centers fill with holiday craft fairs. Shoppers come looking for handmade gifts: knitted scarves, wreaths, jams, ornaments, pottery, quilted table runners.
If you make things, a booth at one of these fairs can be a friendly way to sell. Many fairs fill their spots well ahead of time, so now is a good time to plan. This checklist will help.
Step 1: Find the right fair
Start close to home. Look at church bulletins, library and community center boards, and your local newspaper’s events listings. Ask friends who craft where they sell.
When you find one, ask the organizer:
- How much is a table or booth, and what is included (table, chairs, electricity)?
- Is it indoors or outdoors?
- What are the setup and teardown times?
- Do they handle any sales tax paperwork for vendors?
That last question matters more than many people expect.
Step 2: Check the sales tax rules for your state
This is the step new sellers most often miss. According to a state-by-state guide from the tax company Avalara, most states require craft fair sellers to register with the state and collect sales tax, even if they only sell at a few events.
The details vary a great deal:
- Some states, such as Ohio, Pennsylvania and Utah, use special temporary or “transient” vendor licenses.
- Some states have thresholds. Avalara notes that California requires registration after three or more taxable sales in 12 months, and Wisconsin after $1,000 in taxable sales in a year.
- Missouri has an exemption for some sellers aged 65 or older with limited handicraft income.
- Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon have no statewide sales tax, though local rules may still apply.
Because rules change, call or visit the website of your state’s department of revenue before the fair. Ask your fair organizer too. In some states they help with this.
Step 3: Price your work
Pricing handmade items is hard for almost everyone. A simple approach:
- Add up the cost of your materials for one item.
- Estimate how long one item takes you.
- Decide what your time is worth to you, even if it is modest.
- Look at what similar items sell for at other fairs or online.
Avoid pricing so low that you resent the work. Shoppers at craft fairs often expect to pay more for handmade gifts than for store-bought ones.
Put a clear price on every item. Many shoppers will not ask.
Step 4: Decide how you will take payment
Bring cash for making change: plenty of $1 and $5 bills and some coins if your prices are not whole dollars.
Many shoppers now prefer to pay by card. A small card reader that connects to your phone is one option. As of October 2026, Square’s free plan charges 2.6% plus 15 cents for each in-person card payment, according to its pricing page, and its hardware starts at $59. Other companies offer similar readers, so compare before you buy.
On a $20 sale, that Square fee would be 67 cents. Keep that in mind when you set prices.
Practice taking a payment at home before the fair, and charge your phone and reader the night before.
Step 5: Pack your booth kit
A sturdy plastic bin makes a good “booth kit.” Fill it with:
- A tablecloth that reaches the floor, to hide boxes under the table.
- Risers or crates to show items at different heights.
- Price tags, a marker and tape.
- A simple sign with your name or shop name.
- Bags and tissue paper for wrapping.
- Your cash box, card reader and a phone charger.
- A notebook to write down each sale.
- Water, a snack, and a folding chair if not provided.
- Layers of clothing, especially for outdoor or drafty halls.
Step 6: Plan for your body, too
Fairs are long days. Tables, bins and boxes add up. Use a folding cart or a wheeled bin rather than carrying heavy loads. Ask a friend to help with setup and teardown, and take a break every so often to sit down.
Keep records for taxes
The IRS says income from a hobby must be reported even if the activity is not a business, and hobby losses cannot be used to lower other income. Whether your crafting counts as a hobby or a business depends on several factors the IRS lists, such as whether you run it like a business and try to make a profit.
A simple notebook of sales and costs makes tax time much easier.
Side income may also affect benefits. If you are under full retirement age and collecting Social Security, net self-employment earnings count toward the yearly earnings limit ($24,480 in 2026). SSI has its own income rules, and Medicaid and housing assistance may too. Check the official sources below or ask your local office about your situation.
What it might add up to
Results vary widely by fair, weather, location and what you make. A good day might cover a smaller monthly bill, like a streaming plan or part of a phone bill. A slow day is part of learning too. Either way, you will meet neighbors who love handmade things, and you will learn what sells for next year.
