| The Small Business Administration estimates that | | | | Selling is as easy as saying hello to someone |
| 95% of all new small businesses close their doors | | | | when they walk up to your table. Be helpful and |
| within the first year. That doesn't sound very | | | | friendly and you will make money. |
| encouraging. How would you like to start your | | | | The majority of flea market vendors buy their |
| own business that is almost 100% guaranteed to | | | | merchandise from import companies who sell to |
| succeed? How would you like to sell at flea | | | | them at wholesale prices. It is also possible to buy |
| markets? | | | | items on sale from retail stores and sell them at |
| I am talking about starting an actual business, | | | | the flea market for more than your cost. |
| your own flea market and swap meet business, | | | | Arrive at the market early in the morning on |
| of course. It's a very easy business to start | | | | Saturday, rent a space and set your merchandise |
| compared to a brick and mortar business in a | | | | on the table. Selling is as easy as just saying hello |
| strip mall. | | | | or good morning to people when they walk over |
| There is no long-term lease to sign, no long | | | | to look at what you have. |
| search for the right location, no large expense for | | | | Merchandise will be your largest expense, perhaps |
| fixtures and shelves, no utilities to pay for and no | | | | 90% of your investment. Space rent is minimal, |
| need to spend thousands of dollars before you | | | | as little as $5 a day to as much as $50-$75 a |
| open the doors and make your first dollar. | | | | day. The average costs are usually around $25 |
| There are no employees, no employee payroll | | | | per space per day. |
| taxes and no workman's comp to pay. | | | | It is quite easy to double and triple your money |
| You can start a flea market business with a lot | | | | at flea markets and swap meets. Buying your |
| less financial risk and trouble. Most can be started | | | | merchandise at the lowest cost allows you to sell |
| with less than $1,000. I started mine with only | | | | it for two to three times that cost and still keep |
| $200 and have made as much as a thousand | | | | your prices less than retail stores. |
| dollars in only one day. | | | | In the beginning, put all of the profit back into |
| This business is nothing more than a proprietorship | | | | your business by buying as much merchandise as |
| owned and operated by just one or two people. | | | | you can afford for the next weekend. After |
| It operates on a basic concept: buy merchandise | | | | doing so for a month or two, you will be able to |
| at the lowest price and sell it for more than your | | | | begin keeping the profit for yourself without |
| cost. | | | | hurting your business. It will become self-sustaining. |
| Many vendors sell used items. The more | | | | You will discover that a flea market or swap |
| successful vendors sell brand new merchandise, | | | | meet business is easy and affordable to establish, |
| many times the same items you've seen on the | | | | easy to operate and can provide you a good |
| shelves in K-Mart or Target. | | | | steady income each weekend. |
| Selling new items means you can always order | | | | Copyright 2008 by Allen Farlow. All rights |
| more for next weekend. Not so with used items. | | | | reserved. |