What do I need?
Tell us what you do and we’ll build you a personal checklist of the rules and guides that apply. Takes about a minute, no email needed.
Let's build your checklist.
Which sounds most like you?
Selling or organising at a craft fair, answered
What do I need in place to sell at a craft fair?
Almost every stallholder needs public liability insurance, and most organisers ask to see it before they confirm a pitch. What else applies depends on what you sell: if you make handmade goods, you also need to know whether you are trading as a business rather than a hobby, that your products meet general product safety rules, and whether any product-specific labelling applies. This checker asks what you make and sell, then lists the documents and rules that apply to you, each linked to a guide.
Do I need insurance to sell at a craft fair?
There is no law that forces you to hold insurance, but in practice you do. Most organisers require public liability insurance as a condition of booking, and if you make physical products you should also consider product liability cover. The checker flags which types of cover apply to your stall.
Do I need to register as a business to sell handmade crafts?
Usually yes, once it is more than an occasional hobby. If you sell regularly and intend to make a profit, HMRC treats it as a business and you may need to register for Self Assessment, even alongside a job. Selling off the odd thing you made for fun is usually different. Our hobby or business guide walks through where the line sits, and the checker includes it when it applies to you.
What do I need in place to sell homemade food at a market?
If you sell food, there are a few extra steps. You need to register your food business with your local council at least 28 days before you start trading, which is free, follow food hygiene and allergen labelling rules, and most organisers ask for your food hygiene rating and public liability insurance. Tell the checker you sell food and it adds the food-specific items.
What do I need to organise a craft fair or market?
Organisers carry different duties from stallholders. Depending on the venue you may need permission from the council to hold the market, event insurance, an event risk assessment, and checks on your stallholders' own documents. Choose the organiser option and the checker lists the ones that apply to your event.
Is this a compliance checklist template?
It does the same job with none of the guesswork. A template hands everyone the same generic list; this checker asks a few questions about what you sell or organise and returns only the documents and rules that apply to you, each linked to a plain-English guide. You can tick items off, download the checklist, and email yourself a copy to come back to.