Farmers market booth fees: what markets charge, and how to compare them
By The Venda Wallet team · Written October 27, 2026 · Updated October 27, 2026
The three ways markets charge
- A flat fee per market day. You pay the same however the day goes. Salt Lake City's Downtown Farmers Market charges $40 a day for a 10 by 10 foot booth [1].
- A season rate. One payment for every market day, usually cheaper per day if you come every week. The same market charges $780 for the season [1].
- A share of your sales. A percentage of the day's gross, often with a minimum and sometimes a cap. Windsor Farmers Market charges certified farmers 10% of daily gross sales on Sundays, with a $13 minimum and a $30 cap [2].
What three markets charge in 2026
| Market | Booth fee | Also charged |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Farmers Market, Salt Lake City [1] | $40 a day, or $780 a season, for a 10 by 10 booth | $50 application fee, not refundable |
| Windsor Farmers Market, California, Sundays [2] | Certified farmers: 10% of the day's sales, $13 minimum, $30 cap. Artists and crafters: $30 flat | $2 Ag fee each market day, $25 a year admin fee |
| Portland Farmers Market, Portland State University, May to September [3] | Farmers $65 for a 10 by 10, food artisans $84. Bakery, confectionery and alcohol 9% of gross sales, hot food 11%, or the food artisan rate if that's greater | Corner and deep stalls cost more; smaller Portland markets cost less |
The same organization can charge very different amounts at different markets. Portland's farmer rate for a 10 by 10 runs from $40 at Lents International to $65 at Portland State University in peak season [3]. Fees also change by vendor type, so read the line for what you sell.
Which costs less: the math
Day rate or season rate. Divide the season rate by the day rate. In Salt Lake City, $780 ÷ $40 is about 19.5, so the season rate is cheaper if you'll come 20 or more days. The summer market runs 21 Saturdays, June 6 to October 24 [1].
A percentage with a minimum and a cap. Work out where the minimum and the cap start. At Windsor, 10% is less than the $13 minimum until you sell $130, and reaches the $30 cap at $300. So a slow day costs $15 with the Ag fee, a $200 day costs $22, and any day over $300 costs $32.
A percentage or a flat rate, whichever is greater. Divide the flat rate by the percentage. In Portland, $84 ÷ 9% is about $933: a bakery selling less than that pays the flat $84, and above it pays 9% of everything.
A share of sales costs you more on a good day but protects you on a rainy one. A flat fee is the opposite. If your sales swing a lot from week to week, the percentage is the safer bet.
Costs beyond the booth
- An application or membership fee, often not refundable. Salt Lake City's is $50 [1].
- Per-day add-ons, such as Windsor's $2 Ag fee [2].
- Liability insurance, which many markets require.
- Card reader fees on every card sale. See what they add up to in the card fee calculator.
How many sales cover the fee
Divide the booth fee by what one sale leaves you after its cost. Put in your own fee, prices and costs in the booth fee break-even calculator.
Making the fee back
Your regulars are the steadiest way to cover a booth fee. With Venda Wallet, a regular prepays your stall by Zelle® to your business bank, and you charge them with a scan each week, so part of next month's sales is in the bank before the market opens. There's no card fee on those sales.
Questions
How much does a farmers market booth cost?
It depends on the market. In 2026, Salt Lake City's Downtown Farmers Market charges $40 a day for a 10 by 10 booth, Portland Farmers Market charges farmers $40 to $65 depending on the market, and Windsor, California charges certified farmers 10% of sales between $13 and $30 a day.
Is a percentage fee or a flat fee better?
A percentage costs less on slow days and more on good ones. Divide the flat fee by the percentage to find the sales level where they cost the same, and compare it with what you usually sell.
Is a season booth worth it?
Divide the season rate by the day rate. In Salt Lake City, $780 for the season against $40 a day pays off after 20 market days.
What other fees do farmers market vendors pay?
Usually an application or membership fee, sometimes a per-day add-on such as a state agriculture fee, liability insurance, and card fees on card sales.
Sources
- Downtown Farmers Market, Salt Lake City: Farmers & Growers (2026 fees), read October 27, 2026
- Windsor Farmers Market: 2026 Vendor Information, read October 27, 2026
- Portland Farmers Market: Stall Fee Chart, April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027, read October 27, 2026
Related
- What card reader fees cost over a season
- How farmers market tokens work, for vendors
- Let your regulars prepay with Venda Wallet
Cite this page: "Farmers market booth fees: what markets charge, and how to compare them." Venda Wallet, October 27, 2026. https://vendawallet.com/guides/farmers-market-booth-fees