Run a car boot sale or regular community market (organiser's guide) checklist: before, on the day and after

0 of 23 done

Before

Book the date on your own grounds or hall so nothing else clashes.
Get the landowner’s permission in writing.
Ask the council whether you need a permit.The rules
Read the food-safety rules for fundraising sales and plan safe handling.The rules
Write a one-page safety plan: hazards, who is in charge, first aid, what to do if it rains.
Arrange a first aider and a stocked first aid kit.
Arrange public liability insurance (venues and councils often ask for it).
Pick a site with hard standing, two gates (in and out) and toilets: a school car park, church car park or a business's weekend car park. Get written permission naming the date(s), hours, area, who cleans up and who carries insurance.

After

Take bookings and payment online (Humanitix, Eventbrite, a Google Form plus bank transfer) so cash and no-shows are not your problem on the day.
Plan food: run your own fundraising sausage sizzle, coffee and baking stall (Food Act fundraising exemption), and only accept outside food trucks that show a current registration (Auckland Council).
Cash: bring a float for the food stall, take card or tap-to-pay, count in pairs, bank the same day. Afterwards walk the site with the landowner, photograph it clean, and send a thank-you plus next dates to sellers.
Tell supporters what you raised and what it will pay for.

Watch out for

Cars moving while the public is in is the main safety risk: lock vehicle movement once the public gate opens.
Letting any seller sell food: unregistered food stalls are your problem as organiser (Auckland Council).
Leaving rubbish and unsold goods behind loses you the site next time; make sellers take everything home.
Assuming school or church land needs nothing: a regular market on private land may need resource consent (Auckland Council).

On council land an event permit is needed (Auckland community event $104-215) and a regular public market needs a market licence; a regular market on private land may need resource consent (Auckland). Outside food stalls must be registered.

Ticks are saved in this browser only.

Run a car boot sale or regular community market (organiser's guide): checklist

Before

On the day

After

Watch out for

More free tools