Reading a jury fee and a booth fee for craft fairs

At a juried craft fair, a panel or reviewers look at applications and decide which makers to accept. The jury fee covers the cost of that review: the platform or office time, the reviewers and the administration. It is paid when you apply, and it is usually not refunded whether or not you are accepted.

Some fairs charge a single jury fee per application and others charge per category or per show. Some waive the fee for returning vendors. Read the application to see what is included. A jury fee does not guarantee a booth. If you are accepted, you will pay the booth fee separately.

The booth fee is the price of the space you will occupy. It may depend on the size of the booth, the location (corner and high-traffic spots are sometimes more), and whether the space is indoors or outdoors. Some fairs charge a flat fee per booth, and others charge by the foot.

Ask what the booth fee includes. Some fairs provide a table, chairs or a canopy; others provide only the space. Some include electricity; others charge extra. Some include a listing in promotional material. Find out what you must bring, so you are not surprised on setup day.

The headline fees are only part of the story. Read the terms for anything else, such as electricity, additional space, corner placement, rental tents or tables, parking, wristbands or passes for helpers, application processing fees, late fees and payment processing fees if you pay by card. Some fairs charge a deposit that is returned if you follow the rules.

Also think about your own costs. Travel, lodging, meals, packaging, display, signage, inventory, helpers' time and your own time all add up. A fair with a modest fee that requires a long trip and an overnight stay may cost more than a nearby fair with a larger fee.

A checklist

• Jury or application fee
• Booth fee and any size or location surcharge
• Electricity, tent, table or chair rental
• Parking and passes
• Payment processing
• Travel and lodging
• Display, packaging and inventory costs

The terms vary widely. Some fairs refund the booth fee if you cancel by a certain date, some refund part of it and some do not refund at all. Some hold your deposit as a credit toward a later show. Weather policies differ, too. Some fairs refund or reschedule if an event is cancelled, and some do not.

Read the policy before you pay. If it is not clear, ask the organizer in writing and keep the reply. Note the dates in your calendar. If an emergency means you cannot attend, contact the organizer as soon as possible, since many are willing to work with makers who are courteous and prompt.

A fee is only high or low compared with what you can sell. Estimate how much you must sell to cover your costs and make a profit, and ask whether that is realistic for the fair. Ask the organizer about the audience, past vendors and typical sales, though many will not share numbers. Talk to makers who have done the fair.

Consider the other benefits. A good fair may bring new customers, repeat buyers, wholesale contacts and publicity. A weak fair may cost you more than it returns. Over time, your notes from each fair will show which ones pay off for your kind of work. Our guide on how to find craft fairs to sell at explains how to judge the audience.

Useful questions include whether the jury fee is refundable if the fair is cancelled, what the booth fee includes, what the deadline is for payment, what happens if you cannot attend, whether there are extra fees you should know about, and how and when the organizer announces results. Ask what the setup and teardown times are and whether helpers need passes.

Keep copies of the application, the confirmation and any emails. Check the details against the fair's website. Remember that sales tax, permits and insurance requirements vary by place and fair. Ask the organizer and your local authorities. This guide is general information, not legal advice.