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Vendor Guide · Updated May 2026 · ~5 min read

Pop-Up Market Vendor Checklist: 14 Things to Have Ready

We've reviewed over ten thousand vendor applications. Here's the checklist that separates the approved from the not — and gets you set up for a strong market day. Print it, work through it once, and you'll be ready to apply to any curated pop-up market in California.

Legal & paperwork

1. California seller's permit — free, CDTFA.ca.gov.
2. City business license — from your city of residence.
3. EIN — if you're an LLC or formal business (free, IRS).
4. Certificate of Insurance — $1M general liability. ACT Insurance or FLIP, ~$30/event.

Brand & photos (this is what gets you in)

5. 5–10 high-quality product photos — real light, real focus, real composition.
6. One booth or mock-booth photo — a living-room setup counts if you're new.
7. A one-sentence brand description — what you make, who it's for, what makes it yours.
8. An Instagram with 30+ posts — curators check; the algorithm reads it as legitimacy.
9. A price range you can articulate in one breath — "$22–$48, most things $28."

Gear (you'll need this once approved)

10. 10×10 white pop-up tent + 4 weights (40 lbs each) — see our gear picks.
11. 6-foot folding table + tablecloth in your brand color.
12. A card reader — Square or Stripe, battery-powered. Don't lose sales to cash-only.
13. Signage — brand name, price list, and IG handle.
14. A cash float — $60 in fives and ones.

What curators actually look at first

In our review process — consistent across most curated markets we know — the order is:

1. Product photos (~60% of the decision)
2. Instagram (~20%)
3. Brand description + price range (~10%)
4. Category fit for the specific market (~10%)

Nail the photos. The rest follows.

How long does prep take?

From zero: 2–4 weeks (the slow pieces are the COI, tent shipping, and city license). If your paperwork's already done: 2–3 hours to assemble the application kit.