Practical, no-fluff advice for food trucks, market vendors, pop-ups and small shops.
How many hours is full time in the US? There is no single legal answer. See what the FLSA, ACA and BLS say, and what part time hours per week usually mean.
1099 vs W-2 explained for small shops: how the IRS decides employee vs contractor, which forms each needs, the 1099-NEC threshold and misclassification risk.
What a business license is, how it differs from a seller’s permit, DBA and health permit, and what market stalls, food trucks and home sellers usually need.
How to do a SWOT analysis for a small shop, market stall or food truck, with a free fill-in SWOT analysis template and a worked coffee cart example.
Business name ideas for boutiques, bakeries, coffee shops, food trucks and candle makers, plus how to choose a name and check it with the USPTO and your state.
Learn the cost of goods sold formula, what counts as COGS for resellers, makers and food sellers, and how to calculate it with a worked dollar example.
The gross profit formula is net sales minus cost of goods sold. See how to find gross margin, how it differs from net margin, and ways to raise it.
Contribution margin is price minus variable costs. Learn the formula and ratio, how it ties to break-even, and how to use it to pick which products to push.
A balance sheet shows what your business owns, owes and what’s left for you on one day. See the sections, a small-shop example and how it differs from a P&L.
Petty cash covers small business purchases. Learn how to set an imprest amount, rules to follow, a free petty cash log template, and how to reconcile it.
Learn how to get Google reviews for your business: find your review link, when and how to ask, how to reply to bad reviews, and what Google doesn’t allow.
How to sell on Etsy step by step: open a shop, write listings, take photos, price for fees and shipping, and keep stock in sync with market and craft fair sales.
A guide to buying wholesale for small shops: wholesale vs retail price, finding suppliers, minimum orders, resale certificates, keystone pricing and reorders.
How a consignment shop works: consignor vs consignee, typical splits, what goes in a contract, markdown schedules, tracking payouts and how to start your own.
What a split payment is, how to ring up cash plus card or gift card plus card, how splits affect your end-of-day cash count, and how to refund split sales.
A business plan template for market stalls, food trucks and small shops, with fill-in sections, startup cost and sales forecast tables and a worked example.
How to set up and verify a Google Business Profile for a shop, market stall or food truck, including service areas, moving locations, photos, posts and reviews.
POS means point of sale. Learn what a POS system does, the parts of a modern setup, and how to choose the right one for a small shop, stall or food truck.
A SKU is your own code for each product you sell. Learn how SKUs differ from UPCs and barcodes, how to build a simple SKU system, and mistakes to avoid.
What is inventory? Learn the four types, why inventory is an asset, key terms like reorder point and shrinkage, and simple ways small sellers track stock.
Learn the inventory turnover ratio formula, how to convert it to days of inventory, a worked dollar example, and practical ways small shops can improve it.
FIFO means first in, first out. Learn FIFO as stock rotation and as a costing method, how it compares to LIFO, and a worked example for small sellers.
What sales tax is, who collects it, seller’s permits, state plus local rates, collecting at markets and events, keeping records and filing on time.
A profit and loss statement shows what you sold, spent and kept. Learn each line of an income statement and fill in our free P&L template for a small shop.
Revenue vs profit explained for small sellers: what each means, why a record sales month can make less profit, and which number to watch for pricing.
Gross vs net explained for small business owners: gross vs net sales after discounts and refunds, gross vs net profit, and gross vs net pay on paychecks.
What is net income? The formula, a worked example for a craft seller, how it compares with net profit, and why it rarely matches the cash in your bank.
Cash flow explained for seasonal sellers: why profitable market stalls and food trucks still run short, plus a simple 13-week cash flow forecast to use.
What a food handlers permit is, who needs one, how to get a card through an approved course, and what food trucks, coffee carts and cottage bakers should check.
Small Business Saturday 2026 is November 28. Get 23 practical ideas for shops and market sellers, from gift card bundles to shop-hops, plus a prep timeline.
How to get barcodes for your products: official UPC codes from GS1 US, when you need them, when your own barcodes are enough, and how to print labels.
What a Z report (end-of-day report) is, what it includes, how it differs from an X report, and how to use it to reconcile cash and card sales.
A step-by-step routine to balance a cash drawer: count the float, work out expected cash, find the over or short, and check it against your end-of-day report.
Print a free cash drawer count sheet for US currency, with a built-in over/short calculation, plus a step-by-step guide to counting the drawer.
Craft fair and vendor booth ideas that bring people in: 10x10 layouts, vertical displays, pricing signs, the checkout spot, and a packing checklist.
How to sell at a farmers market: vendor rules and permits, stand displays, signs and pricing, fast checkout, building regulars, and learning from every market day.
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