What is a Pitch Fee?

A pitch fee (also called a stall fee or trader fee) is the charge a trader, such as a food vendor, stallholder or exhibitor, pays an event organiser for the right to run a stall or stand at an event. Pitch fees are a key source of income for festivals, markets and fairs.

How pitch fees work

Most events handle traders in the same way:

  1. Application: traders apply with details of what they sell, their pitch size and their certificates.
  2. Selection: the organiser chooses traders to give a good mix and avoid too much of the same offer.
  3. Fee and contract: the trader agrees the pitch fee and the terms, usually paying a deposit.
  4. Trader pack: the organiser sends arrival times, pitch location, power and waste rules.
  5. Event: traders set up, trade and leave the pitch clean, with any percentage fees settled after.

Many organisers collect trader applications through public forms in Crescat, so every application arrives in the same format.

Flat pitch fee vs percentage of sales

A flat fee is a fixed amount for the pitch, so the trader keeps all their takings. A percentage fee is a share of the trader's sales, so the organiser shares the risk and the upside. Some events charge a lower flat fee plus a percentage.

What a pitch fee usually covers

  • The pitch space, measured by frontage or area
  • Access to the site during trading hours
  • Basic waste collection
  • Listing in the event programme or map
  • Power, water and extra passes, often charged separately

Frequently asked questions

How much is a pitch fee?

It varies widely, from a small fee at a local market to several thousand pounds at a major festival. Price depends on audience size, event length, pitch size, location on site and what the trader sells.

Why do food traders often pay more?

Food and drink usually sell well and need more space, power and waste handling. Organisers also limit the number of traders selling similar food, so those pitches are in high demand.

What documents do traders need for a pitch?

Organisers usually ask for public liability insurance, a food hygiene rating or registration for food traders, gas and electrical safety certificates, and a risk assessment.

Related terms