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Becoming a Market Trader

How to become a market trader

Markets can be a quick way to start your own business and become your own boss! However, it is not always the easiest way to make a living but it can be lucrative and rewarding. In the end your success will depend to a large extent on your own judgement and initiative.

There are several types of retail markets, but the two main types of market for start-up businesses are the covered market hall, which are the predecessors to the covered shopping malls and out of town retail centres or open markets, where traders often provide their own stalls.

Markets Halls

These markets are specially designed with permanent lock-up stalls open each day of the week to facilitate a permanent concourse of sellers from individual trading units. Traders then leave their goods ready for the following trading day.

Market halls are generally open every day of the week and are treated in a different manner to those which are held on set days of the week. Charges for such stalls are usually levied on a weekly or even longer basis. Rental levels are determined globally at the commencement of the lease period and are usually revised every 5 years with an annual revision of service charge. A letting of this type will usually require to be evidenced by a formal document such as a licence, tenancy agreement or lease, all affording protection under the Landlord and Tenant Act.

Tenants in the market halls have the right of assignment of their leases, which allows them to sell their business interests. Most often, tenants wishing to dispose of their stall / business advertise directly in the local, regional and specialist press and interested parties approach the seller directly with reference to Markets Management once a successor has been found.

On rare occasions an empty stall unit reverts to the Council and such units are advertised to let by closed competitive tender, in the market halls, local press and on websites.

To find out the availability of vacant units:

• Visit:
• Land and property for sale or to let.
• E-mail:
• markets@calderdale.gov.uk
• Telephone:
• 01422  359034.

Open Markets

Are held on specially dedicated market places which may be used for other purposes when the market is not being held e.g. car parks, public meeting places. Stalls are either provided, erected and dismantled by the operator or by the traders using their own stalls.

Days of operation vary but often the markets are operated on a number of days each week. Calderdale operates markets on the days and venues listed below, all of which provide a high quality shopping service to members of the local community.

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