Vendors: Are You Making These Money Mistakes?

Let’s talk vendor truth.

You get excited, you book the event, you prep your products, you set up your table…
But when the day’s over, you count your cash and think:
“I made money… but where did it go?”

If you’ve ever felt like you’re working hard and still not getting ahead—you’re not crazy.
You’re probably just making some common (and very fixable) money mistakes.

Screenshot this and run through it before every pop-up. How many mistakes are you making?

We’ve worked with thousands of vendors across the country.

Here are the top mistakes we see at almost every pop-up—and how to fix them before your next one.

1. You Don’t Know Your Break-Even Number

You pay your vendor fee.
You buy new inventory.
You grab last-minute supplies from Target.

But most vendors don’t stop to calculate how much they need to make just to cover costs.

The Fix:
Before any event, write down:

• Your vendor fee

• Your inventory or product costs

• Any extra expenses (parking, gas, Square fees, etc.)

Then ask:
How much do I need to sell just to break even?
That number should be your bare minimum goal.

2. You’re Underpricing Your Products

We get it. You want to move product. You want people to buy.
But if you’re pricing just to “be affordable,” you might be walking away with nothing but compliments.

The Fix:
Calculate your costs. Add in time.
Then ask: “Can I charge a price that still makes profit and feels fair for what I offer?”

If you’re not sure, ask yourself:
Would you work for free at your 9–5? Then stop doing it in your business.

3. You Only Track Sales—Not Profit

You made $400 in sales. That’s great!
But if you spent $300 to get there, you really made $100.
If you don’t track that—you’ll always feel like you’re “doing okay” but never getting ahead.

The Fix:
After each event, track:

• Total sales

• Total expenses

• Profit (what’s left)

Use a simple Google Sheet to log this.

4. You Don’t Plan What to Do With Your Money

You get your cash. You celebrate. You pay a few bills.
Then it’s gone—and you’re waiting for the next event to come around.

The Fix:
Set up 3 basic “buckets” for every sale you make:

1. Operating Money – for supplies, restock, etc.

2. Pay Yourself – even $20 from every event builds discipline

3. Set Aside – for taxes, emergencies, or investments

You don’t need a business degree. You just need a basic plan.

5. You Spend Emotionally, Not Strategically

We’ve seen it all—vendors spending $100 on a new banner and forgetting to bring change for cash sales.

The Fix:
Before your next event, ask:
“Will this help me sell more, save time, or build trust with my customer?”

If the answer is no—it can wait.

Let’s Wrap This Up

You’re not just “doing a pop-up.”
You’re building something.
And the sooner you treat your booth like a business, the faster you’ll see growth—not just good vibes.

Business money is different than personal money.
And if you learn how to manage it early—you’ll set yourself up to win long after the pop-up ends.

If you’re ready to break free from survival mode, grab our free business checklist: Fix What’s Holding You Back Checklist to help you focus, plan, and grow.

👉 Download the Checklist Here

With love and hard-earned lessons,
Taniesha & Greg