I am interested in the idea of selling something at skating competitions or tests.
At some figure and hockey skating competitions, merchants set up tables to sell things. Tee shirts. Sparkly things. Dresses. Soakers. Pictures of the competition. Jewelry. Books, Videos, assorted nicknacks and souvenirs. Skate fittings.
If the areas around me are typical, at least in urban areas, where many of these competitions are located, you generally need state, county and usually municipal business license(s) to sell goods (e.g., a "hawker's license", though the exact name differs by locality), even if you only do it for a day. These are quite expensive - in total maybe $100 - $200 / day. And there are substantial paperwork requirements - probably not something you can do the same day.
On top of the fees merchants pay to buy the right to set up a table at a competition to sell stuff - likely another $50 - $100. Plus the deal with the rink often requires that they pay a 10 - 20% cut of the sell price to the rink pro shop. (I think.) And then there is the cost of travel - roughly $0.50/mile by some estimates, plus hotel costs.
It seems unlikely that most of the merchants can reliably make that much profit. Am I wrong?
So does that mean most of these merchants aren't fully legal, and ignore these rules?
Or have I misunderstood something?