Want to sell goods in a market square?
Got a full stock of woollen socks? Need to raise money for a class trip? Looking for a little extra income? Whether you are an artisan, artist, farmer, baker or service provider, come peddle your goods at the market square!
Day slots on market squares provide an easy and affordable way to sell products, meet customers and test out new ideas in a genuine urban environment. The market squares are open to private persons, businesses and associations alike, and you can flexibly choose your vending days in accordance with your own schedule.
Reserving a place in a market square is a two-stage process. Here is how easy it is to sell your goods in a market square:
1. Apply for a sales permit
All you need for applying for a sales permit is your online bank credentials or a mobile certificate.
Select whether you are applying for the permit for a business or as a private person, and provide the following details in your application:
- All the product groups that you intend to sell. Describe the products in as much detail as possible.
- Pictures of the products.
- If you are a corporate customer: a tax debt certificate and a Trade Register extract (max. 2 months old).
- If you sell food: a certificate of food business operations.
The market season starts on 1 March and ends at the end of February the following year. Applications can be submitted at any time, and the sales permit will be valid for the entire market season.
2. Reserva a place in a market square
You will receive an email notification when your sales permit application has been approved. You can then reserve and pay for your selected vending days. Log in as a market vendor with the same email address that you provided when you applied for your sales permit.
Or would you like to apply for an annual market place instead? Send a message to vuokraus@kaupunkitilat.fi and keep your eye on vacancies
Useful links
How to apply for a sales permit? (in Finnish)↗
How to reserve a spot? (in Finnish)↗
 Market guide (in Finnish) ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What can I sell? Where? When?
You can sell a wide variety of products and services in market squares. Examples of these products include food (such as bakery products, vegetables, berries and various types of preserves), plants and seedlings, handicrafts and design products, clothing and accessories, household and interior decoration products, and seasonal products. Market vendors can also sell products related to wellbeing, exercise and hobby activities, pet supplies and services. Selling food requires proper documentation and compliance with hygiene and safety requirements.
Selling products is currently possible in the following market squares: Hakaniemi Market Square, Helsinki Market Square and Töölö Market Square. Ylä-Malmi Square and Fredrik’s Market Square are currently being renovated.
The market season starts on 1 March and ends at the end of February the following year. The sales permit will be valid for the entire market season.
What does a place in a market square include?
For private persons: the sales area is 2 metres wide, and a vending table is included in the price of the place. You can pick up the table from a warehouse at the market square itself.
For businesses: the sales area is formed by the company’s own tent (3 x 3 metres). The colour guidelines for tents vary between market squares.
For Hakaniemi Market Square, the City also issues sales permits for selling goods out of a car (e.g. seedlings, flowers, vegetables and root vegetables).
Parking is not included in the place fee. Parking spaces are available in the city centre along streets and in parking garages. You can also apply for a parking permit issued by the City of Helsinki for your business here. The sales permit (day slots) serves as proof when applying for a place.
How do I need to take tax into account when selling products on a market square?
If the activity is small-scale and the sales are less than EUR 20,000 per calendar year, the vendor does not need to register for VAT. However, any sales income is taxable income and must be declared for tax purposes.
You should always check the Tax Administration’s website for up-to-date tax information.
Can I cancel my reservation?
A paid market place reservation can be cancelled free of charge up to 7 days before the scheduled vending day by sending an email to vuokraus@kaupunkitilat.fi. The reservation cannot be cancelled past this deadline, e.g. due to bad weather.
Cancellation terms:
The market place / vending day is always reserved via a dedicated reservation system.
The vending day is paid in advance through the reservation system.
You can reserve several vending days at the same time.
The daily rate varies between market squares and is shown when you make your reservation.
A paid place can be cancelled free of charge 7 days before the scheduled vending day.
Helsinki City Premises Ltd reserves the right to make changes.
Helsinki City Premises Ltd and the police have the right to limit the vending hours either permanently or temporarily.
If a market place cannot be rented out due to the weather or other practical reasons (such as a strike or authority regulations), Helsinki City Premises Ltd will not be liable for any damages incurred to the party renting the place.
The liability of Helsinki City Premises Ltd is limited to reimbursing the amount paid for the rent of the market place.
Is applying for a sales permit binding and does it cost money?
Applying for a sales permit is free of charge and does not bind the applicant to anything.
The sales permit does not obligate the permit holder to sell products every day. You can reserve and pay for vending days in accordance with your needs via the reservation calendar.
Can I choose the location of my place at the market square?
The market places are determined in accordance with the market place map currently valid for each market square. The market place map is provided as an attachment to the approved sales permit.
In the summer season, a market place lottery is held for vendors in Helsinki Market Square, where each vendor can choose the most suitable place for their tent in accordance with the market place map. No lottery is held in the winter season, so every vendor can choose a vacant place from 9.00 onwards in accordance with the market place map. In other market squares, tent places are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
You can come to the market square at your own convenience. The place lottery at Helsinki Market takes place every morning at 7.15 in the summer, after which the remaining day slots are available for use.
Can I leave my tent overnight at the market square if I come to sell products the next day?
For safety reasons, tents must be dismantled every day and must not be stored at the market square. The vending tables must be returned to the warehouse at the end of the vending day.
Do I have to submit a separate notification if I sell food?
Yes. Operators selling food must register their food or vending activities properly and comply with the hygiene and safety requirements in place.
Can I sell café or restaurant products at a market event?
These places are usually filled, but you can contact vuokraus@kaupunkitilat.fi with your concept.
Keep an eye out for vacancies at kaupunkitilat.fi/en/available-premises