# Should you charge vendors an application fee?

A small application fee filters for vendors who intend to show up and confirms their card works before you approve them. The trade-off is fewer applications. Charge one when you have more interest than booths or a no-show problem; skip it when you're still building a vendor base.

_Updated 2026-10-10._

## Why organizers charge one.

- Confirms the vendor's card works before you approve.
- Filters out casual applications.
- Cuts no-shows.

## Why some don't.

- Fewer applications, especially from new vendors.
- Vendors dislike paying if they're rejected.

## Your choice, per event.

- Set your own application fee for each event, from $1 to $100, and keep it.

## Related

- [How much to charge vendors](https://bzar.app/guides/how-much-to-charge-vendors)