Frequently Asked Questions

What is SideStall?

SideStall is a free app that puts local vendors on the map. Roadside stalls, food trucks, backyard growers, and local makers — all in one place. Browse what's fresh and nearby, see what's open right now, and head straight there.

Is SideStall free?

Yes. SideStall is completely free for buyers. For sellers, creating an account, listing your stall, and adding up to 5 products is free — no signup fees, no hidden charges. Optional paid plans (Standard and VIP) are available for sellers who want more products, multiple stalls, and premium features. If you accept in-app payments, a small platform fee applies to those transactions only.

Where is SideStall available?

SideStall is live across Australia. The map fills out as more local sellers join, so coverage varies by region — it's densest where the community is most established and grows quickly anywhere new sellers list. If your area's quiet, listing your stall (or telling a neighbour with one) is the fastest way to put it on the map.

Is the app available on iOS and Android?

Yes! SideStall is available on both the App Store and Google Play.

Do I need an account to browse?

You can skip sign-up and browse stalls, products, and categories without an account. However, the map, favourites, messaging, and in-app purchasing all require a free account. You'll be prompted to sign in when you try to use those features.

Can I buy directly through the app?

It depends on the seller. Stall owners choose which payment methods they accept — in-person (cash, card, EFT, PayID) or in-app payments powered by Stripe. If a stall accepts in-app payments, you can reserve and pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay, or card before you even leave the house — so you know it's yours when you get there. All payments are processed securely through Stripe, and your card details are never shared with the seller.

How do I know if a stall is open right now?

The app checks each stall's operating hours and shows a green "Open" badge on stalls that are currently active. You can filter the map and discovery feed to show only open stalls. If a seller sets operating hours, the app calculates their status automatically. If you favourite a mobile stall, you can also receive a push notification when they go live.

What can I find on SideStall?

Fruit & vegetables, eggs, dairy & honey, baked goods, preserves & condiments, drinks, herbs & spices, plants & garden, cut flowers, handmade crafts, clothing & accessories, and more. You can filter by category, search by product name, and sort by distance, price, or what's newest.

How do I list my stall?

Download the app, create an account, and go to Profile > Manage Stalls > Create a stall. The setup wizard walks you through three steps: add your stall name, photos, and payment types; drop a pin on the map or enter your address; and optionally set your operating hours. Once you've added at least one product, you can go live and your stall will appear on the map.

What can I sell on SideStall?

Fresh produce, eggs, honey, flowers, baked goods, jams and preserves, plants, herbs, handmade crafts, and other locally produced goods. If it comes from your garden, your kitchen, or your backyard — it belongs on SideStall. Each product can include photos, a description, pricing, stock levels, weight, and dietary information.

Is my home address visible to buyers?

No — your address is hidden by default. Buyers see an approximate area on the map (offset 300–800 metres from your real location) and a regional label — for example, "Near the Adelaide Hills" or "Near the Sunshine Coast" — instead of your street address. The Directions button is also hidden. You can choose to make your address visible in your stall settings, or share it privately with individual buyers through the in-app messaging.

Can I have more than one stall?

Yes. You can create multiple stalls — for example, a roadside stand and a weekend market setup. The number of stalls you can have active at the same time depends on your subscription tier.

What's the difference between a fixed and a mobile stall?

A fixed stall is a permanent location like a roadside stand or a home garden. A mobile stall is for food trucks, pop-ups, or anything that moves. Mobile stall owners can notify their followers with a push notification when they go live, so customers know exactly when and where to find them.

How do in-app payments work for sellers?

Complete a quick Stripe onboarding (identity verification and bank account setup), then add "In-App" to your stall's payment methods. Once set up, you get:

• • Instant order notifications — get a push notification the moment someone places an order, so you never miss a sale
• • Apple Pay & Google Pay — buyers can pay in two taps, less friction means more sales
• • Automatic stock management — stock counts update when someone buys, so you don't oversell
• • No chasing payments — money goes straight to your bank account via Stripe
• • Order history — full record of who bought what and when, useful at tax time
• • Verified buyer reviews — only customers who paid through the app can leave a review, building genuine trust
• • Boosted visibility — stalls with in-app payments rank higher in search results

A 5% platform fee and standard Stripe processing fees are deducted from each transaction — the customer always pays the listed price.

How is SideStall different from Facebook Marketplace?

Facebook Marketplace shows your name and general location to anyone browsing. SideStall is built specifically for local vendors — only your first name is visible, your address can be hidden, and buyers find you through a map rather than a feed of listings. No algorithms, no bidding, no strangers messaging your personal profile.

How does SideStall make money?

SideStall is built and run by a two-person team. Subscriptions and platform fees help cover the costs of running the app — hosting, maps, payment processing — so we can keep the free tier free and keep improving the platform.

Am I a hobby seller or running a business?

Hobby: you do it for fun or personal enjoyment. Sales are occasional and unplanned (like offloading surplus tomatoes to a mate). No ABN needed, no GST, you don't declare the income — but you also can't claim any deductions.

Business: you're operating with a genuine intention to make a profit, in a repeated and organised way. That means keeping records, advertising, reinvesting, having regular customers, and treating it like more than a weekend pastime. You'll need an ABN, you declare the income, and you can claim deductions against it. If you turn over more than $75,000 (the current GST threshold) you'll also need to register for GST.

The ATO uses a bunch of indicators to decide which side you fall on:

• • the size and scale of what you're doing
• • whether you've got a business plan
• • whether you're keeping proper books
• • whether you're actively trying to grow it

The grey area is real. Someone selling eggs from their backyard every Saturday, posting about it on Facebook, and reinvesting in more chooks has probably tipped from hobby into business territory — even if it feels small.

If you're not sure where you sit, the ATO has a free guide that walks you through it: Are you in business? Worth spending five minutes on, or having a quick chat with your accountant.

This is general information, not personal tax advice. The ATO's tool and your accountant are the right places to confirm your situation.

How do I cancel a pre-order?

If the seller hasn't accepted your pre-order yet (it's still in Requested), open the pre-order in the app and tap Cancel pre-order. No money has moved at that stage, so the cancel goes through immediately.

Once the seller has confirmed your pre-order, you can no longer cancel from inside the app. Email support@sidestall.au with the order number (tap Copy order ID on the pre-order screen to grab it) and a short explanation. We review every request and, if approved, process the refund within 24 hours.

How do I get a refund?

Email support@sidestall.au with your order number. Refunds are issued through Stripe to whichever card or account you used for the original payment — your bank typically posts it within 5–10 business days. Stripe's own processing fee is not returned by Stripe on a refund; SideStall absorbs that on every refund, so you never pay it.

Why can't I cancel a confirmed pre-order from inside the app?

Once a seller has accepted a pre-order, payment may have already been captured and the seller may have set product aside. There are also fairness questions — whether the cancellation is buyer-driven, seller-driven, or no-fault affects who absorbs the platform fee. Routing post-confirmed cancellations through our support team means a real person reviews each case and applies the right outcome. See Section 5 of our Terms for the full policy.

I'm a seller and I can't fulfil a pre-order I confirmed. What do I do?

Email support@sidestall.au with the order number as soon as you know — the buyer is expecting their order and the sooner we know, the smoother the refund. In seller-fault cases (couldn't supply, no-show, mis-listed product), the SideStall application fee is retained against your next payout rather than refunded to you. Stripe's processing fee is still absorbed by SideStall. See Section 5 of our Terms for the full policy.

What personal information is visible to other users?

Only your first name and profile photo are shown to other users. Your last name, email address, and phone number are never displayed. If you're a seller, your stall location can be hidden so buyers see only the general area.

Does SideStall track my location?

SideStall uses your device location to show you stalls nearby. Background location tracking is available as an opt-in feature and is off by default. Any location history you do share is automatically deleted after 14 days. Your location is never visible to other users.

Can I delete my account?

Yes — you can do it yourself in the app. Go to Profile > Delete account, type DELETE to confirm, and tap Delete account. This permanently deactivates your account, closes all your stalls, and removes your login. Your profile, products, and messages are deleted or anonymised, and the action can't be undone.

You can't delete your account while you have active orders — let those complete (or cancel them) first. If you've already uninstalled the app or can't sign in, see sidestall.au/delete-account for the email fallback.

How do I report a problem?

You can report a stall or block a user directly in the app via the menu on their profile or stall page. For general issues or feedback, email us at hello@sidestall.au.