Questions? We Love Questions!

Everything you've been wondering about running an online farmers market, answered honestly

Taking the First Step

How fast can I go from dream to reality?

Usually within 24 hours—sometimes faster! One market manager signed up at breakfast and had their first sale by dinner. Complex setups might take 2-3 days, but that's still lightning fast.

What if computers and I aren't best friends?

Perfect! If you can send an email and shop online, you can run a LocallyGrown market. We built it for farmers and food lovers, not tech wizards. Your biggest challenge will be choosing which tomato photo looks most delicious.

How long has LocallyGrown been around?

Since 2002! We're not some startup that might disappear—we've been serving farmers markets for 23 years, survived three recessions and a pandemic, and were completely rebuilt in 2025 to last another 23 years. Read our full story →

Is there a catch? This sounds too good to be true.

No catch! We believe in your success so much that we only make money when you do. Start free, grow at your pace, pay 3% only on completed sales. It's that simple because it should be that simple. We've been doing this since 2002, and we're not going anywhere. Read our story →

What about winter? Can I hibernate my market?

Absolutely! Many markets take winters off or run seasonally. Pause anytime, restart whenever—no fees while you're closed. Your market waits patiently for spring, just like your customers.

Let's Talk Money (Simply)

Break down this 3% fee for me?

Gladly! Customer buys $100 of veggies = you pay us $3. Order cancelled? No fee. Market closed for a month? No fee. Only successful, happy sales trigger our tiny fee. It covers everything: hosting, emails, support, updates, peace of mind. This sustainable model lets us focus on serving markets for decades, not years. Learn about our 23-year commitment →

What about sneaky hidden fees?

Zero. Zilch. Nada. We hate hidden fees as much as you do. The 3% is it—covers everything we provide. Stripe charges their standard card fees (about 2.9% + 30¢) directly to your account, but that's between you and them.

When do my growers see their money?

Payments split automatically based on your rules. Card payments through Stripe arrive in 2-3 days. Cash at pickup goes home with growers same day. Everyone can track their earnings online, making tax time way less painful.

How do customers pay for their goodies?

However they want! Credit cards online (via your Stripe account), cash at pickup, checks from the checkbook dinosaurs—all good. Mix and match based on what your community prefers. Our 3% applies to all sales, Stripe adds their fee for cards only.

Why charge 3% instead of being free like Open Food Network?

Great question! We actually started with open source tools and spent years advocating for them. But what farmers and markets told us they really needed was freedom FROM managing software—not just free software. Our 3% funds reliable hosting, responsive support, and ongoing development. Read more about our philosophy →

The Nerdy Stuff (Made Simple)

Will my market look unique or cookie-cutter?

Unique as a purple carrot! Your logo, your colors, your subdomain (yourmarket.locallygrown.net). Choose from beautiful themes or go wild with custom CSS. Make it feel like your community's digital home. Want to see what's possible? Explore all our features →

Can people order from their phones?

Of course! Works beautifully on everything from ancient flip phones (okay, maybe not those) to the latest smartphones. Your customers can build their basket while waiting in the school pickup line.

Is my data safe? What about customer info?

Safer than eggs in a padded carton. Bank-level encryption, secure payment processing, nightly backups, the works. We protect your data like it's our grandmother's secret pickle recipe—seriously and with respect.

What if I need my data for taxes or marketing?

Export anything, anytime! Customer emails for newsletters, sales data for taxes, product reports for planning—it's all yours with a click. No holding your data hostage here.

What features are you building next?

We're actively developing! Next up: enhanced analytics (Dec 2025), mobile PWA (Jan 2026), SMS notifications (Feb 2026), and subscription management for CSAs (Q2 2026). We're transparent about what we're building and why. See our full product roadmap →

We've Got Your Back

Will I get actual help or just chatbots?

Real humans who understand farmers markets! Email us your questions, schedule a call, read guides written by people who've been there. Your free welcome call isn't a sales pitch—it's genuine help getting started.

My growers aren't tech-savvy. Will they struggle?

Not at all! We've trained growers who still use flip phones. Simple guides, group training calls, and a system designed for farmers, not engineers. Most growers are selling successfully within minutes. Still nervous? See how we stack up against more complex platforms →

Do I have to install updates or new versions?

Nope! Updates happen magically while you sleep. Wake up to new features, better security, smoother operations. No downloading, no IT department needed, no extra charges. Just continuous improvement, like a garden that weeds itself. Curious what we're working on next? Check our product roadmap →

I can grow vegetables, but can I grow a market?

Yes! We'll teach you. Marketing templates, success stories, connections with thriving market managers who love to share. You bring the passion for local food; we'll help with the rest.

How do you compare to other platforms?

We've done the homework for you! We honestly compare ourselves to Open Food Network, Local Line, and Local Food Marketplace—including where they're stronger and where we excel. We'd rather help you choose the right platform than the wrong one. See our honest comparison →

Still Wondering?

Ask us anything! We love talking about farmers markets almost as much as we love helping them succeed. No question too small, no dream too big.

These Might Help Too: