Vodun Days Stand Profit Calculator

In January 2026, 118 businesses sold from the reserved stands at Vodun Days in Ouidah, and the businesses trading around the festival sites took in about six times their usual daily revenue, according to Benin’s statistics institute. The 2027 edition runs for eight days instead of three, from 2 to 9 January, so the opportunity is bigger. So are the costs. This free calculator shows whether a stand will pay for itself before you commit stock, staff and a stand fee.

FREE TOOL

Vodun Days Stand Profit Calculator

Will a stand at Vodun Days 2027 in Ouidah (2 to 9 January) pay for itself? Enter your prices, costs and expected sales to see profit, break-even and a daily target, in CFA francs.

1. Your stand
2. Sales
3. Running costs
4. Payments and tax
Method and sources
  • Sales = (opening days x sales per opening day + peak days x sales per peak day) x average sale.
  • Variable costs per sale = cost of goods, wastage on that cost, the merchant fee on the mobile money share, and the tax set-aside.
  • Fixed costs = stand fee, helpers' pay for every day you trade, lodging, transport and setup.
  • Break-even = fixed costs divided by what each sale leaves after variable costs, rounded up.
  • Dates: Vodun Days 2027 runs 2 to 9 January in Ouidah; 7 and 8 January are public holidays (Government of Benin, August 2026). Stand applications close 16 November 2026 at inscriptions.vodundays.bj; the Food Court call at Place Maro closes 10 November 2026 and is open only to food businesses legally registered in Benin.
  • TPS: 5% of sales for sole proprietors with sales up to XOF 50 million, minimum XOF 10,000 a year plus a XOF 4,000 levy. It is an annual tax on all your sales, so treat this line as a set-aside, not a bill.
  • Exchange rates: open.er-api.com, fetched only when you press Calculate. The euro is fixed at XOF 655.957. If the rate service fails, fixed fallback rates are used and a warning shows.

Planning estimate only. Sales at a festival are hard to predict, so test a low-sales case before you commit stock. Nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere; only the exchange rate is fetched. MetricSuite.tools is not a tax or financial adviser. Questions: info@metricsuite.tools.

How to use the calculator

  1. Pick your stand type. Crafts and goods load different starting values from food, because food has lower prices, higher volume and more wastage.
  2. Enter how many days you will trade. Opening days (2 to 6 January) are ordinary working days in Benin. Peak days (7 to 9 January) are when the crowds arrive, and 7 and 8 January are public holidays.
  3. Enter your average sale, your cost per sale and the number of sales you expect on a normal day and on a peak day.
  4. Add your fixed costs: stand fee, helpers, lodging, transport and setup.
  5. Press Calculate. You get your profit, the number of sales you need to break even, and how much each trading day earns you.

Who can apply, and the deadlines

There are three separate calls for Vodun Days 2027, and the dates are close:

  • Food Court at Place Maro: run by Benin Tourism. Applications close 10 November 2026 at 5:30 pm. Open only to food businesses legally registered in Benin, with at least one year of activity. You need your tax ID (IFU), trade register entry (RCCM), up-to-date tax, CNSS and non-bankruptcy certificates, a priced menu and a signature dish. Selected vendors get a fitted stand, must trade all eight days, and sell at prices capped by the organisers.
  • Village stands (artisans, creators, merchants): applications close 16 November 2026 on the official portal, inscriptions.vodundays.bj.
  • Media and content creator accreditation: closes 1 December 2026 on the same portal.

Stand fees for 2027 were not published when we built this tool. Leave the fee at zero to see your margin before the fee, then enter the real figure from your convention.

What decides whether a festival stand makes money

Peak days carry the event. Most of your sales will land on 7, 8 and 9 January. If your plan only works because the quiet opening days are busy, it is a risky plan. Try setting the opening days to half your estimate and see what is left.

Fixed costs come due whether people buy or not. Helpers’ pay runs for every day you trade, and lodging in Ouidah is scarce and expensive during the festival. If you can commute from Cotonou, about 40 km away, set lodging nights to zero and add the extra trips to transport.

Price caps squeeze food margins. Food Court vendors sell at capped prices, so your cost per plate decides your profit. Cost every dish before you apply, and use wastage of 8% or more for fresh food.

Mobile money fees are small, but they add up. If many customers pay by MoMo or Moov Money, enter your merchant rate. One percent on a busy stand can still be tens of thousands of CFA francs.

Set tax aside from day one. A sole proprietor on the TPS regime pays 5% of annual sales. The calculator holds back that share of your festival sales so you do not spend money that belongs to the tax office.

Not registered yet?

The Food Court only accepts businesses that are legally set up in Benin. Registration at monentreprise.bj is quick and cheap. Check the costs in our African Business Registration Cost Estimator, compare TPS and the real regime in the Benin Business Tax Calculator, and see low-cost ideas in Start a Business in Benin With $500.

Once you are trading, keep every sale and expense in one place with our Bookkeeping Workbook.

Coming to Vodun Days as a visitor?

Read our guide, Vodun Days 2027: Dates, Costs and How to Plan From Abroad, for dates, visas, where to stay and a full trip budget. Everything we have on Benin is on the Benin hub.

FAQ

When are Vodun Days 2027?

From 2 to 9 January 2027 in Ouidah, Benin. The 2027 edition runs eight days instead of the usual three. Thursday 7 and Friday 8 January are public holidays.

How do I apply for a stand at Vodun Days 2027?

Apply online at inscriptions.vodundays.bj before 16 November 2026. Restaurants apply separately through Benin Tourism’s Food Court call, which closes on 10 November 2026 at 5:30 pm.

Can I get a Food Court stand if my business is not registered in Benin?

No. The Food Court call is reserved for food businesses legally established in Benin, with documents such as the tax ID, trade register entry and tax and CNSS certificates.

How much does a stand at Vodun Days cost?

The 2027 stand fees had not been published when this tool was built. Enter the fee from your convention in the calculator to see your break-even point.

How many sales do I need to break even at Vodun Days?

Divide your fixed costs (stand fee, staff, lodging, transport, setup) by what each sale leaves after stock, wastage, payment fees and tax. The calculator does this for you and gives a daily target.

Do I pay tax on festival sales in Benin?

Yes. Festival sales count toward your annual turnover. Small sole proprietors on TPS pay 5% of annual sales, with a minimum of XOF 10,000 plus a XOF 4,000 levy.

Sources (live URLs)