What is a pop-up shop license agreement?
A pop-up shop license agreement lets a brand or trader use retail space for a short period — a weekend, a holiday season, a product launch or a few months in an empty unit. Because the arrangement is short and the owner keeps control of the premises, it is usually structured as a licence rather than a lease, so it doesn't create a tenancy.
The template covers the space and permitted use, separate set-up, trading and handback dates, minimum opening hours, a fixed licence fee with an optional percentage of sales (with a sales report and audit right), a deposit, light or approved fit-out and signage, the licensee's responsibilities for permits, sales and customer service, public and product liability insurance, handing the space back in its original condition, and ending early.
- Best for
- Pop-up shops, seasonal stores, shop-in-shops, launch events and empty-unit lets
- Signed by
- The owner (or tenant) of the space and the licensee brand
- Fee
- Fixed fee for the period, per week or per day — plus an optional sales share
- Length
- 3 pages, initialled on every page
When to Use a pop-up shop license agreement
- A landlord filling an empty shop unit for a holiday season
- An online brand testing a physical store for a month
- A boutique hosting a shop-in-shop for a partner brand
- A shopping centre licensing a short-term unit or kiosk
- A maker launching a new collection with a weekend pop-up
What You Fill In
22 blanks, then the name and email of each person who signs: owner, licensee.
1 The parties
- Owner (your business)*
- Owner address
- Licensee (brand or business)*
- Licensee address
2 The space
- Address of the premises*
- The space licensed*
- What the licensee will sell or do*
- Included with the space
3 Dates
- Access for setting up from*
- First trading day*
- Last trading day*
- Space cleared and handed back by*
- Minimum opening hours*
4 Fees
- Currency*
- Licence fee*
- Fee is* for the whole period · per week · per day
- Fee is paid*
- Share of sales to the owner (%)
- Security deposit
5 Fit-out and signs
- Fit-out* Light fit-out only · Fit-out as approved in writing
6 Other terms
- Minimum public liability insurance
- Governing law*
7 Who signs
- Owner signature and date, job title, initials on every page · The owner or tenant of the premises (or a store hosting a shop-in-shop).
- Licensee signature and date, job title, initials on every page · The brand or trader running the pop-up.
What the pop-up shop license agreement Covers
- The licence
- Dates and opening hours
- Fees
- Fit-out and signs
- The Licensee's responsibilities
- Insurance and liability
- Handback
- Ending early
- General
Using the pop-up shop license agreement, step by step
1 Describe the space and use
Enter the premises address, which part is licensed (a whole unit or a marked area), and what the licensee will sell. List what's included — power, Wi-Fi, existing shelving.
2 Set the four dates
Set-up access from, first and last trading days, and the date the space must be cleared and handed back, plus minimum opening hours.
3 Agree the money
Enter the licence fee and whether it covers the whole period, a week or a day. Add a sales share if the owner takes a percentage of net sales, and a deposit.
4 Fit-out and insurance, then send
Choose light fit-out only or fit-out approved in writing, set any minimum liability insurance, and send it. Collect proof of insurance before the set-up date.
Tips Before You Send It
- If you lease the space yourself, check your lease allows you to license it to others — the template has the owner confirm it has any consent needed.
- Photograph the space at set-up and at handback; the template encourages both parties to do so.
- Agree signage early — local signage rules and building managers can take time to approve.
- For a sales share, agree up front which till or payment system the report will come from.
Sign It Online In Minutes
- Fill in the blanks. Names, dates and amounts go straight into the agreement — the preview shows exactly where.
- Name who signs. Tick “This is me” for your own part. VergeHR builds the PDF with every signature, date and initials box on the right line, and you can check or move anything before sending.
- Send it. Each signer gets a secure link and signs from any device — no account needed. The signed PDF, with an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion, is filed in Files and emailed to everyone.
Pop-up shop license agreement: frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a licence and a lease?
A lease usually gives the tenant exclusive possession and can carry legal protections. A licence is a personal permission to use space for a purpose, with the owner keeping control. The template is written as a licence, but how a court treats an arrangement depends on the facts and local law.
Can the owner take a percentage of sales?
Yes, optionally. Enter a percentage and the licensee pays it on net sales from the space, sends a sales report within 7 days after the last trading day, and lets the owner check the records.
What if the licensee doesn't clear out on time?
The owner may clear the space at the licensee's cost, charge a reasonable fee for each extra day it is occupied, and dispose of items left behind after written notice.
Is a pop-up license signed online valid?
In most countries, including the US (ESIGN Act and UETA), the UK, the EU (eIDAS) and Canada, an electronic signature is generally valid for an ordinary commercial contract like this. Some property documents, such as certain long leases or deeds, may need extra formalities, but a short licence like this normally does not.
Is this template free?
Yes. The template is free to use with the eSignature app in VergeHR, and the licensee doesn't need a VergeHR login to sign.