> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://guides.seenmarkets.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to run an invite-only market

> Control which vendors can see your market in their portal, while still letting it appear publicly

## What invite-only means

An invite-only market is visible to everyone on your public market page, schedule page, and search — but the **Apply to be a Vendor** button is hidden. Vendors can only apply if you send them the direct application form link.

Additionally, only the vendors you've explicitly invited will see this market listed in their **vendor portal**. Uninvited vendors who visit the public market page won't find an apply button there.

Use invite-only when you want to:

* Pre-select returning vendors before opening applications broadly
* Run a closed event with a curated vendor list
* Soft-launch a new market to a specific group before going public

## Set a market to invite-only

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open your markets page">
    Go to [seenmarkets.com](https://seenmarkets.com/markets) and open the
    **Markets** tab.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Change the market status">
    Find the market card. Click the status pill (it will say **Draft** or
    **Published**) to open the status dropdown. Select **Invite Only**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm the status">
    The pill will update to show a lock icon and **Invite Only**. The market is
    now live on your public pages but the apply button is hidden.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  You can switch between Draft, Published, and Invite Only at any time from the
  same dropdown. Changing to **Published** re-enables the apply button for
  everyone.
</Note>

## Add vendors to your invite list

Once a market is set to invite-only, a **Manage Invites** link appears below the status pill on the market card.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the invite manager">
    Click **Manage Invites** on the market card. A panel opens showing your
    current invite list and a searchable list of candidates.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add vendors">
    Candidates are vendors who have previously applied to any of your markets.
    Search by name or business name, then click **Add** next to each vendor you
    want to invite.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Remove vendors">
    To remove someone from the invite list, click the **×** next to their name
    in the invited vendors section at the top of the panel.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Candidates are limited to vendors who have already applied to one of your
  markets. If you want to invite a brand-new vendor who has never applied
  before, send them the direct application form link instead (see below).
</Warning>

## Send vendors the application form

Being on the invite list means the vendor can see the market in their portal — it does not automatically approve them or submit an application for them. To actually apply, they need your application form link.

**Where to get it:** Market management page → Application Form section → copy the link.

Send this link directly to the vendors you've invited. When they open it and submit, they appear in your vendor management table for review.

## What vendors see

| Vendor type        | Sees market on schedule/search | Sees market in portal | Can apply            |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------ | --------------------- | -------------------- |
| On invite list     | Yes                            | Yes                   | Only via direct link |
| Not on invite list | Yes                            | No                    | Only via direct link |

The public market page is accessible to anyone with the URL regardless of invite status. The apply button just won't be there — so sharing the market page on social media is safe.

## Switch back to public

To re-open applications to everyone, click the **Invite Only** status pill and select **Published**. The apply button reappears on the market page and schedule page immediately.