The World Cup is coming to Seattle. Will it actually pay off for local businesses?

This summer, Seattle becomes one of 16 North American cities to host FIFA World Cup matches.

That includes six games, a projected 750,000 visitors, and nearly a billion dollars flowing into King County.

Whether your favorite local business catches a windfall or gets relegated to the sidelines depends partly on how well they prepare, according to Lynnette Buffington with the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.

One key lesson her organization has drawn from past mega-events is that foot traffic outside a store or restaurant does not automatically mean money. Just ask business owners in the Chinatown-International District who watched Taylor Swift fans rush through their neighborhood without stopping.

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Here are ten important strategies from the Chamber's "Small Business Readiness Playbook," which has also been translated into graphic novel form.

1. Many fans won't have time to linger at restaurants.

Focus on picnic packs and grab-and-go options to catch soccer fans as they move in large groups past your store, as they may not have time to sit down. Think about upgrading your point-of-sale technology, too, with the aim of moving people through your store like a river rather than blocking them at checkout like a dam.

2. Move the inside to the outside.

During some past mega-events in Seattle, businesses reported fans streaming by their storefronts without entering. So, go to where the people are. Move some of your goods and maybe even your checkout setup outside. Apply for sidewalk café permits early, so you don’t miss deadlines. Some forms of sidewalk vending don't require permits; others do. Email SDOTPermits@seattle.gov or call 206-684-5253, and a City of Seattle staffer can coach you through it.

3. Consider adjusting your operating hours to fit the match schedule.

World Cup games will play in different North American time zones in different cities, and people will need places to watch those games. Bakeries might get very early morning tourist traffic before games. Bars might see late surges after games. A neighborhood café miles from the stadium could suddenly become a fan hangout for one afternoon.

4. Turn downtime into tourism.

Visitors will be in Seattle for several days, not just the matches. Businesses can create "between matches" promotions. Those times could be an opportunity to take a guided tour or take a picnic in a park.

5. Familiarize yourself with the trademark and licensing minefield that is FIFA.

"World Cup" is trademarked. "Summer of Soccer" is not. Bars and restaurants can play the game on their screens as part of normal business, but advertising a "World Cup watch party" with sponsors and an admission charge requires a special license from FIFA. The organization’s enforcement extends to social media. Breweries face additional branding restrictions. Visit Seattle offers some free branding materials businesses can use to avoid getting in trouble.

6. Train your employees to recognize fake $100 bills and other scams.

These tend to circulate during mega-events. Unfortunately, human trafficking rates also rise during these times. Training guides to spot this activity are also available.

7. Stock critical deliveries early.

Think of it like preparing for a snowstorm, except the snow is tourists. On the other hand, don’t over-order supplies that you can’t sell later. This happened to some stores when Taylor Swift came to town. Friendship bracelets sold like hotcakes, but some other goods did not.

8. Use the event to build long-term customers.

Capture visitor emails, encourage social media follows, and promote online sales. Turn tourists into repeat customers after they go home.

9. Communicate with your regular customers, too.

Some businesses could suffer when regular customers stay away for fear of crowds.

10. The businesses that benefit most may not be the ones closest to the stadium.

They’ll be the ones that solve small problems for visitors: finding food quickly, navigating the city, or killing time between matches.

Hear more stories like this one on Booming, KUOW's podcast about the economic forces shaping our lives in the Pacific Northwest.