Acton Children's Business Fair Tallahassee, FL
Saturday, September 28, 2019
12:00PM - 4:00PM
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About the fair
Observe the opportunity for children ages 5-17 to launch their very own business from simply doing things they love. Whether it be creating handmade crafts or delicious cookies come see how kids develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace.
We will be hosting many amazing kid-entrepreneurs at our event located at 1330 Lake Bradford Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32304 on Saturday, March 9th , 2019 from 12pm – 4pm.
Applications are due by February 28th, 2019 by 11:59pm. Applicants will be notified within 3-5 business days of submitting their application whether or not their application have been approved. There is a $15 registration fee for all approved kid-entrepreneurs. This fee includes a t-shirt which is to be worn at the event. We are also working with local small businesses and individuals as sponsors to assist with providing FREE Business Kits for each kid business. Business Kits will include a business manual/resource guide, a certificate of participation, coupons to local businesses,
There is no competition as we want to encourage the children to really grasp the concept of selling products/services for profit and communicating with customers over competing with peers. So we want our children to have fun without worrying about a contest situation.
This event is sponsored by Unique Wonders Junkanoo Cafe and Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, and the generous support of our donors/sponsors and volunteers. We all believe that principled entrepreneurs are heroes and role models for the next generation.
Whether an entrepreneur is famous like Walt Disney or Oprah Winfrey or they are one of the thousands of unsung business owners across this country, these are the people who make sacrifices to innovate, create jobs and serve their communities.
We hope to inspire and awaken creativity in the next future small business owners in our community.
We will be hosting many amazing kid-entrepreneurs at our event located at 1330 Lake Bradford Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32304 on Saturday, March 9th , 2019 from 12pm – 4pm.
Applications are due by February 28th, 2019 by 11:59pm. Applicants will be notified within 3-5 business days of submitting their application whether or not their application have been approved. There is a $15 registration fee for all approved kid-entrepreneurs. This fee includes a t-shirt which is to be worn at the event. We are also working with local small businesses and individuals as sponsors to assist with providing FREE Business Kits for each kid business. Business Kits will include a business manual/resource guide, a certificate of participation, coupons to local businesses,
There is no competition as we want to encourage the children to really grasp the concept of selling products/services for profit and communicating with customers over competing with peers. So we want our children to have fun without worrying about a contest situation.
This event is sponsored by Unique Wonders Junkanoo Cafe and Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, and the generous support of our donors/sponsors and volunteers. We all believe that principled entrepreneurs are heroes and role models for the next generation.
Whether an entrepreneur is famous like Walt Disney or Oprah Winfrey or they are one of the thousands of unsung business owners across this country, these are the people who make sacrifices to innovate, create jobs and serve their communities.
We hope to inspire and awaken creativity in the next future small business owners in our community.
Hosted by
Rochelle Johnson
🗓️ Started hosting in 2018
🚀 Has hosted 3 fairs
We are a team of passionate entrepreneurs, teachers, mentors, and parents, who want our children to learn about entrepreneurship in a practical and fun way.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Acton Children’s Business Fair?
The Acton Children’s Business Fair inspires ch ildren to discover their inner entrepreneur. The largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America, this one-day market gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses.
How many businesses will you accept?
We will accept up to 36 businesses.
Where should I begin?
Start with our resources page. Read inspiring stories about other young entrepreneurs and play games to hone your business skills.
How do I apply? Can I apply as part of a group?
Application must be submitted online. Please submit one application for each business. Children working as a group should submit one application that includes each child’s information. No more than 3 participants per business.
What is on the application?
The application asks kids to think through some simple, but important elements of their business:
- What product or service do you plan to sell?
- What price will you charge for each product/service? How much will each product/service cost you?
- How will you pay for your startup costs? If someone is helping you with your startup costs, how will you pay that person back?
- How will you advertise/market your business before the fair?
- At the end of the fair, how will you determine if your business was a success?
What if someone else has the same business idea?
Two cupcake businesses? Not a problem. In general, we will let market forces play out, though we will let later entries know if another applicant has a similar idea so the later entrant can decide what to do.
How will the fair be set up?
The fair will be a tented outdoor event with booths. Each business will be given a booth with an 8-foot table (to share with one other business), full-cover tenting, and 1-2 chairs. Table cloths will not be provided. We are not able to accommodate businesses requiring electricity.
Will electricity be available?
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide electricity to the booths.
What are the rules?
This event is designed to give children the experience of selling a product or service. If a parent is found selling or promoting a child’s product or service, their child’s business will be disqualified from the competition.
Parents of younger children may sit in the booth, but the children should be responsible for set up, customer interaction, and sales.
Parents may help their child fill out the application, but we expect the children to do as much as possible by themselves.
How did the Acton Children’s Business Fair get started?
Jeff and Laura Sandefer and a few other families wanted to spark a sense of wonder and entrepreneurship in their children so they created the first Acton Children’s Business Fair in Austin, Texas, in 2007. That year, there were seven entrepreneurs and around 25 attendees. Now, there are over 115 entrepreneurs and 1,500 attendees at the Acton Children's Business Fair in Austin.
