Acton Children's Business Fair Lansing, Michigan
Saturday, August 2, 2025
10:00AM - 1:00PM
Currently accepting applications 🏁
Apply to the fair
About the fair
Observe the opportunity for children to launch their very own startup business!
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 host 40 booths at the 2nd Annual Children's Business Fair at the. The fair will be held on Saturday August 5th from 10am-1pm. Bring your friends and family and come enjoy visiting the young entrepreneurs!
This event is sponsored by Acton Academy, Sanctuary Academy of Dewitt, Advanced Real Estate Solutions, and the generous support of our donors and volunteers. We all believe that principled entrepreneurs are heroes and role models for the next generation.
Whether an entrepreneur is famous like Elon Musk 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.
Hosted by
Monica Poff
🗓️ Started hosting in 2022
✅ Identity verified
🚀 Has hosted 3 fairs
Monica Poff, Director of Sanctuary Academy of Dewitt
Bio: I am a passionate entrepreneur, mother, homeschooler, and counselor. I want my children and others to learn about entrepreneurship in a practical and fun way! I have seen the value of participating in the fair for my own children, who are now seeking ways to hone their business skills and look for new challenges. The business fair also provides a great taste of what we offer at Sanctuary Academy of Dewitt: a learner-driven environment where children explore their gifts, talents and passions and develop leadership and critical thinking skills.
Matt Poff, Advanced Real Estate Solutions
Bio: I am a grateful husband to Monica, father, small business owner, and active community member in St. John's, MI. I love being a part of this fair and introducing young people to the concepts of business, giving them a chance to have fun and learn valuable life lessons. We are blessed to have this opportunity to host the fair and connect with as many courageous young people as possible!
Bio: I am a passionate entrepreneur, mother, homeschooler, and counselor. I want my children and others to learn about entrepreneurship in a practical and fun way! I have seen the value of participating in the fair for my own children, who are now seeking ways to hone their business skills and look for new challenges. The business fair also provides a great taste of what we offer at Sanctuary Academy of Dewitt: a learner-driven environment where children explore their gifts, talents and passions and develop leadership and critical thinking skills.
Matt Poff, Advanced Real Estate Solutions
Bio: I am a grateful husband to Monica, father, small business owner, and active community member in St. John's, MI. I love being a part of this fair and introducing young people to the concepts of business, giving them a chance to have fun and learn valuable life lessons. We are blessed to have this opportunity to host the fair and connect with as many courageous young people as possible!
Frequently asked questions
What is the Acton Children’s Business Fair?
The Acton Children’s Business Fair inspires children 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 and what is the cost?
We will accept up to 40 businesses, and the cost is $10 per business.
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 either a 6-foot or 8-foot table, and 2 chairs. Table cloths will not be provided. There will not be tent coverings, but individual businesses are welcome to set up a tent for their own booth. We are not able to accommodate businesses requiring electricity.
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.
