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.

We are excited to bring the Children's Business Fair to the Lubbock area to give kids an opportunity to develop their entrepreneurial skills, to be creative, and to share their special gifts and talents with others.

We will accept up to 20 businesses.  Applicants must be between the ages of 6 and 18.  Additional applicants will be placed on a waiting list. 

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.

The application asks kids to think through some simple, but important elements of their business:

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.

The fair will be an indoor event. Each business will be given a space with a 6-foot table and 1-2 chairs. Table cloths will not be provided. We are not able to accommodate businesses requiring electricity.

Unfortunately, we are not able to provide electricity to the booths.

This event is designed to give children the experience of selling a product or service on their own. We require parents to be as hands-off as possible during the process of planning, creating, and selling. (We know it's hard!)

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.

*We understand that some children have special needs, and may require additional support from a parent. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at kidpreneurlubbock@gmail.com prior to submitting an application.

Parents of participating children are expected to check their email and social media communications regarding the event on a daily basis, as these are our primary means of communication with the group.

Is there are participation fee?

Businesses are required to pay a non-refundable $10 fee to secure a booth as part of their investment into their business once their application is accepted.  This investment is part of the authentic experience we are aiming to create for our kidpreneurs. Approved businesses will be provided with further information about how to pay this fee.

Will children be photographed during the event?

Yes! The fair will be documented by a professional photographer and the resulting digital media will be used to market the event and share its success with the community and the world! By applying for a booth at the fair, parents are thereby agreeing to allow the Lubbock Children's Business Fair permission to photograph and film their Child(ren) and use the resulting digital media at our discretion without compensation.

Will you keep my information private?

Yes! We are committed to keeping your personal information (such as your full name, email address, school, phone number etc.) private and will not share such information with any third-party. This information is only for internal purposes.

I want to participate but I'm not sure what to sell!

There are so many wonderful and unique ideas out there.  Here are a few to get you started:

PRODUCT BUSINESSES:
Knitted hats, scarves, toys
Hair accessories/jewelry
Bookmarks, Books, Stationary
Original artwork
Handmade soap, bath bombs, lotions, or candles
Pet toys/treats
Woodworking - painted signs, string art
Used toy/clothing sale
Upcycled/repurposed items (get creative!)
Painted rocks (pet rocks are still awesome!)
Baked goods/Food items (*must follow Texas Cottage Food Laws https://texascottagefoodlaw.com)

ACTIVITY BUSINESSES:
Design your own buttons
Design your own t-shirt
Crafting
Carnival Games
Balloon Animals
Photo booth

What about direct sales?

We do not allow direct/national sales of any kind. Examples would include Avon, Scentsy, and Girl Scout cookies. We understand that children can learn about customer interaction and financial literacy through these businesses, but they do not support the mission of the Lubbock Children's Business Fair. If you have any questions about a particular business idea, please don't hesitate to contact us! 

Unsure where to start? Our advice is to keep it simple.

Start with the resources page on the main www.childrensbusinessfair.org site. Read inspiring stories about other young entrepreneurs and play games to hone your business skills. 

Feel free to do some research online about marketing, branding and profit. Explore examples of great product pitches, learn about interacting with customers, and get down to business creating your product or developing your service and putting the details together for your booth! Try practicing your pitch and customer service skills for family and friends at home! 

You'll learn the most by getting your "hands dirty" and figuring things out all on your own.

Tip for parents: let your child follow their passion and interests! Ask them questions about what THEY find interesting, or what they would want to buy as a customer. 

A few more thoughts:

This is meant to be a fun experience for the youth of our community. While we want the event to be successful for our vendors, it is not meant to be overwhelming or stressful for the kids involved. This is not "Shark Tank"! Help them keep that in mind as they move through the process.

If you have ANY questions or concerns about the Lubbock Children's Business Fair, please don't hesitate to contact us at kidpreneurlubbock@gmail.com

How can I support the Lubbock Children's Business Fair?

We are currently accepting sponsors and in-kind donations to offset the costs of the event. Email us at kidpreneurlubbock@gmail.com for more information.

We are still seeking sponsors and in-kind donations of t-shirt design & printing services, as well as sign printing services.

You can also show your support by following us on social media, and sharing the information with your friends!

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.