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The Deadline for applications is October 1st. All children ages 5-17 are welcome to apply.
Acton Children's Business Fair at The Grounds 1488
Saturday, October 24, 2020
10:00AM - 1:00PM
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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 20 booths at the 1st annual event at The Grounds 1488 on October 24th from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.
This event is sponsored by Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, 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
Kami Lamoreaux
🗓️ Started hosting in 2018
✅ Identity verified
🚀 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.
26 booths participating
Snazzy Creations
Fall Art
And 24 others.
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?
We will accept approximately 20 businesses.
Is there a fee to participate?
Yes, there is a $10 application fee that must be paid for by the applicant (either by using their savings or by earning the money by doing extra chores around the house. You will receive an email with a Paypal link once your business is approved.
Is there a fee to participate?
Yes, there is a $10 application fee that must be paid for by the applicant (either by using their savings or by earning the money by doing extra chores around the house. You will receive an email with a Paypal link once your business is approved.
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 have a 10X10 space. Your will need to provide your own table, canopy, chair, tablecloth, etc. We are not be accepting food-related businesses. 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.
Food booths are not allowed; this extends to both homemade and store bought items (even if they are pre-packaged).
Are parents allowed to help their children make their products?
Since the purpose of the fair is for children to learn (and sometimes learning comes in failure) parents should provide as little assistance as possible. Some parents in the past felt justified in crafting their child's items to sell stating that the child was paying them as an employee (sorry this is not allowed).
Food booths are not allowed; this extends to both homemade and store bought items (even if they are pre-packaged).
Are parents allowed to help their children make their products?
Since the purpose of the fair is for children to learn (and sometimes learning comes in failure) parents should provide as little assistance as possible. Some parents in the past felt justified in crafting their child's items to sell stating that the child was paying them as an employee (sorry this is not allowed).
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.
How much time will we have to set-up our business?
Check-in will begin at 9:00 and you will have one hour to set up your business before the event begins at 10:00
How much time will we have to set-up our business?
Check-in will begin at 9:00 and you will have one hour to set up your business before the event begins at 10:00
