The Memphis Children’s Business Fair inspires children to discover their inner entrepreneur. Sponsored by BookIt4Life Book & Social Club and Acton, the largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America, this one-day market gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses.

We will accept up to 40 businesses (20 per time slot).

Start with our resources page. Read inspiring stories about other young entrepreneurs and play games to hone your business skills.

Applications 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.
Is there a fee?
Yes, there is a $25 vendor fee, per application (not person) and per time slot. This fee will go towards the cost of our facility and can be submitted at the end of this 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?

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 with two available time slots (10:30am - 1:30pm and 2:15pm - 5:15pm). You will receive an email to choose a time slot, once the application is approved.
Each business will be given a 8-foot table, a black tablecloth, and 2 chairs, specific to mall requirements. We are not able to accommodate businesses requiring electricity.

Unfortunately, we are not able to provide electricity to the booths. Any vendors caught in use of nearby outlets, for your booth, will be asked to leave.

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 (by haggling/harassment of mall shoppers), their child’s business will asked to leave.

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.