What is the Lovebug's Children’s Business Fair?
The Lovebug's Children's Business Fair, sponsored in part by Acton Children’s Business Fair inspires children to discover their inner entrepreneur. The Lovebug's Children's Business Fair in Houston/Spring Branch is the largest in the Houston area for kid entrepreneurs. The Acton Children's Business fair started out as the largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America, this one-day market gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses. Local cities, organized by individuals chosen by Acton are all over the world.
How many businesses will you accept?
We will accept up to 50 businesses. Booth fee is $20.
Children need to be 1st grade-high school seniors.
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?
Preliminary Application must be submitted online for approval purposes. 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. Mrs. Walton will contact you if your booth is accepted for the fair and offer payment instructions.
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? All items MUST be made/created by the entrepreneur. No store bought/resold items allowed.
- 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 slime making 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 an outdoor event with booths. Each business will be given a 10x10 foot area to set up their space as they wish. You must provide your own tent, tables and chairs. We are not able to accommodate businesses requiring electricity.
At this time, handmade food/drink items CAN be sold, but should the city implement new rules due to Covid, you will be notified. If you have questions, please ask!
Will electricity be available?
Unfortunately, we have very little access to electricity. We are not able to provide electricity to all the booths.
What are the rules?
This event is designed to give children, 1st grade-12th grade, 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. (Yes, parents can help set up the tables and tents if you choose to bring one!)
Parents may help their child fill out the application, but we expect the children to do as much as possible by themselves.
**ALL ITEMS MUST BE CREATED BY THE CHILD AND NOT PURCHASED/RESOLD ITEMS. For example, if a child were to purchase hairbows from the dollar store, but embellishes them with paints or beads, etc... that would be fine. Plain bows purchased and resold would not be.
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.