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-morning market gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses.

Eligibility?
Any child aged 6-14 (on or before the date of the fair), from any neighborhood, are invited to develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace.

Attention Young Entrepreneurs

Here is your chance to turn an idea into a business!   

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 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 located indoors in the large gym space in the RSF Community Center. Each business will be assigned an 8-foot table and 1-2 chairs. Table cloths will not be provided. 

Attention cooks and bakers.
Food will be permitted to sell. We suggest individually wrapping your treats.

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.

ATTENTION PARENTS:
Please remember to keep this about the children. Let them imagine, create, and problem solve. Your job is to maintain enthusiasm and provide encouragement.
 
Keep it simple. This is a children’s fair. Let the business plan, booth, and sales reflect your child at her/his best, not your best.
 
Let your child do the work. Let them make mistakes and learn from them. Let her/him problem solve and come up with his own solutions. Let your child be the Chair of the Board, CEO, and owner of his/her ideas.

Will masks be required at the event?
Yes.

Are there any fees?
We are asking for a $20.00 booth fee for each business to secure your spot.  This will include a table and chairs.

Is there an age limit?
Applicants must be between the ages of 6 - 14 on or before the APPLICATION OPEN date. 

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.

Interested in supporting the event?
If you are interested in volunteering or sponsoring the event, please email joannadubbeldam@hotmail.com