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 up to 50 booths at the 3rd annual event in Oak Ridge on Saturday, April 13th from 1:00pm – 4:00pm.
This event is sponsored by Beacon Academy in Stokesdale, 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
Meredith Carlton
🗓️ Started hosting in 2018
✅ Identity verified
🚀
Has hosted
5 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!
We hosted our first CBF in Stokesdale in 2021, and have held the fairs at Oak Ridge Town Park in subsequent years. We are thankful to the town of Oak Ridge for providing the space for us.
The CBF is a blast!! Participants come, set up their booths with decorations and their products, and we open the fair for 3 hours so real customers can come purchase products that kids have worked so hard to make. We have music, raffle prizes, and customers vote on the businesses they think have the "Highest Business Potential," "Most Creative Idea," and more. Each year we are so impressed with the young entrepreneurs' creativity. They sell things from cookies, to original artwork, to handmade jewelry!
Please come out on the day of the fair to support the business leaders of tomorrow!!
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 up to 50 businesses.
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?
Children, ages 6-14 can participate. 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.).
What is the application deadline? We will take application up until April 10th. However we encourage participants to apply as early as possible.
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 an outdoor event with booths. Each business will be given a booth with an 8-foot table to share with one other business, and 1-2 chairs. We encourage businesses to bring a 10x10 canopy for shade, and table cloths that match your display. Unfortunately 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 prizes.
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.
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.
The Acton Children's Business Fair does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin and admits and gives all hosts and participants access to the same rights, privileges, programs and activities.
