The Manatee Youth Business Fair is a first time event that is intended to become and annual event.
Its is sponsored by Friends of the Rocky Bluff Library in conjunction with Acton Academy. Acton Academy's Acton Children’s Business Fairs inspire children to discover their inner entrepreneur. It is the largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America, this one-day market gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses.

Space is limited and dependent on applicants. We are looking for a balance of youth ages 6 -17 that are in elementary, middle, and high schools. Homeschoolers are welcome too. All businesses must be approved.

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

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. If you do not know all the information to input into the registration form fields - you may apply with those sections blank and event coordinators Patty White or Chi Kulig will get in touch with you to give you guidance.

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 a tented outdoor event in the parking lot of the Rocky Bluff Library. Each business will be provided a 6-foot table and 2 chairs. Businesses will need to bring and set-up their own tents with a maximum size of 12 x12. Participants are responsible for any additional items they may need (additional tables, table clothes, signage etc.).

Rules & Guidelines

· Applicants must be between the ages of 6 - 17 on or before the application deadline and reside in Manatee County, Florida. All applicants must be approved by the event committee to be in the fair.

The Friends of Rocky Bluff Library will collect a $10 participation fee from all accepted business ideas that will be refunded upon successful completion of the event. Please make your checks out to the Friends of the Rocky Bluff library and specify that is for the Manatee Youth Business Fair on it and give them to he front desk staff at the library. Registration will be complete once your checks are dropped off to the library.
Inappropriate content, including but not limited to profanity, vulgarity, excessive violence, drug or alcohol use, or material considered offensive to any religious or ethnic groups, gender, or physically or mentally challenged persons is not permitted.
Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied and supervised always by an adult or guardian.
Power will not be available for businesses, so participants should refrain from the use of electricity in their set-ups.
Each business will be provided a 6-foot table and 2 chairs. Participants are responsible for any additional items they may need ( additional tables, table clothes, tents, etc.).
No more than 3 participants per booth/business idea. Parents of younger children may sit in their booth, but the children are to be responsible for setup, sales and interacting with the customers.
This event is designed to give children a taste of selling a product and running a business. Parents, please encourage them to engage in that experience on their own.

· Participation in this event will be a commitment. Before registering please consider the following:

o What is your business?

o What is your business called?

o How will you promote the goods or services you will be selling?

· Please enjoy yourselves and have fun in this exciting event! This event is designed to help applicants gain financial education and business skills as well as develop new confidences.

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.