Children's Business Fair Stoughton, WI
Currently accepting applications 🏁
Booth fee: $10 · Refund policy
Apply for a booth RSVP as a shopperThe host reviews every application and replies by email.
We are accepting applications until November 5th. Please note - a $10 participation fee is required as part of the application submission.
Download business planning handouts to help you prepare for the Fair.
Prior to the event, applicants are encouraged to attend one of the planning workshops. The first workshop will be May 30, 2026, 1 to 2 PM at the Innovation Center Stoughton. The second workshop will be August 15, 10 to 11 AM. Sign up at innovationcenterstoughton.org
- Applicants must be between the ages of 6 - 14 on or before the day of the fair.
- The deadline to apply for the fair is 10pm on November 4th.
- All accepted entries will be automatically entered in the business competition, and booths will be judged on a variety of criteria, including most original business idea, highest business potential, and best presentation/creativity.
- Cash prizes of $50 per category and age group (to be split among the business owners) will be presented at the conclusion of the fair.
- No businesses requiring electricity or generators will be allowed.
- Each booth consists of a 6-foot table and 2 chairs. Table covers are not provided.
- No more than 3 participants per booth/business idea.
- We will establish a firm cap of participants based on location and resources.
- If an applicant’s business idea is similar to entries that were accepted before the applicant’s submission, we will notify the applicant and provide the opportunity to resubmit a new application.
- 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. Please let them have that experience.
Any parent seen selling to the customer or promoting the child’s product will result in disqualification from the competition.
- The deadline to apply is 10pm on November 4th.
- Please submit one application for each business. (Children working as a group may submit one application with all children’s info.)
- The competition will be judged in the following FOUR age categories: Ages 6-8, 9-10, 11-12, and 13-14 in the following areas: Most Business Potential, Most Creative Idea, and Most Impressive Presentation.
- If children of different age groups prepare a booth together, they will be judged in the age group of the oldest participant.
- There will be NO soliciting personal/individual business sponsors for your child's product.
- Please note that you may help your child fill out the booth application, but depending on their age, they are expected to do as much as possible by themselves.
Katrina Becker
🗓️ Started hosting in 2017
✅ Identity verified
⭐️ 4.7 (7)
3 booths participating
Innovation Center Stoughton
Wags & Tails
And 1 others.
Frequently asked questions
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 children in North America, this one-day market gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses.
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 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.
What are the rules?
This event is designed to give children the experience of selling a product or service.
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.
