Acton Children's Business Fair Austin, Texas
Monday, March 29, 2027
5:00PM - 7:00PM
Currently accepting applications 🏁
Apply to the fair
About the fair
Are you looking for an opportunity for your child to launch their very first business?
At the 5th Annual Children's Business Fair, kids get the chance to develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open their business to real customers at our one-day marketplace.
Open to young entrepreneurs ages 6–16.
Imagine your child standing proudly behind a booth they designed themselves, selling a product they invented, and experiencing what it feels like to run a real business.
Kids will design their own booth, sell something they created, and keep the money they earn.
We will host only 100 booths at the 5th Annual Children's Business Fair in Bee Cave, TX, so spots are limited.
This event is hosted by Acton Academy Bee Cave, with the generous support of our donors and volunteers who believe in the power of young entrepreneurs.
We 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 one of the thousands of unsung small business owners across this country, these are the people who take risks, innovate, create jobs, and serve their communities.
And like any skill, entrepreneurship is best learned through practice.
That’s why we invite children and families to step into the real world of business and practice running their own company at the Children's Business Fair.
Each young entrepreneur will:
• Create a product or service
• Design their own brand and booth
• Set pricing and develop a marketing plan
• Sell directly to customers during the fair
• Design their own brand and booth
• Set pricing and develop a marketing plan
• Sell directly to customers during the fair
Cost: $35 per table
(To be paid by the Child Entrepreneur)
(To be paid by the Child Entrepreneur)
Hosted by
Matthew Briggs
🗓️ Started hosting in 2022
✅ Identity verified
⭐️ 4.9 (13)
Founder of Acton Academy Bee Cave - Matt and Sarah Briggs LOVE to support young people starting their own businesses and taking their own hero's journey's.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Acton Children’s Business Fair?
The Acton Children’s Business Fair inspires children to discover their inner entrepreneur.
As the largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America, this one-day marketplace gives children the opportunity to launch and run their very own business.
Young entrepreneurs develop a product or service, build a brand, create a marketing strategy, and then open their business to real customers for a day.
It is a powerful opportunity for children to experience what it feels like to create, sell, solve problems, and earn money from their own ideas.
How many businesses will you accept?
We will accept only 100 booths and kid-run businesses.
Spots fill quickly, so we encourage families to apply early before all spaces are taken.
Where should I begin?
Start by visiting our Resources Page.
There you can explore inspiring stories of young entrepreneurs and find tools and activities that will help your child develop their business idea and sharpen their entrepreneurial skills.
How do I apply? Can I apply as part of a group?
Applications must be submitted online.
Please submit one application per business.
Children working together should submit a single application that includes the information for each participant.
Each business may have no more than three participants.
What is on the application?
The application asks young entrepreneurs 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? What will it cost you to make each product or provide each service?
• How will you pay for your startup costs? If someone helps fund your startup, how will you pay them back?
• How will you advertise or market your business before the fair?
• At the end of the fair, how will you decide whether your business was successful?
• What price will you charge? What will it cost you to make each product or provide each service?
• How will you pay for your startup costs? If someone helps fund your startup, how will you pay them back?
• How will you advertise or market your business before the fair?
• At the end of the fair, how will you decide whether your business was successful?
These questions help young entrepreneurs begin thinking like real business owners.
What if someone else has the same business idea?
Two cupcake businesses? Not a problem.
In most cases, we allow market forces to play out. However, if a similar business has already applied, we may notify later applicants so they can decide whether they would like to adjust their idea.
Sometimes friendly competition inspires even more creativity.
How will the fair be set up?
The fair will take place either outdoors under tents or inside a large indoor space such as a community building or church.
Each business will be provided with a booth and an 6–8 foot table. Some businesses may share a table with one other business.
Please note:
• Tablecloths will not be provided
• Businesses requiring electricity or water cannot be accommodated
• Businesses requiring electricity or water cannot be accommodated
Will electricity be available?
Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee electricity will be available for booths.
Businesses should plan to operate without electrical power.
What are the rules?
This event is designed to give children the full experience of running their own business.
If a parent is found selling or promoting a child’s product or service, the child’s business may be disqualified from the competition.
Parents of younger children are welcome to sit in the booth, but the child should be responsible for:
• Setting up the booth
• Talking with customers
• Handling sales
• Talking with customers
• Handling sales
Parents may assist with the application process, but we encourage children to complete as much of the work independently as possible.
How did the Acton Children’s Business Fair get started?
The first Acton Children’s Business Fair began in Austin, Texas in 2007.
Jeff and Laura Sandefer, along with several other families, wanted to spark a sense of wonder, creativity, and entrepreneurship in their children.
That first fair featured seven young entrepreneurs and around 25 attendees.
Today, the Acton Children’s Business Fair in Austin hosts over 115 young entrepreneurs and more than 1,500 attendees, and similar fairs are now held across the country and around the world.
Our incredible sponsors
Mikki Willis
