What is the Acton Children’s Business Fair?

The Acton Children’s Business Fair is the largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America. This one-day market in cities across the country gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses.

How do I apply? Who can participate? Can I apply as part of a group? How many businesses will be there?

The application must be submitted online. Please submit one application for each business. Children who are ages 6 to 14 on August 12, 2017, can participate. Children working as a group should submit one application that includes each child’s information. No more than 3 participants per business. We will accept up to 14 businesses.

Is this for kids who already have a business? If not, can we still participate?

This is perfect for any kid looking to exercise that entrepreneurial muscle. If it’s something they’ve been doing for a while or if they are brand new to the idea, we want to encourage everyone willing to put in the work to apply.

What important dates do I need to know about?
Launch Party– Saturday, June 10th from 11 AM - 12 Noon at the Chinn Park Library, Lake Ridge VA

Application Deadline– Preferred deadline, Saturday, June 24, 2017.  Final Deadline: Friday, June 30, 2017. Decision emails within 7 days.
Meet and Greet – Tentatively on Saturday, July 8th. Participation fee due on or before this meeting.
Mandatory Volunteer Meeting and Bag Stuffing - Saturday, August 5, 2017 - 12:30 - 2:00 PM at Chinn Park Library, Lake Ridge VA
Action Children's Business Fair of Woodbridge – Saturday, August 12, 2017 at Laser Quest Potomac Mills from 10AM - 11:30 AM, followed by a brief awards ceremony.

Does my child have to attend the launch party or meet and greet to be eligible to be in the fair?
No. A recorded webinar will be available no later than a week after the launch event for those unable to attend. Link will be on the FAQ’s section as well as the group’s Facebook page. If the business is selected and you aren’t able to come, arrangements to pay the participant fee must be made with the Acton Children’s Business Fair (ACBF) of Woodbridge, Virginia team and notified prior to the due date if you are unable to attend. If you fail to pay by the due date, the spot will be lost and the business will not be allowed to participate. We want to respect every entrepreneur and the countless number of volunteers who commit their time and resources to hosting this event.

Is there a fee to participate?
We will collect a $10 participation fee from all accepted businesses (one fee per business). It will be refunded upon successfully participating in the ACBF of Woodbridge Virginia.  Unless previously discussed and documented in writing by the Chairperson, if the business decides not to participate in the fair on the date scheduled, you will forfeit your participation fee and it will go towards the operating costs due to the space being reserved for the applicant’s business. In fairness, the ACBF Woodbridge, Virginia team must make sure that every business is treated fairly and all who want to participate have a fair chance.

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 an indoor event with booths. Each business will be given a booth with approximately 4" of connected tables. Children are welcomed to bring a chair for themselves. Tablecloths may not be provided. We are not able to accommodate businesses requiring electricity.

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 (age appropriateness), 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. Handmade/homemade signs, shirts, and business materials are highly encouraged.

Will there be prizes?
Yes. We believe that starting and running your own business is its own reward, but in order to recognize those entrepreneurs who went above and beyond, we have awards in specific categories: 

All entries will be automatically entered in the business competition. The competition will be judged according to the following four age groups: 6-7, 8-10, 11-12, and 13-14. These age groups may be flexible depending on the composition of the owners of the selected businesses. If children of different age groups submit a business together, they will be judged in the age group of the oldest participant. Certificates will be presented at the end of the fair, and any additional prizes (e.g. money, awards in kind) may be mailed to the participant’s address if not awarded on the day of the fair.

We’re always looking for businesses and individuals to sponsor the event through monetary donations and in limited cases gifts-in-kind that are related to the successful completion of the fundraiser. Look at the Sponsors section on our site to find out more.  We also need volunteers for the event. All contact can be through email woodbridgecbf@gmail.com. 

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

The application asks kids to think through some simple, but important elements of their business:

What advice do you have for caregivers?
This event is all about encouraging your child using their imagination, creativity, and resources to problem solve.  Caregivers can offer encouraging words and investor support to their budding entrepreneur.

Keep it simple. This is a children’s fair. Let the business plan, booth, and sales reflect your child at their best, not your best.

Keep it simple.  Let the process reflect your child's best, as they're designing their own logos, making the products and promotional materials, and setting their own prices.  If they make mistakes, let them and guide them through the learning process.  It's totally okay for them to get their hands dirty--literally!  The idea is to let your child be the CEO and owner.

Is your child stuck or frustrated?  Remind them to focus on something they enjoy making (that they think others might want) or doing and encourage, encourage, and encourage some more. 

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 hundreds of young entrepreneurs and thousands of attendees in cities across the United States.