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 can we contact you?
Please contact us at "childrensbusinessfair@gmail.com" or Join our Mailing List.

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

The 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.

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 an outdoor event with booths. Each business will be given a booth with an 6-foot table (to share with one other business) and 1-2 chairs. Table cloths will not be provided. We might be able to accommodate businesses requiring electricity but the request may be made earlier and an additional cost will be added for electricity.

Yes but on a limited basis.

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, 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.

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.

No, once the application is accepted, there is no refund. We have limited booth space. Please note, we accept applications on first come first serve basis and there are many young entrepreneurs who will be denied or waitlisted if the number of businesses reaches its max. So, we cannot refund the amount.

The Children’s Business Fair of Massachusetts, organized by BASK, and its organizers, officers, directors, volunteers, and representatives shall not be liable for any delay, postponement, modification, interruption, relocation, or cancellation of the Fair resulting from circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the organizers.
Such circumstances may include, but are not limited to, severe or hazardous weather conditions, Nor’easters, hurricanes, snowstorms, flooding, extreme temperatures, natural disasters, fire, acts of God, public-health emergencies, epidemics or pandemics, government orders or restrictions, emergency declarations, venue closure or unavailability, power outages, civil disturbances, transportation disruptions, acts of terrorism, or any other circumstance that may affect the safety, security, health, or welfare of children or other participants.

CHILD SAFETY AND WELFARE
Because the Children’s Business Fair is a youth-centered event involving children and young entrepreneurs, many of whom are minors, the safety, security, health, and well-being of participating children shall be a primary consideration in all event-related decisions.
BASK may, in its reasonable judgment and acting in good faith, postpone, reschedule, relocate, modify, shorten, or cancel the Fair whenever conditions or circumstances create, or may reasonably be expected to create, a significant risk to the safety, security, health, or welfare of children, exhibitors, parents/guardians, volunteers, judges, sponsors, vendors, staff, or members of the public.
Such circumstances may include hazardous travel conditions, severe weather, unsafe venue conditions, emergency situations, public-health concerns, inadequate emergency access, loss of essential utilities or safety services, or any other condition that BASK reasonably determines could compromise the safe operation of the event.
BASK shall not be required to proceed with or continue the Fair merely because the event has been scheduled, contracted, or otherwise announced if, in the organizers' reasonable judgment, doing so could place children or other participants at an unreasonable risk.
Where reasonably practicable, BASK will provide prompt notice of any postponement, rescheduling, relocation, modification, or cancellation and will make reasonable efforts to communicate updated arrangements to exhibitors, parents/guardians, sponsors, vendors, judges, volunteers, and other participants.
BASK shall not be responsible for indirect, incidental, consequential, or other damages, losses, expenses, lost sales, lost profits, travel expenses, lodging expenses, merchandise costs, or other costs arising from a postponement, rescheduling, modification, relocation, or cancellation resulting from a Force Majeure Event or a decision made in good faith to protect the safety and welfare of children and other participants.
Unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing, BASK shall not be obligated to reimburse expenses incurred independently by exhibitors, sponsors, vendors, families, or other participants in connection with the event.

This provision shall apply notwithstanding any other provision concerning cancellation, postponement, refunds, or event termination contained in the applicable exhibitor, sponsor, vendor, venue, or participation agreement.