Beatrice Acton Children's Business Fair  event image

Beatrice Acton Children's Business Fair

Saturday, April 10, 2021

9:00AM - 11:00AM

2920 Court St

Beatrice, NE 68310, USA

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About the fair
Observe the opportunity for children to launch their very own startup business!

Young entrepreneurs, ages 5-14, develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace. 

We will host up to 20 booths at the 1st annual event located at 2920 E. Court Street, Beatrice, NE (next to Sack Lumber) on April 10, 2021 from 9 am – 11 am.

This event is sponsored by Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, Beatrice Christian Academy and the generous support of our donors and volunteers.  We all 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 they are one of the thousands of unsung business owners across this country, these are the people who make sacrifices to innovate, create jobs and serve their communities.

Visit our FAQ section for business ideas and to learn more about the Children's Business Fair. 
Hosted by

Amy Weichel

🗓️ Started hosting in 2019

Identity verified

🚀 Has hosted 4 fairs

We are a team of passionate entrepreneurs, teachers, mentors, and parents, who want our children to learn about entrepreneurship in a practical and fun way.

12 booths participating

Leah's jewelry shop!

Anna's This & That

And 10 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 kids in North America, this one-day market gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses.

How many businesses will you accept?

We will accept up to 20 businesses.

What ages can apply?

Children ages 5-14 are encouraged to apply for the Beatrice Children's Business Fair.

Is there a fee to participate?

Yes, there is a $5 non-refundable fee per business to help cover the expenses of the event. This fee can be paid on the day of the event.

Where should I begin?

Not sure what you want your business to be?  Check out these 101+ Business Ideas for Kids

Read through 3 Magic Seeds to learn more about starting a business. 

Ready to write a business plan?  Check out this worksheet to help with marketing ideas and the financials (pricing and profit) of your business.

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 is on the application?

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? 


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.


How will the fair be set up?

The fair will be an indoor event inside Beatrice Christian Academy, located at 2920 E. Court Street. Each business will be given a table, and 1-2 chairs. We are not able to accommodate businesses requiring electricity.


What are the rules? 

This event is designed to give children the experience of selling a product or service that they have created.  No national sales are allowed ie Avon, Girl Scouts, Scentsy, etc.  If a parent is found selling or promoting a child’s product or service, their child’s business will be disqualified from the next Children's Business Fair.

Parents are required to be at the Children's Business Fair with their children.  Watch your child interact with customers or check out the other businesses and bring encouragement to the young entrepreneurs at other booths.

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.