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 36 businesses.

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

How do I apply? Can I apply as part of a group?
Application must be submitted online. Please submit one application for each business.  No more than two students in a booth/business.  One business per booth only.

What is on the application?
The application asks kids to think through some simple, but important elements of their 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.

How will people know to come and shop?
Promotions will be on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and email groups.  You must be active in sharing the information to your personal groups.  After your child's application is completed you will be given additional information on how promote.  The more people who come to the fair, the more sales! Advertising and promoting your business is very important.  

If you have a current business web site please submit the information to t.willis@christiancottageprep.com for additional coverage for your business.  

The fair will be a inside the main downstairs halls of the Gramercy Building at Christian Cottage Prep with table/booths. Each business will be given a booth area of 8 feet in length.  They should bring a table no larger than 6 feet (single business per booth), table covering, and 1-2 folding chairs. If your business needs a rack instead of a table then you are welcome to bring that instead. We will be able to accommodate the first 8 businesses that require electricity.  All other business will not have electrical accommodations.

Will electricity be available?
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide electricity to more than 8 booths. The booth owner must request this.

What are the rules?
This event is designed to give students 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 (K and 1st grade) 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.