Hosted by

J.D. Collar

🗓️ Started hosting in 2023

Identity verified

🚀 Has hosted 2 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.

We also run Acton Academy NW Indy. If you think the CBF is cool, check us out. We do this kind of stuff all the time! You can access our website here



Acton Children's Business Fair Indy

Saturday, May 17, 2025

10:00AM - 1:00PM

The University Green

12901-12913 University Crescent, Carmel, IN 46032, USA

Currently accepting applications 🏁

Apply to the fair
About the fair
The Acton Children's Business Fair is an opportunity for children to launch their very own startup business!

Kids 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 200 businesses at the 3rd annual event at The University Green in the Village of West Clay on Saturday, May 17th from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.

This event is sponsored by Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, 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.
Hosted by

J.D. Collar

🗓️ Started hosting in 2023

Identity verified

🚀 Has hosted 2 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.

We also run Acton Academy NW Indy. If you think the CBF is cool, check us out. We do this kind of stuff all the time! You can access our website here



Frequently asked questions

What is the Acton Children’s Business Fair?

The Acton Children’s Business Fair inspires children ages 5-14 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 200 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. 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.


What is provided and what do I need to bring?

There is a $10 booth rental fee. You will be provided with a rectangular table on which you can set up your business. Your role is to bring everything else you need to launch you business, including table cloths, promotional materials and supplies, product, and money to make change.  You will pay your $10 booth rental fee via PayPal during the application process. 


Will electricity be available?

Unfortunately, we are not able to provide electricity to the booths.

What are the rules? 

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.


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.

Our incredible sponsors

Children's Business Fair

Acton Academy

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