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25 businesses registered and 36 participants will be showcasing their products on September 26th at THE AVENUE @ White Marsh! To support the public health fight against COVID-19, we are limiting the # of businesses to 25 in September. Please check out the Baltimore County Children's Chamber of Commerce for CBF participants that are already selling: https://bcchildrenschamber.wixsite.com/bccoc.
1st Annual Baltimore County Children’s Business Fair
Saturday, September 26, 2020
10:00AM - 2:00PM
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About the fair
Be part of the opportunity for children to launch their very own startup business!
THE AVENUE at White Marsh, in partnership with Liberty Leadership, will sponsor the virtual marketplace for the 1st Annual Baltimore County Children’s Business Fair on Saturday, September 26th, 10am to 2pm – providing the opportunity for children to launch and showcase their very own startup business!
Young participants will develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at this one-day, one-of-a-kind marketplace!
Join us to celebrate and support the young entrepreneurs in our community!
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
Robert Orlando
🗓️ Started hosting in 2019
🚀 Has hosted 2 fairs
We are a team of passionate entrepreneurs, educators, mentors, and parents, who want our children to learn about entrepreneurship in a practical and fun way.
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 children in North America, this one-day market gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses.
What is Acton Academy?
Acton Academy is an education model that began in Austin, TX is 2009 and has spread globally.
What is Liberty Leadership?
Liberty Leadership is the first Acton Academy in the state of Maryland.
How many businesses will you accept?
Acton Academy is an education model that began in Austin, TX is 2009 and has spread globally.
What is Liberty Leadership?
Liberty Leadership is the first Acton Academy in the state of Maryland.
How many businesses will you accept?
We will accept up to 100 businesses. All questions on the registration form must be filled out completely.
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?
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.
What information do I need to apply?
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 virtual marketplace will be set up for child entrepreneurs to post their products and for online orders.
The virtual marketplace will be set up for child entrepreneurs to post their products and for online orders.
The in-person fair will be a tented outdoor event with booths. All materials and resources required for your business is your responsibility. Each business must provide their own chairs, table, and tent (must be weighted down at the Fair).
Will electricity be available?
Yes, however, it is on a limited basis. Priority goes to the booths that registered earliest.
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.
