What is the Main Street Clinton Children’s Business Fair?
The Main Street Clinton Children’s Business Fair is designed to inspire children to discover their inner entrepreneurs. This one-day market gives children ages 6-14 the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses.
This event is modeled after the Acton Children's Business Fair, the largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America.
How many businesses will you accept?
We will accept up to 25 businesses.
Where should I begin?
Parents,
click here to read
3 Magic Seeds by Jeff Sandefer. 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?
All applications 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?
Is there a booth fee?
There is a $10 booth fee for each business accepted to participate in the fair.
What age children may participate?
Entrepreneurs must be between the ages of 6-14 on or before the application open date.
What if someone else has the same business idea?
Two jewelry 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 outdoor event with booths. Each business must provide its own table and tablecloth. A tent is recommended but not required. We are not able to accommodate businesses requiring electricity.
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 setting 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.
Are businesses required to collect and remit sales tax?Because this event is hosted inside a Main Street Clinton Market, each business is required to collect sales tax and submit it to the market organizers at the end of the market.
Are there specific rules for businesses involving FOOD?Because of health regulations,
food may not be prepared on-site. Any businesses involving food must be prepared off-site and packaged to go.
Cottage food laws must be followed.
Click here for those guidelines.
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. Hundreds of Children's Business Fairs have been held across the country, modeling the Acton event.
