FAQ
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. Kids ages 6-17 develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace.
How many businesses will you accept?
We will accept up to 50 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?
How will the fair be set up?
The fair will be a tented outdoor event with booths on the campus of Mid-South Gifted Academy, 121 E. South St., Collierville, TN. Each business is responsible for its own setup, so please bring a table and anything else you will need for your booth. Tents are optional but recommended.
Will electricity be available?
A limited number of booths will be able to access electricity. Please specify on your application if you need electricity to run your business.
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 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.
Prize money will be awarded to winners in each age group for the following categories:
· Most Original Business Idea
· Highest Business Potential
· Best Presentation / Creativity
The age groups are 6-8, 9-12, 13-17
There will be a winner in each age group and category.
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.
