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Applications for the HoCo Children's Business Fair are now open! Interested sponsors and Volunteers contact us at spartekacademy@gmail.com.
Howard County Children's Business Fair
Saturday, May 10, 2025
1:00PM - 4:00PM
Applications are closed
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About the fair
Visit our website for the most up-to-date details at hocochildrensbusinessfair.org!
Observe the opportunity for children to launch their very own startup business!
Observe the 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 40 booths at the HoCo CBF event on May 10, 2025, from 1 pm – 4 pm in Columbia, Md.
Spartek Academy sponsors this event: An Acton Academy, the Baltimore Children's Business Fair, Acton Academy, 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 or one of the thousands of unsung business owners across this country, they are the people who make sacrifices to innovate, create jobs, and serve their communities.
Interested in sponsoring or volunteering? Please email spartekacademy@gmail.com.
Interested in sponsoring or volunteering? Please email spartekacademy@gmail.com.
Hosted by
Ja'Near Garrus
🗓️ Started hosting in 2022
✅ Identity verified
🚀 Has hosted 3 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 Howard County Children’s Business Fair?
The Howard County Children's Business Fair is a part of the Acton Children’s Business Fair which inspires children to discover their inner entrepreneur. 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 40 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?
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 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.
How will the fair be set up?
The fair will be an indoor event with booths. Each business will be given a booth with a 6-foot table, and 1-2 chairs. Tablecloths are 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.
