The Acton Children’s Business Fair aims to inspire 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.

This year, the maximum number of businesses is 85 (subject to change, pending feedback from Paradigm).

Start with CBF2026's Info for Entrepreneurs. (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gRpmsWK84Az7z-SuwaKAgixFkuNsdC0kNCLA5bahBPw/edit?usp=sharing)

Then, read inspiring stories about other young entrepreneurs or even play games to hone your business skills.

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.
Maximum 3 participants per business.

This year, we are open for ages 5-16 on the day Acton Children's Business Fair
Group 1: 5 to 8-year-olds (up to 30 spaces)
Group 2: 9 to 12-year-olds (up to 30 spaces)
Group 3: 13 to 16-year-olds (up to 30 spaces)
For mixed-age businesses, the age group will be based on the oldest participant.

The pricing below is for CBF2026
RM135 per business (for 1–2 participants)
RM170 per business (for 3 participants)

Each participant will receive a t-shirt.

The application asks young entrepreneurs to think through some simple but essential 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?

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.

The fair will be at the Paradigm Mall PJ (Upper Atrium, Level UG). Each business will be given a booth with an oblong table and two chairs. Tablecloths will NOT be provided.

No. Businesses requiring electricity or generators to make a sale will NOT be allowed.

No. The mall does not permit any flames/fumes from cooking. The smoke & fire sensors are active and can not be switched off.

Yes, and you need to be fully responsible for the animals and what they do. Please remember that we live in a multicultural society; hence, we request that your choices reflect the respect we have for each other.

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 children fill out the application, but we expect the children to do as much as possible by themselves.
Can the children receive payment using QR codes?
Yes, absolutely. Any means that the children can handle and keep track of.

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 100k entrepreneurs in over 800 cities around the world.