Acton Children's Business Fair - Dublin, CA
Saturday, May 3, 2025
10:00AM - 1:00PM
Applications are closed
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About the fair
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 our 7th annual fair, in Dublin, at Emerald Glen Park (4201 Central Pkwy, Dublin, CA 94568) on Saturday, May 3rd from 10 AM – 1 PM. Encourage your kiddos and other entrepreneurs to register for their very own booth at the fair. We want to offer booths to as many entrepreneurs as possible, but space is limited.
Please note that for our fair this year we want to challenge our participants to be more creative, try new things, and explore their many different business opportunities.
Please note that for our fair this year we want to challenge our participants to be more creative, try new things, and explore their many different business opportunities.
The registration deadline is Friday, April 4th, 2025.
Applicants must review the GUIDELINES before applying to the fair.
You will be informed of your acceptance by Monday, April 14, 2025.
This event is sponsored by Acton Academy East Bay, the Acton School of Business, 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 like Yvon Chouinard 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
Acton Academy East Bay
🗓️ Started hosting in 2018
✅ Identity verified
🚀 Has hosted 7 fairs
Hi! We're the awesome CBF team from Acton Academy East Bay. We are here to help you with being successful at our fair.
54 booths participating
Little Artist
Jarz Labs
And 52 others.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Acton Children’s Business Fair?
The Acton Children’s Business Fair inspires children to discover their inner entrepreneurs. The largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America, this one-day market gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own 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.
Entrepreneurs ages 5-7 are allowed to participate as a group of up to 2 individuals. For all other ages, only 1 entrepreneur per business will be accepted.
Entrepreneurs ages 5-7 are allowed to participate as a group of up to 2 individuals. For all other ages, only 1 entrepreneur per business will be accepted.
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 happens after I complete my application?
The registration deadline is Friday, April 4, 2025.
Once your application has been submitted, we will review it and either reach out via email with more questions or approve your business by Monday, April 13, 2025. In that email, there will be instructions on how to pay for and ensure your booth has been reserved.
What if someone else has the same business idea?
Five tye-dye businesses? Maybe not... In general, we will let market forces play out, though we will ask later entries to change to another idea. We will ask the later entrant to decide what they would like to do.
To encourage diverse business ideas, we will limit the same businesses to a maximum of 3. Ensure you get your business idea accepted by applying early.
To encourage diverse business ideas, we will limit the same businesses to a maximum of 3. Ensure you get your business idea accepted by applying early.
How will the fair be set up?
All participants must to bring their own 10x10 tent, table(s) and chairs. We will designate a space for your tent to be setup.
What are the Booth Costs?
It will cost entrepreneurs $50 for a regular booth and $65 for a booth with electricity. Electricity is limited.
You will pay for your booth after your business has been accepted into the fair, payment information will be provided in your acceptance email.
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 (ages 5-7) may sit in the booth, but the children should be responsible for set up, customer interaction, and sales.
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 300 entrepreneurs and 10,000 attendees at Acton Children's Business Fairs worldwide.
