Application Requirements and Basic Guideline can be found attached here:

What is the Acton Children’s Business Fair?

The Acton Children’s Business Fair of Midland 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.

How many businesses will you accept?
We will accept up to 50 businesses.  Applicants must be between the ages of 6 and 16 (still in high school).  Applicants younger than 6 years old must be paired with an older applicant. Additional applicants will be placed on a waiting list. 

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 if someone else has the same business idea?  

Two cupcake businesses? Not a problem. In general, we will let market forces play out, and enjoy all the variations! 

How will the fair be set up?

The fair will be an outdoor event with tented booths. Each business is provided a covered booth area with an 8-foot table (to share with one other business), and 1-2 chairs. Table cloths will not be provided. 

Will electricity be available?

Electricity is available if indicated as a need in the application.

Is there are participation fee?

Businesses are required to pay a non-refundable $10 fee to secure a booth as part of their investment into their business once their application is accepted.  This investment is part of the authentic experience we are aiming to create for our kidpreneurs. Approved businesses will be provided with further information about how to pay this fee.

Will children be photographed during the event?

Yes! The fair will be documented by a professional photographer and the resulting digital media will be used to market the event and share its success with the community and the world! By applying for a booth at the fair, parents are thereby agreeing to allow the Acton Children's Business Fair of Midland permission to photograph and film their Child(ren) and use the resulting digital media at our discretion without compensation.

Will you keep my information private?

Yes! We are committed to keeping your personal information (such as your full name, email address, school, phone number etc.) private and will not share such information with any third-party. This information is only for internal purposes.

I want to participate but I'm not sure what to sell!

There are so many wonderful and unique ideas out there.  Here are a few to get you started:

PRODUCT BUSINESSES:
Knitted hats, scarves, toys
Hair accessories/jewelry
Bookmarks, Books, Stationary
Original artwork
Handmade soap, bath bombs, lotions, or candles
Pet toys/treats
Woodworking - painted signs, string art
Used toy/clothing sale
Upcycled/repurposed items (get creative!)
Painted rocks (pet rocks are still awesome!)
Magic Tricks
Stocking Stuffers
Baked goods/Food items *must follow Texas Cottage Food Laws, and vendor must have their Food Handler's Certification
Also, please note we are unable to allow the sale of any consumables (food or beverages) in glass containers at the event. If you have questions, please email us in advance!

ACTIVITY BUSINESSES:
Design your own buttons
Design your own t-shirt
Crafting
Carnival Games
Balloon Animals
Photo booth

What about direct sales?

We do not allow direct/national sales of any kind. Examples would include Avon, Scentsy, and Girl Scout cookies. We understand that children can learn about customer interaction and financial literacy through these businesses, but they do not support the mission of the Acton Children's Business Fair of Midland. If you have any questions about a particular business idea, please don't hesitate to contact us! 

Unsure where to start? Our advice is to keep it simple.

Start with the resources page on the main www.childrensbusinessfair.org site. Read inspiring stories about other young entrepreneurs like these and play games to hone your business skills. 

Feel free to do some research online about marketing, branding and profit. Explore examples of great product pitches, learn about interacting with customers, and get down to business creating your product or developing your service and putting the details together for your booth! Try practicing your pitch and customer service skills for family and friends at home! 

You'll learn the most by getting your "hands dirty" and figuring things out all on your own.

What are the rules? 

This event is designed to give children the experience of selling a product or service on their own. If a parent is found selling or promoting a child’s product or service, their child’s business will be disqualified from the competition.
We require parents to be as hands-off as possible during the process of planning, creating, and selling. (We know it's hard!)

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- including the conception, creation, and organization of the business. This doesn't mean you have to be cruelly hands off! Instead, we encourage parents to  let your child follow their passion and interests! Ask them questions about what THEY find interesting, or what they would want to buy as a customer.

*We understand that some children have special needs, and may require additional support from a parent. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at abcfmidland@gmail.com prior to submitting an application.

Parents of participating children are expected to check their email and social media communications regarding the event regularly, as these are our primary means of communication with the group.

A few more thoughts:

This is meant to be a fun experience for the youth of our community. While we want the event to be successful for our vendors, it is not meant to be overwhelming or stressful for the kids involved. This is not "Shark Tank"! Help them keep that in mind as they move through the process.

If you have ANY questions or concerns about the Acton Children's Business Fair of Midland, please don't hesitate to contact us at acbfmidland@gmail.com

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.