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56 and 66 Commerce St., Waynesville, NC
Frogs Level Brewing and Panacea Coffehouse
Acton Children's Business Fair Waynesville,North Carolina
Sunday, March 22, 2026
12:00PM - 3:30PM
Currently accepting applications 🏁
Apply to the fair
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 15 booths at the 3rd annual event in Haywood County. This will be an indoor event at the Panacea Coffehouse & Frogs Level Brewing Restaurants on March 22nd from 12:00 pm – 3:30 pm. Awards at 3:15 p.m.
This event is sponsored by Acton Academy, 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.
Hosted by
Jody Cypher
🗓️ Started hosting in 2024
✅ Identity verified
🚀 Has hosted 2 fairs
4 booths participating
Lemon Drop Shop
Spidey Plants
And 2 others.
Frequently asked questions
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.
How many businesses will you accept?
We will accept up to 15 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?
Yes.
Yes.
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 2 participants per business. A non-refundable $15 vendor fee is required to reserve a spot for a booth. The host will provide t-shirts, or gift for Acton Entrepreneurs, as well as light snacks and drinks. T-shirt sizes need to be given by February 27, 2026 to the Jody Cypher at: cbfjodycypher@yahoo.com
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 need to pay $15, bring a business sign and dress up as you wish. Bring a card table and chair. If two children are sharing a booth, bring a buffet table. Set up is promptly at 11:30 a.m. Enter through the front door of either Restaurant.
Will electricity be available?
Yes, but there are limitations on providing electricity to all of 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 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.
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.
