What is the Weston Wayland Children’s Business Fair?
The Weston Wayland 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.
How many businesses will you accept?
We will accept up to 50 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?
- Submit your application online through this website.
- 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.
- Children must be between the ages of 6 - 14 years.
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 a tented outdoor event with booths. We will also have indoor space for booths. You may be placed indoors according to your age category.
- Each business will be given a booth with a 6-foot table, full-cover tenting, and 1-2 chairs.
- Table cloths will not be provided.
- Please note that we are not able to accommodate many businesses requiring electricity.
Will electricity be available?
Please let us know if you are in need of electricity in advance, so we can locate you where you will have access.
What are the rules?
This event is designed to give children the experience of selling a product or service. If a parent is found setting up, 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 setup, 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.
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 by creating the first Acton Children’s Business Fair in Austin, Texas, in 2007. That year, there were seven entrepreneurs and around 25 attendees. There are over 115 entrepreneurs and 1,500 attendees at the Acton Children's Business Fair in Austin.
