The Fox Cites Youth Business Fair inspires children to discover their inner entrepreneur. Sponsored by the largest entrepreneurship event company for kids in North America (The Acton Children’s Business Fair), this one-day market gives children the opportunity to showcase their very own businesses.

This year we will be accepting between 7-10 businesses.

Start by applying as a "Youth Business Owner/Operator" HERE. Also, try out some games HERE to hone in on your business skills.

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. Our online application allows for no more than 2 participants per business at this time.

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? 

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. We will try to limit same businesses to 2 or 3 for a broader fair experience.

The fair will be an outdoor event with each business having a designated area. Each business will need to provide their own 6-foot table, and corresponding chairs. Small tents are recommended, but will not be provided. We also are not able to accommodate businesses requiring electricity. (If a business application is approved and set up assistance is needed, we can provide for an additional fee.)

Unfortunately, we are not able to provide electricity for designated business areas.

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, it will reflect their child’s business results in 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.

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. They sparked a wordwide movement which allowed other companies like us to host our Youth Business Fairs with their mentorship, guidance, and assistance.