The Acton Children’s Business Fair is an opportunity for Indianapolis area children to launch their very own startup businesses!
Kids develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at the one-day marketplace in Indianapolis.
All children are invited to apply to have their businesses participate. There’s a $10 booth rental fee. Apply here.
Up to 75 kid businesses will be included at the 1st annual event at 3600 W. 96th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46268 on Saturday, May 20th from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.
This event is sponsored by Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, and the generous support of donors and volunteers. Acton Academy believes that principled entrepreneurs are heroes and role models for the next generation.
Whether an entrepreneur is famous like Elon Musk 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.
What is the Acton Children’s Business Fair?
The Acton Children’s Business Fair inspires children ages 5-14 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 75 businesses.
We will accept up to 75 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.
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. 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 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.
What is provided and what do I need to bring?
There is a $10 booth rental fee. You will be provided with a rectangular table on which you can set up your business. Your role is to bring everything else you need to launch your business, including tablecloths, promotional materials and supplies, products, and money to make change. You will pay your $10 booth rental fee via PayPal during the application process.
There is a $10 booth rental fee. You will be provided with a rectangular table on which you can set up your business. Your role is to bring everything else you need to launch your business, including tablecloths, promotional materials and supplies, products, and money to make change. You will pay your $10 booth rental fee via PayPal during the application process.
Will electricity be available?
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide electricity to 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 setting up, 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.
