Acton Children’s Business Fairs to Encourage Entrepreneurship in Kids

Looking for a way to encourage entrepreneurship in kids? Keep reading to learn more about how locally hosted Acton Children’s Business Fairs do just this.

When you were a child, did you actively dream up ways to earn some money?

Especially during those years of childhood when you were too young to work at a local store.

I know that I did some of this dreaming.

And ended up with the traditional route of babysitting kids until I began working in the foodservice industry.

Aside from babysitting, I had friends who tackled yard work or other small chores for neighbors.

Plus for the elementary-aged kids, there was always a lemonade or other snack stand if you lived on a street with enough traffic.

There might have been kids launching other businesses, but not in the droves I am seeing with more current generations of kids.

I guess the 70s and 80s were just a little different.

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Entrepreneurship in Kids

Entrepreneurship can be a natural expression of a child’s gifts.

While kids have been hustling different ways to earn some money, the move towards encouraging entrepreneurship in kids has really taken hold.

Unlike the lemonade stand of my childhood, these are actual businesses.

And if run like a business, there are different things that have to happen. This could include forming an LLC and paying taxes (both on your income and sales tax to your state.)

The beauty of encouraging entrepreneurship in a child is that they can do something that they enjoy and are passionate about doing.

A bonus is the ability they have to earn their own money.

Different Business Ideas for Kids

When it comes to picking a business, you and your child also need to consider the cost of doing business.

Some businesses are service-based with a low cost of doing business. This means you are basically charging for your labor.

Service-Based Business Ideas include:

• Babysitting
• Editing Services (written, photo, video, etc.)
• Graphic Design
• Mowing or other Lawn and Garden Care (low start-up if using the customer or family equipment)
• Pet Sitting / Pet Waking
• Photography
• Tutoring (high school students good in a specific area like math can be hired to help younger kids)
• Videography

If your child is talented at making something, then they may lean towards a product-based business. These do require that they calculate the Cost of Goods Sold (COGS for short) to help determine final pricing.

Product-Based Business Ideas include:

• Baking (Breads, Cakes/Cupcakes, Cookies, or other baked goods)
• Cooking (finished dishes or putting together meal kits for people)
• Jewelry
• Pieces of Art
• Sewing projects (bags, clothing, etc.)

Those are just a few things that popped into my mind. Just as every child is unique, so will their business ideas be.

How to Showcase Your Child’s Business

When I was a child, word of mouth was the main way people found clients for things like babysitting, tutoring, or yard work. Although, some industrious kids made up flyers to post where people would see them.

With social media, there are abundant options for finding potential clients. It could start with just sharing on personal social media accounts.

Then you may find them launching social media accounts or even a website for their business.

Something I’ve seen happen more recently are small fairs for the kids to set up tables and sell their wares.

Both in Alaska and southern Mississippi, there have been entrepreneur fairs for homeschool students.

They worked well, but the audience was quite small as it consisted mostly of the other homeschool families.

Knowing this limitation to those events had me excited to learn about Acton Children’s Business Fairs.

About the Acton Children’s Business Fairs

Through a gift from the Sandefer family and Acton’s founders, Charlie and Sam Sandefer, Acton Children’s Business Fairs were born.

These fairs are a way to encourage entrepreneurship in kids around the world.

Most importantly, these fairs are a safe place for them to show their wares to a larger audience of buyers.

The fair is a one-day event with hours set by the organizers.

The setting can be anything as informal as a green space with a few tables to something more elaborate with plenty of parking available.

Each local fair has different requirements and an application process for the kids that helps them think through the important business considerations like pricing and costs. I would guess that part of it is making sure they do not have everyone with similar products.

How to Set up an Acton Children’s Business Fair

There is an application process to host a fair in your community.

Along with a form to complete, there is a video component as well.

For approved hosts, The Children’s Business Fair idea, kit, and your own customized website is their gift to you.

They’ll even throw in up to $500 in prize money!

What a great way to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit in kids while helping them find new customers in the local community!

Curious if there is one in your area?

Visit the Upcoming Events page to search for it.

Final Note on Entrepreneurship in Kids

Several of the kids in our local homeschooling group launched their new businesses at the entrepreneur fair (as shown in images above.)

My own middle school student is now considering what he can make to sell.

Entrepreneurship is definitely catching.

Having access to the platform and resources that Acton Children’s Business Fairs provide can help them pursue their dreams while changing the world.

Has your child embraced the entrepreneurial lifestyle?
If so, what do they sell and have they done a business fair?