Application

 FAQs

Children develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace.

Many children today will eventually work in jobs that don’t yet exist. That kind of innovation is exciting but equally frightening. How can we prepare our kids to succeed in a world we can’t imagine or predict? The Pensacola Children’s Business Fair is a way to give children the skills they will need to succeed no matter what the future looks like— resilience, financial literacy, resourcefulness, self-confidence, and creativity.

Start by reading these FAQs and the guidelines on this page. Think of all the ideas you can for a new business you’d like to start. Attend an upcoming workshop for help getting started and preparing your application.

We recommend creating a business plan using the BizKids workbook. You can also use the simpler, one-page business model canvas to help you think through your ideas.

Want more? Read inspiring stories about young entrepreneurs just like you. You can play games online or a card game at home to hone your business skills. There’s even an app for that — just ask (politely) for your grownup’s phone or tablet.

The application asks you to think through some simple but important elements of your 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?

All products must be home-made, not store-bought. We encourage young creatives to build a product and launch from scratch! We will also accept services-based businesses.

All baked goods and items for consumption must abide by Florida’s Cottage Food Laws. View the Cottage Food Operations Guidelines for more information. There are some types of businesses (e.g. beverages, canned goods) that require a permit.

Applications 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.

ANNUAL FAIR:
We can accept up to 100 businesses. Want more? Send our website to a friend of yours who can sponsor the Fair! We would love to be able to showcase even more kidpreneurs. Regardless of acceptance, our business workshops and training are free for all children. We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

We limit the number of similar products accepted to only three of each type .e.g dog treats, slime, bath bombs, cupcakes. Space are granted on a first-come-first-served basis, so submit your application as soon as you have an idea!

Applications are processed weekly. Once you apply, expect to hear back within 5 business days or the following Monday.

An invoice for the participation fee ($15) will be sent after you are accepted. Please pay promptly so your spot is not forfeited to the next entrepreneur in line due to the high number of expected applicants.

The majority of kid businesses will have at least one 6’ table and 10’ x 10’ tent. You have a 10’ square booth space for your business that you can set-up any way you like.

Just like a real market, you’ll be responsible for bringing your own supplies, table, and decorations. The Fair is free to the public. Kid vendors pay a small participation fee ($15).

This event is designed to give children the experience of creating a business and selling a product or service. If a parent is found creating a business for a child or selling a child’s product or service, the child’s business will be disqualified from attending another PCBF. This includes, but is not limited to, family businesses.

One parent/adult guardian only of younger children may sit in the booth with the children, but the children should be wholly responsible for set up, customer interaction, sales, and follow-up. We encourage other parents/caregivers to volunteer for us the day of the Fair or bring a chair and sit in the vendor family area!

Parents may help their child fill out the application, but we expect the children to do as much as possible by themselves.

Our experience has shown that young entrepreneurs enjoy and learn considerably more when parents step back from the process.

Remember to keep this about your young entrepreneurs. Let them imagine, create, and problem-solve. Resist the temptation to help out. Your job is to maintain enthusiasm and provide encouragement.

Keep it simple. Let the business plan, booth design, and sales patter reflect them at his/her best – not your best.

Let them fail, make mistakes and learn from them. Let them problem-solve and come up with their own solutions. Let them be messy! Let them be Chair of the Board and CEO! Let them own their ideas.

If your child gets stuck, return to the key question for their entrepreneurial journey: “What can I make with my own hands that others might enjoy?”

The Children’s Business Fair was originally developed in 2007 by Acton Academy – an organization based in Austin, Texas. Acton believes in the power of work and entrepreneurship to improve self-esteem and build strong communities. After several successful fairs, founders Jeff and Laura Sandefer gave others the opportunity for others to host their own fairs. Children’s Business Fairs have since spread all around the world.

In 2018, a local group of passionate moms got together and decided to bring the concept to Pensacola. They launched the very first Pensacola Children’s Business Fair at the Bare Hand Collective in the spring of 2019. The annual fair has been happening ever since — even going virtual during the pandemic. We are excited to keep the momentum going and provide this unique opportunity to local young entrepreneurs.