It is an initiative that culminates in an annual one-day event in the Triangle region in North Carolina that gives children the opportunity to sell their own products and services. It was later transformed into a comprehensive year-round program focused on empowering children to develop entrepreneurial skills that last far beyond the fair.

We will accept at least 55 businesses.

Read inspiring stories about other young entrepreneurs and brainstorm ideas of what you could sell at the fair. When applications open, submit your application. Then, buy everything you need and get started! 

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 4 participants per business.

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.

The fair will be a tented outdoor event with booths. Each business will be given a booth with a table, and a shared tent. Tablecloths will not be provided. 

Unfortunately, we are not able to provide electricity to the booths.

This event is designed to give children the experience of selling a product or service. 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.

No worries - if the weather doesn't cooperate, we will postpone the fair to next day, 1pm-5pm. 

Three high-schoolers in Cary, North Carolina had participated in the Triangle Children's Business Fair when they were younger, and they were interested in launching their own fair near where they lived, so they founded the Western Wake Business Fair in October 2023. They are planning to host their third fair on November 8, 2025.

We thank you for your support and invite you to become a sponsor. Your sponsorship underwrites the fair, provides resources for young entrepreneurs, and benefits your business through our marketing to parents and the larger community in Wake county, North Carolina. Please contact us if you are interested, or donate now via this link: paypal.me/westwakecbf. We also provide other payment options - please contact us.