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What Do You Win at a Kids' Business Fair? Awards, Judging Criteria, and What Judges Look For
As fair day draws closer, excitement is definitely building across Brevard County! Young entrepreneurs are busy finishing up their inventory, crafting colorful tabletop signs, and practicing their customer greetings.
Whether your child is already registered or you are a parent exploring whether your 6-to-17-year-old should jump in, one big question always comes up: "What do you win at a kids business fair?"
While many community events hand out simple ribbons or participation certificates, the Brevard Children's Business Fair does things differently. We want our youth founders to experience the real rewards of running a business. Here is a full look inside our official kids business fair awards, real cash prizes, exclusive year-round perks, and what our judges look for on fair day.
1. 100% Focused on Kids: No Distractions
Before looking at prizes, it helps to understand how kids business fairs work—especially ours.
What makes the Brevard Children's Business Fair unique is that the spotlight never leaves our young entrepreneurs. We do not host adult vendors, bouncy houses, or food trucks that pull foot traffic and attention away from the booths. Every visitor walking through the marketplace is there for one reason: to discover and buy directly from youth-led businesses.
This distraction-free setup gives young people a genuine platform where they can feel like true business leaders.
2. Official Awards and Real Cash Prizes
We believe hard work and creative thinking deserve real rewards! At our event, participants can win real seed money to reinvest in their business or deposit right into their savings account:
$200 — Best in Show: Awarded to the top all-around business demonstrating stellar presentation, an engaging pitch, clear pricing, and strong customer appeal.
$100 — Most Creative / Best Presentation: Goes to the booth with stand-out branding, creative displays, and an organized table setup that pulls shoppers right in.
$100 — Most Original Business Idea: Honors an inventive concept, an original handcrafted creation, or a clever new twist on an everyday product.
$100 — Highest Business Potential: Awarded to a business with strong profit margins, sensible pricing, and a clear plan to keep growing.
3. Year-Round Perks: Exclusive Partner Opportunities
The benefits of joining our fair go far beyond an afternoon at the marketplace. All registered participants get access to exclusive business and growth opportunities through our local community partners and sponsors:
Real-World Pop-Up Markets: Our young founders earn opportunities to sell at special partner venues across Brevard County. These include pop-up markets at Lucky Goat Coffee in Viera, booth space at Charlie's Comic Con, and seasonal markets with EGAD (Eau Gallie Arts District) & Thrive Local during the Mutt Strutt and neighborhood Halloween festivities.
Three Free In-Person Skill Workshops: Hosted at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy, our workshop series brings in local experts to help kids build real-world entrepreneurial skills:
Financial Literacy: Facilitated by our Innovator Sponsor, OxenFree Financial, teaching young founders how to price products, calculate costs, and manage profits.
Marketing Skills: Facilitated by Holy Trinity, showing kids how to design clean signage, build a memorable brand, and draw in repeat customers.
Communication & Pitching Skills: Facilitated by Florida Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), guiding kids through public speaking, eye contact, and delivering a confident sales pitch before fair day.
4. What Judges Look For (Kids Business Fair Judging)
Talking with our friendly community judges is an exciting milestone for young CEOs. When judges stop by a table, they evaluate four key areas:
Kid-Led Sales Pitches: Judges want to hear directly from the youth founder! They love hearing how the child created their idea and assembled their inventory.
Product Knowledge: Can your child explain what materials they used, how their item works, and why customers love it?
Clear Pricing & Clean Setup: Prices must be clearly displayed on signs or item tags so shoppers never have to ask. A tidy, well-organized table shows real pride in the craft.
Basic Money Sense: Kids do not need complicated accounting sheets, but understanding their supply costs, their price points, and how to count change shows sharp business thinking.
A Quick Word on Children's Business Fair Rules
One of our core children's business fair rules is that each booth must be 100% run by the child.
Parents, your support ahead of the fair is vital—from supply runs to practicing sales pitches in the living room. Once the fair opens and judging starts, however, parents must step back. Letting young founders greet shoppers, calculate totals, and answer judges' questions completely on their own is where genuine confidence is built!
5. The Real Prize: Lifelong Confidence and Skills
While taking home a $100 or $200 cash prize is an exciting goal, the greatest reward happens right behind the table.
Every young founder walks away with:
Unshakable Confidence: Speaking with dozens of real customers proves to kids that their ideas and voices matter.
Practical Math & Business Skills: Handling cash, making change, and calculating profits brings math to life in a way textbooks cannot match.
Resilience & Pride: Taking an idea from a blank sheet of paper to a sold-out table creates an unmatched sense of personal accomplishment.
Fair Day Preparation Checklist
Review this final verification checklist with your young founder before fair day:
[ ] Product prices are clearly written and visible on tags or tabletop signs.
[ ] The young founder has practiced a 30-second introduction that they can deliver without adult prompts.
[ ] A secure cash box or waist apron is packed with small bills ($1s and $5s) and change.
[ ] Display elements fit within standard table boundaries. Gas generators are not permitted.
[ ] Read through the official guidelines together: Review the Official Rules & Guidelines.
Ready to See Your Young Entrepreneur Shine?
Whether your child is already registered and practicing their pitch, or you are thinking about introducing your 6-to-17-year-old to the world of business, we are here to support them every step of the way!
Already Registered? Take a few minutes to review the event standards together so your booth is 100% prepared to impress the judges:
New to the Fair? Join our community of creative young CEOs, gain access to our free partner workshops, and find out how your child can launch their very own business:
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