How It Works & FAQs

• The Young Business Showcase is a one-day marketplace that gives young entrepreneurs (7-17) the opportunity to launch businesses, sell in an authentic environment and earn their own money.

The Young Business Showcase is the new name for the Children’s Business Fair UK.

We’re changing our name because:

1. It reflects our broader mission in supporting a network of locally run events to give every young person in UK the opportunity

2. It’s more age-agnostic, allowing us to grow with our entrepreneurs and build a pathway from first launch to growth and beyond.

Thank you for supporting thousands of young entrepreneurs since 2018. We’re excited for the next stage of growth.

Questions?
Message us – info@youngbusinessshowcase.co.uk

Winter 2025

• HAMMERSMITH, W6
  Saturday, 22nd November 2025 (Lyric Square)
• EGHAM
  Saturday, 29th November 2025 (Egham Lit)
• GUILDFORD
  Saturday, 29th November 2025 (The Guildhall & High St)
• FARNHAM
  Saturday, 6th December 2025 (The Maltings)
• FARNBOROUGH
  Saturday, 20th December 2025 (Queensmead)

**Rough timings. May vary depending on the location**

• 8.30am Entrepreneurs set up
• 9.30am CBF starts
• 2.30pm Prize giving
• 3.30pm Event ends

• Entrepreneurs aged 7 to 17 on the date of the business fair can participate.

Winter 2025 applications close:

• Hammersmith close Fri, 17th October 2025 (5pm)
• Egham closes Fri, 24th October 2025 (5pm)
• Guildford closes Fri, 24th October 2025 (5pm)
• Farnham closes Fri, 31st October 2025 (5pm)
• Farnborough closes Fri, 14th November (5pm)

Sadly, we cannot provide electricity or running water at any of the events.

• HAMMERSMITH, W6 – on Lyric Square (outside the Lyric Theatre). You will be provided with a gazebo, 4ft table and two chairs.
• EGHAM – Egham Lit on the High Street. You will be provided with a 4ft table and two chairs.
• GUILDFORD – Split between the High Street and inside the Guildhall. On the High Street, you will be provided with a gazebo, 4ft table and two chairs. In the Guildhall, you will be provided with a 4ft table and chairs.
• FARNHAM – in the The Farnham Maltings (part of the Monthly Market). You will be provided with a gazebo and a 4ft or 6ft table and two chairs.
• FARNBOROUGH – on Queensmead. You will be provided with a gazebo and a 4ft table and two chairs.

We are planning to accept:

• Up to 40 businesses for Hammersmith & Fulham
• Up to 25 businesses for Egham
• Up to 40 businesses for Guildford
• Up to 40 businesses for Farnham
• Up to 30 businesses for Farnborough

Entrepreneurs launching products that they’ve made themselves will be prioritised.

• We do not accept businesses selling second-hand items or reselling bought stock. We do accept businesses who add value to second-hand items (eg: up-cycling and customising second-hand clothes.)
• Clay beads, crochet and 3D printing have all seen a massive increase in applications recently.
• If you do want to launch in these categories, think VERY carefully about applying as you’ll face strong competition and might not get through the application process.
• Make your business as unique as possible.

Card machines are not obligatory, but we recommend taking a combination of a cash float as well as, if possible, a card machine to take payments

There are several options available – from card readers to payment apps. We suggest researching for the best rates.

Please note that all card payment systems need to be registered and linked to an adult bank account (under 18s are not permitted to have a card machine or app in their name).

• We do not accept businesses selling hot food, as you will be required to obtain a food hygiene certificate (an expensive and time-consuming exercise).
• Please note that baked goods (biscuits, cakes etc) are acceptable as they are considered ‘low risk’. However, as they are popular businesses to launch, we will not be able to accept all businesses in this category. We remind you that baking is often a stressful, last-minute business with low profits – be warned!
• All food businesses must follow a simple allergens and preparation guidelines, with clear labelling throughout.
• Questions? Get in touch: info@youngbusinessshowcase.co.uk

£30 stand fee from all accepted businesses.

• This is to reserve the entrepreneur’s spot at the fair and hold them accountable to attend as stalls are limited.
• We require this fee to be paid within 48hours of acceptance.
• If not paid on time, your spot will be released to our waiting list.
• If you struggle to pay for the start-up cost and stand fee, please get in touch to find out more about the YBS Scholarship. info@youngbusinessshowcase.co.uk
• **Please note – refunds will not be issued for cancellations after 14 days before the event**

If the event is cancelled for any reason (eg: high winds):

1. If we manage to find an alternative date for that cohort, you can transfer your place to that rearranged event.
2. If you cannot make the alternative date, you can postpone your spot to the next cohort of events (not beyond the next cohort).
3. If neither are suitable, you can either donate your stand fee to the YBS or request a refund (minus PayPal fee).

• When you apply, we will send you a document called My Business Plan. It’s a simple guide to starting a business and features ideas for start-up businesses.

• Applications must be submitted online.
• Please submit one application for each business.
• If you are working as a group, you should submit one application that includes each of your teammates’ information.
• No more than 3 participants per business.

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

It’s important to your application that you think things through – we choose businesses that are 1) original and 2) the level of effort on your application (it shows how passionate you are).

The applications asks you:

• 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?

We choose successful applicants on a number of criteria. The two most important:

• #1 – ORIGINALITY
  How original is the idea? Original ideas always catch our eye. Do your research and check out our socials for businesses that do well.
• #2 – APPLICATION EFFORT
  How much effort have you put into your application? The more detail you add to your application gives us a stronger indication of how well you know your business and how passionate you are.

Two baking businesses?

• In general, we let market forces play out.
• Ask yourself – how will I make my product stand out? What’s going to make me better than the competition? Brand, quality, stand or all three?
• **PLEASE NOTE** There’s always LOTS of competition in crochet, 3D printing and jewellery (especially clay beads – in 2024, we had 90 jewellery applications.)
• Think really carefully about how to make your idea stand out. Sadly, we cannot accept them all.

• This event is designed to give young entrepreneurs the experience of creating a business and selling their products.
• **Please note** As entrepreneurs are under 18 and selling in a public space, at least one adult (parent/carer) per business is required to attend at all times.
• Beyond this, whilst parents can help fill out the application, we expect participants to do as much as possible by themselves.
• Participants should be responsible for set-up, customer interaction and sales.
• If a parent is found creating a business for participants or selling or promoting their product or service, the business will not be eligible for a prize.

• Yes. We have awards in specific categories: Best Product, Best Stand, Best Sales Pitch and Customer’s Choice (voted by the public).
• All entries will be automatically entered into the competition.
• Judges will ask the entrepreneurs questions about the fundamentals of their business, such as how they came up with product prices and who their target market is.
• Judges will evaluate how much of the business reflects their own work (versus parents’).

• Our experience has shown that when parents have the courage to step back from the process, young entrepreneurs enjoy the experience considerably more.
• So, 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 their best – not your best.
• Let them fail, make mistakes and then 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?”

• We started with the Children’s Business Fair in Guildford.
• From 2018-2025, the event grew to 43 events, with thousands of young entrepreneurs launching.
• In 2025, we decided to rebrand to a name that is more age-neutral.
• The original Children’s Business Fair was launched in 2007 by incredible founders Jeff and Laura Sandefer (co-founders of Acton Academy).
• Jeff and Laura have since given the opportunity for thousands of others to host their own fairs, with events spreading all around the world.
• 2025 marked a new chapter in the UK with a brand overhaul. We stay close to the same crucial values that Jeff and Laura first established.