Small Business Saturday Is Nov. 28. Kids Can Run a Booth Too.

Mark the calendar. The Saturday after Thanksgiving is Small Business Saturday, and in 2026 it falls on November 28.

Most people think of it as a day for grown-ups to shop at local stores. But in a number of towns, kids get a table too.

If your child has ever said "I want to sell my stuff," this could be the perfect first stage. Let's talk about how to get ready in about three weeks.

It's a shopping day that encourages people to buy from local, independent businesses, held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. National Today lists the 2026 date as November 28.

American Express created the idea, and it has grown into an event that many chambers of commerce and towns promote. Some communities add a youth market, where kids can sell goods and services alongside grown-up shops.

Think of it as a real-world classroom with real customers.

Here are two examples reported by local news. Both are from earlier years, so check your own town for this year's details.

In Kennewick, Washington, a "Kid-Preneur Fair" took place on Small Business Saturday at the Gesa Carousel of Dreams, hosted by Dino Drop-In Tri-Cities. According to KEPR, 17 young entrepreneurs between ages 5 and 11 took part. They sold homemade items such as art, jewelry, decorations, and books. One 10-year-old, Seveena Torres, has published two books. Describing her process, she said, "First I would probably come up with what the book is going to be about."

In Cortez, Colorado, the Chamber of Commerce invited youths 18 and younger to sell goods, services, or crafts on Small Business Saturday. The booths were free.

This part is fascinating. According to The Journal, youth vendors in Cortez had to attend a short presentation on applying for a city sales tax permit before the market opened.

The city waived the sales tax for that event. A city spokesperson said it was because the market was "a youth event and primarily for education purposes." She also noted that young business owners "may choose to apply for this permit to sell at future events in the city."

So what's the lesson? Real businesses follow rules. Even a seven-dollar bracelet can come with paperwork once you sell regularly. Learning that at age ten, with friendly adults nearby, takes the scariness out of it.

The rules differ from place to place. Ask your town or city whether kids need a permit for one-day markets.

Try these steps.

1. Search your town's chamber of commerce page for "Small Business Saturday" and "youth vendors."
2. Check local library, school, and parent group pages.
3. Call a downtown shop that sells handmade goods and ask if they host kid vendors.
4. Look for church, community center, and farmers market events.

If nothing exists, you can ask. A friendly email from a parent and child together goes a long way. The Cortez event, for example, had a simple sign-up by phone, email, or online form.

Also read the rules. Some events, like Cortez, only welcome businesses run mainly by the young person, not a family business managed by an adult. Rules like that are a good reminder that the kid should be the founder, not the helper.

Make a checklist together. A good one might include:

• Three to five products, no more
• A price sign that is easy to read
• A cash box with small bills and coins for change
• A notebook to track sales
• A tablecloth and a simple display
• Water, snacks, and a warm jacket if the market is outdoors
• A friendly one-sentence introduction

Skip the pile of fifty items. A small, tidy table looks better than a crowded one, and it's easier to count at the end.

Practice making change at home first. Have a family member pretend to buy something with a $10 bill. It feels silly for one minute and helpful for the rest of the day.

Try a pretend example. Imagine a child bakes 12 cookies. The ingredients and packaging cost $6 in total, so each cookie costs 50 cents. Selling each for $2 means $1.50 profit per cookie, and $18 if all twelve sell.

Now what if only eight sell? Revenue is $16, minus $6 in costs, for $10 in profit. That's still a win, and it's a good moment to talk about leftovers and what to change next time.

Three tips on prices:

1. Count the cost of supplies, packaging, and any booth fee.
2. Look at what similar items sell for nearby.
3. Make the price easy to pay. Round numbers like $2 or $5 speed up change-making.

A notebook with columns for what I spent, what I sold, and what I kept does the job. If your family likes organized plans, a spreadsheet works well, and a planning tool like Foundra can help a young founder write down products, costs, and goals. Pick what feels easy.

Be the support crew. Carry boxes, take photos, watch the cash box when your child needs a bathroom break, and keep an eye on safety.

Then step back. Let your child greet the customers, answer questions, and make the sales. If a shopper asks "What's this made of?", resist the urge to answer for them.

At the end, sit down together with the notebook. What sold best? What didn't? What would you change in December? Those few minutes teach more than the whole day of selling.

And if your child sold almost nothing? Treat it as data, not defeat. Adults launch products that flop all the time.

One Saturday is a great start. A pattern is even better.

After the market, hold a short family meeting. Count the money, list what sold, and write down two things to change. Maybe the sign was too small. Maybe the price was too high on one item. Maybe the best seller deserves a double batch next time.

Then pick the next date. A school fair, a spring market, a neighborhood sale. Having a date on the calendar keeps the project alive.

Over a year, a child who runs three small booths learns more about customers than most adults do in their first job. Each round builds on the last.

It happens to every seller, young or old. Foot traffic comes in waves, and weather, timing, and location matter.

Try a few small fixes. Stand up and smile instead of sitting behind the table. Offer a free sample if the product allows it. Put the best-looking item at the front. Say hello to people who walk by, even if they just nod.

And talk about the quiet stretches afterward. Was the table in a corner? Was the sign hard to see? Was the price too high for a shopper in a hurry? Every answer helps next time.

A slow day isn't a failed day. It's a sample of what real selling feels like.

Small Business Saturday is about supporting local businesses, and a young seller can add a kindness twist. Some families set aside a portion of profits for a local food pantry, animal shelter, or school project.

Let the child choose the cause and the amount. A pretend example: if a child earns $40 and decides to donate 10 percent, that's $4 to give away and $36 to keep or save.

Choosing a share on their own teaches a quiet lesson. Business isn't only about getting. It can be about community too.

• Small Business Saturday is on November 28, 2026.
• Some towns host youth markets or kid-preneur fairs alongside it.
• In Kennewick, 17 vendors ages 5 to 11 took part in one past fair, per KEPR.
• Cortez, Colorado, taught youth vendors about a city sales tax permit and waived the tax for its event.
• Prepare with three to five products, a price sign, a cash box, and a short pitch.
• Let kids run the booth; parents handle logistics and safety.

Is Small Business Saturday only for adults? No. Some communities invite kids to sell at youth markets. Check with your local chamber of commerce, library, or school.

Does my child need a permit to sell? It depends on where you live and the event. The Cortez market included a presentation on a city sales tax permit and waived the tax for the day. Ask your city or the organizer.

How old does a child need to be? It varies. Kennewick's fair included sellers ages 5 to 11, and Cortez welcomed youths 18 and younger. Always check the event rules.

What should my child sell? Something they enjoy making or doing: crafts, baked goods, books, art, or a service like pet walking. Keep the first table small.

Do kids need to pay for a booth? Cortez offered free booths and tables for its youth market. Fees differ by event, so ask the organizer.

What if there is no kids market nearby? Ask a local shop, library, or school if you can host a small one, or set up a family-and-friends sale.

1. Local kids get the opportunity to participate in Small Business Saturday, KEPR
2. Young entrepreneurs will sell products and services during Small Business Saturday, The Journal (Cortez, Colorado)
3. Small Business Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026, National Today
4. Shop Small, American Express