Few things conjure up American nostalgia like
the sight of a child’s lemonade stand parked on their parents’ front yard, and young workers selling iced cups of
refreshment to passersby. If you have a child who is interested in starting up
their own side hustle lemonade stand this summer, then you may be wondering how to best
help them get started.
Read on for tips to help your child get their
lemonade business dreams off the ground.
Start with the Basics
Before agreeing to let your child start their
own lemonade stand, there are a few basic business principles that you should go over
with them first.
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Teach them the difference between revenue and profit. After all, those lemonade supplies aren’t going to buy themselves!
Before building a stand, consider whether or not you will be footing the supply
bill or if your child will be responsible for providing money to purchase
supplies from their earnings. This is a great learning opportunity for children
to understand some basic principles of business. As you’re having this discussion,
this is also a great time to discuss product pricing. Decide together how much
your child should charge per cup.
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Decide on location. Do you live in a populated
area with a lot of foot traffic? If so, great! Your front yard is probably
optimum lemonade stand real estate. If not though, then your child may need to
consider a different location, being respectful of course of private property.
Another ideal solution would be if a relative who lives in a more populated
area would be willing to let your child set up shop in their yard. However,
this option is best pursued by older children who don’t need as much
supervision.
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Set hours. As fun as running a lemonade stand
may sound to your child, chances are their perspective will change if they’re
sitting at the stand all day, every day while their friends are getting
together during playdates. Set realistic time slots for your child to spend at
their lemonade stand, perhaps focusing on times when there will be more foot
traffic, such as the end of the workday or on the weekend. Help your child make
an “hours of operation” sign to post on their stand.
Build the Lemonade Stand
From a decked-out mini-farmers market setup to
a simple card table, help your child put together a stand they can use to sell
their beverages from. Here are some ideas:
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Folding table. If you have a folding table,
help your child safely set it up in the yard. Cover the table in a festive summer tablecloth (use a couple of rocks to
hold it down in case the wind picks up!) and place a couple of folding
chairs behind the table. Simple as that!
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Construct a top-of-the-line lemonade stand. If
you’re particularly handy and wouldn’t mind taking on another project, Lowe’s has a great template for
building an old-fashioned lemonade stand, complete with an awning and built-in
cooler. Check out the instructions here!
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Personalize and decorate. No matter how simple
or fancy the stand ends up being, encourage your child to decorate the stand
and make it their own. Get creative with paint, decking out the stand in fun
colors and add a festive sign or banner advertising fresh lemonade. As
mentioned above, make sure to also create and post a sign that publicizes the
hours of operation.
Gather Supplies
Your child is all set with a business plan and
a stand for selling -- now it’s time to start gathering supplies to make the
magic happen! Here’s a list of basic supplies your child will need to run their
lemonade stand:
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Fresh lemons, water and sugar
(check out our lemonade recipe below!)
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Small saucepan and wooden spoon
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Lemon juicer
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Pitcher
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Paper or Plastic Cups
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A tin to collect money and make
change
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Ice
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Cooler
Keep Safety Top of Mind
As strong-willed as your little entrepreneur
may be, it’s up to you to make sure they’re staying safe on the daily grind. Here are some
important safety tips to keep in mind:
-
Fight off summer rays. Always make sure your
child applies sunscreen before spending time out in the
summer sun.
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Keep an eye out. If your children are older,
then you probably don’t have to
physically sit at the stand with them, but make sure you’re always keeping an
eye out while they’re working. Remind them to come get you if they feel scared
or uncomfortable at any point in time. If you have concerns and especially if
your children are on the younger side, make a point to always be outside while
your child is working their lemonade stand. Sit nearby and read a book or take
the time to get some yard work done within eyeshot.
-
Remind them the rules of the road. Make sure
your child knows to stay a safe distance from the road and to never cross without your assistance.
One last - but very important - piece to
consider is the lemonade itself! Click on the button below to download a
tried-and-true lemonade recipe that’s sure to please and bring in many happy
customers.
