Lemonade stand facts for kids
A lemonade stand is a small, simple business often run by a child or a group of children. It's where they sell lemonade, especially during the summer months. This idea has become a classic symbol of youthful summertime in American culture. Sometimes, these stands might also sell other drinks like iced tea.
A lemonade stand can be as simple as a folding table. The classic version is often made from plywood or cardboard boxes. A homemade sign usually advertises the lemonade for sale.
Learning from Lemonade Stands
Lemonade stands are often seen as a great way for kids to learn about business at a young age. Running one can teach you about important ideas like:
- Profit: This is the money you make after paying for your supplies.
- Economic freedom: This means you get to make your own choices about how to run your business.
- Teamwork: If you work with friends, you learn how to cooperate and share tasks.
However, a lemonade stand is different from a "real" business. Kids often don't pay for their labor or for the space they use. This means they have very few costs compared to an adult business.
Rules for Lemonade Stands
In some places, lemonade stands can technically break a few laws. These might include:
- Operating without a business license or permit.
- Not following health rules for selling food or drinks.
- Sometimes, rules about child labor.
It's very rare for a child's lemonade stand to get into legal trouble. When it does happen, people usually get upset. For example, in June 2015, a child's lemonade stand in Overton, Texas was shut down. When the child's mother tried to get a permit, she was told her kitchen would need to be inspected.
In 2018, a company called Country Time started a program called "Legal-Ade." This program helps pay up to $300 of the legal fees for lemonade stands that were fined. It also helps with the cost of permits.
The New York Legislature worked on a bill in 2019. If passed, this bill would make it clear that lemonade stands run by kids are legal and don't need most permits. As of that summer, fourteen U.S. states already had laws that let kids run lemonade stands without a permit.
