Summer and sunny days are upon us, and along with that comes weekend Lemonade Stands!

Not only is a lemonade stand a blast for the little ones, but it actually is a great first way for them to get creative, learn a few business skills and earn some money. And, while the pandemic may be preventing it from happening physically, it doesn’t mean it can’t be done virtually. There are still some fun and different ways to get in on the fun. 

Lemonade Day National, a program that teaches youth how to start, own and operate their own business (aka a Lemonade Stand!), really is making lemonade out of lemons. Read on below for ways they recommend your little one still can host their own stand: 

Lemonapolis

Lemonade Day National is now offering Lemonapolis for free. The online, interactive program includes fun video lessons focused on business planning, product development, financial management, marketing and charitable giving. 

Virtual Lemonade Stand

Have your kids go through the process of making lemonade just as if they would be hosting a stand. Make sure to take lots of videos and photos. Then, post the photos to your social channels and ask for family and friends to donate via a service like PayPal or Venmo. Have your kids track the orders and explain to customers how their product will be delivered when coronavirus threats have diminished. 

Lemonade-To-Go

If your kids are really pushing for that physical stand, National Lemonade Day recommends making a lemonade stand without actually making the lemonade. To do so, use pre-packaged single serve lemonade mixes and a bottle of water. Just package them together in a recyclable paper lunch sack and make sure to encourage the kids to decorate the outside! Make a sign with your venmo or paypal account name so customers can pay seamlessly and without contact. Kids can stand 6ft back from the table to ensure proper distance is being kept between customers. 

Note: Please make sure you’re abiding by your individual state’s stay at home orders.  And, as always, make sure to take all safety precautions when packaging and providing to your customers. 

More than Lemonade: Expand your Business Model! 

Your kids can get the same type of business experience as a lemonade stand by doing something else. Ideas include holding a car wash (just put a jar out to collect change) or offering to weed neighbors lawns.