018 Lemonade stand

This idea is mostly for children (but maybe not only?). The principle is very simple: Sellers place a table in front of their house and sell fresh lemonade that they have prepared with love.

• Here's the program
• The Concept
• Some Warnings
• Recipe to Make a Good Lemonade
• Conclusion

If you are a fan of American movies, you probably remember this scene in some of them where kids are sitting in front of their house on a nice summer day with a few plastic glasses and a pitcher full of iced lemon juice placed on a table, and a little sign announcing the price. Don’t ask me what movie because I don’t remember (do you?).

If you really don’t know what I’m talking about, I’ll explain it in detail. And even if you live in the US and are familiar with this idea, I still recommend that you read this post because there are a couple of important things you may not know.

The Concept

So, a table, a jug of lemonade, and a sunny day. That’s the base. But you could also offer other things, such as different flavors (orange, apple, berry, etc.), iced tea or even snacks (cookies, chocolate, pieces of pie, etc.). In short, anything that is good and can be made at home.

Of course, this activity is not possible everywhere. If you live on a remote ranch somewhere in the Australian Outback, I warn you right away that the kangaroos are not solvent. On the other hand, cities are not ideal either. This is because of the lack of space, the risk of accidents, the pollution, and other nuisances inherent to densely populated cities. And then there is the climate: It will not work as well if it is -15°C outside.

As for the benefits, don’t expect your children to be able to pay off the loan on your house with this money. They usually do this to earn a few bucks and treat themselves (go to the movies with friends, buy a video game, eat ice cream, etc.). You, the parents, may even lose a little money in the process because you have to buy the basic ingredients, jugs, cups, etc. And then, as I know you, you’ll probably not ask to be reimbursed for the costs you invested.

But in return, you will have helped your children start a micro-business and thus introduce them to the world of self-entrepreneurship. Who knows, maybe this positive experience will inspire them to start their own business later? It will be rewarding for them in any case.

Some Warnings

As I said, there are some important things to keep in mind before you let your kids get into this juicy business. First of all, it is illegal in many places (yes, it is!). In some cases, you will only need to get a simple authorization from the municipality, but in others, it can be considered as a commercial activity requiring all the administrative package that goes with it. The best thing to do is to check with your local administration to find out.

Then, there may be problems with the hygiene standards of your country. In Western Europe, for example, it is often very regulated and therefore difficult to set up without going through a whole administrative process. Remember to take out a good family insurance policy in case, even if the risk is minimal, one of the clients gets poisoned. Here again, I advise you to be well informed before anything else.

Finally, not all places in the world are as idyllic and peaceful as in the American movies I mentioned in the introduction. Leaving your child alone in the street may not be very safe, especially if you live in a city and the risk of accident (or even kidnapping in some countries) is increased. It’s up to you, of course, but you’ve been warned.

Recipe to Make a Good Lemonade

Oh yes, I won’t leave you without giving you the recipe to make a delicious and refreshing lemonade. You will see that it is extremely simple.

So, for 1.25 liter of lemonade, the ingredients required are the following:

• 1 liter of water
• 30 gr of cane sugar (to be measured according to your preferences)
• 250 ml of lemon juice (about 3 lemons)
• 2 lemons + 2 limes (the lime is optional, but it gives an exotic touch). These will be sliced and mixed into the carafe of lemonade.
• A few fresh mint leaves
• Ice cubes

Once you’ve gathered all these ingredients, here’s how to proceed:

• 1Squeeze the 3 lemons to extract the juice, and then mix it with the water and add the cane sugar.

• 2Heat the mixture, and let it simmer for 10 minutes (avoid boiling) until the sugar is completely melted and diluted. Then let it infuse for 30 minutes before putting it in the fridge.

• 3Cut your lemons and limes into slices, put them in the carafe and pour the lemonade in. Add some mint leaves and ice cubes.

Et voilà! All that’s left to do is taste it (but leave some for the others!)

Conclusion

This is a simple idea that will allow your children to earn some pocket money without getting too tired. However, make sure you are well informed about the administrative constraints I mentioned above. And don’t forget, it will be an enriching experience for the child.