How to Start a Successful Lemonade Stand

Would you like to teach your child the basics of entrepreneurship? A great way to start is with a lemonade stand. A simple lemonade stand can help your child learn the basics of managing money, marketing, and advertising. If you'd like to help your child be successful with his first lemonade stand business, here are some tips for creating a lemonade stand business that stands out from the rest.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Practice good customer service.
   
   Your lemonade stand business gives you an opportunity to teach your child the art of good customer service. Show him the importance of being polite to his customers and always acknowledging a sale with a warm “thank you”. This is a habit that will serve him well throughout life.

2. Create easy to see signs.
   
   With a lemonade stand, it's crucial to attract the attention of people who pass through both on foot and in cars. Make sure your child's lemonade stand signs are clear, bright, and easy to see. Many lemonade businesses have far fewer sales than they could because they're not visible enough. You can further attract attention by tying some balloons to your tables.

3. Profit from add-on sales.
   
   If you have a customer who wants to purchase lemonade, why not entice them with some freshly baked cookies? Chocolate chip cookies are favorites and are pretty hard to resist. This can be an additional source of sales. Plus, imagine the fun you and your child will have baking the cookies together.

4. Location, location, location.
   
   If your house isn't located on a high traffic street, get permission to host your lemonade stand business in a location with higher traffic. You and your child might select a sporting event, your local church, or on the sidewalk of your local strip mall to set up your lemonade stand. You might also set up in a church parking lot or other nonprofit agency and offer the church or agency a portion of the profits. By offering a nonprofit a portion of the profits, you'll be able to benefit from their advertising.

5. Offer a different variation on the lemonade theme.
   
   Why not make your lemonade even more special by offering organic, fresh squeezed lemonade? You could also sell lemonade with an added flavor twist such as strawberry lemonade. This will set your lemonade stand business apart from the average lemonade stand. If you have an electric ice shaver, you could also offer lemonade snow cones.

[apayne902]

on 7/17/2009 Cool! I'd love to try this out! Wish me luck on my lemonade stand!