So You Want To Start A Lemonade Stand!

Starting your own lemonade business is a great way to have fun this summer while making a little extra money or supporting your favourite charity.

Here are a few tips to get started:

Set up your lemonade stand at the foot of your driveway if you’re in an area with lots of people walking by or if you’re in a high traffic area. You can also set up the business with a friend who lives in a better location.

Consider advertising! Put up some colorful, homemade signs in the neighbourhood, directing customers to your stand. Promote the charity you are supporting if that’s the reason you’re setting up a lemonade stand.

Set up your stand! You can use a large plastic folding table or a board on two boxes. Either one will make a good stand. Decorate the table with a tablecloth or colorful paper.

Create a large sign that draws attention! Include the price. If you are supporting a charity, put that information on the sign.

Have a large quantity of disposable cups on hand so you don’t run out. Set up a cooler with lots of ice.

Set up a garbage area for your customers.

Determine when the busiest times of the day or weekend are going to be as those are the times when you should be selling your lemonade. Make sure it’s a HOT day when customers will want an ice-cold cup of lemonade!

Make several batches of lemonade (see recipe below). Store your batches in coolers below your stand so you don’t have to keep running back in the house if things get busy!

Make sure you price your lemonade to cover all your expense: the lemons, cups, and sugar. Add in a profit margin as well.

Don’t forget to sell with a smile! Your customers will enjoy their glass of lemonade more if you serve it with a big grin!

Lemonade Recipe:
Great lemonade is made with simple syrup. The sugar is completely dissolved and blends well with the tart lemon. Simple Syrup is 1 cup of  water and  1 cup of sugar. Blend well in small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently, until sugar dissolves completely. Let cool and refrigerate. Mix the syrup well with the juice from 4-6 lemons (strained or not) and stir well. Add 4 cups cold water and mix.  Pour into thermos or large jug, adding thin lemon slices if you'd like. Make  more lemonade and freeze it in ice cube trays, adding the cubes to the lemonade so it's never diluted.

Good luck with your new business!