A warm early fall this year extended my kids' lemonade stand season.π It's been
By Adamhopson Β· October 10, 2026 Β· Curated by George's Blog
A warm early fall this year extended my kids' lemonade stand season.π It's been fun using it to teach them some pretty profound business concepts (though not without some fierce resistance!)
Here are the top eight:
1οΈβ£ ππππππππ: Some kids set up on busy streets with lots of visibility but nowhere to safely pull over. My kids set up at the trailhead of a popular day hike and catch thirsty hikers on their way out.
2οΈβ£ πππππππ πππππππ: This ain't no powder mix! My culinary school-trained wife taught them how to make lemonade from a simple syrup and freshly squeezed lemons.π They get frequent comments like "Mmm, that's actually the best lemonade I've ever had." A teenaged competitor who sells Powerades out of a cooler always leaves as soon as my kids show up.
3οΈβ£ ππππππππππππ ππππππ: Okay, I haven't actually used this π¦πΉπ’π€π΅ term with them, but they understand the concept that their CUTENESS is a key asset and that it will diminish over time. That's why my 10yo daughter leads outbound sales as hikers come off the trail, while my 13yo son (whose cuteness is evolving into CHARM) runs the stand.
4οΈβ£ πππππ ππππππππππ: They saw a big boost in conversion (from 50% to 70%!) when they began offering free samples, taking a lesson from Costco β minus the hairnets. It not only gives people a taste of the premium product, but it also triggers a subtle sense of indebtedness (especially when it's from an adorable 10yo girl!)
5οΈβ£ πππππππππ ππππππππ: My kids initially pushed back hard when I told them not to give up until the third 'no.' "We have to respect their decision, Dad!!!" Now they think of a 'no' as a request for more information. Their first response is, "Are you sure? You're probably thirsty after that hike, and our lemonade is ice-cold and fresh-squeezed." The second objection is usually that they don't have any cash, which leads to the next lesson β¦
6οΈβ£ πππππππ πππππ: "We also accept Venmo, all major credit cards, and bitcoin." My daughter gets 'em every time with this line, which uses the classic Rule of Three from comedy. They do have a credit card reader (which impresses people even though it's rarely used), but they're not actually equipped to accept bitcoin. The unexpected laugh line hooks customers, though.
7οΈβ£ πππππ-πππππππ: My daughter draws in the thirsty hikers with lemonade, and then my son cross-sells them on cookies.πͺ
8οΈβ£ πππππππ: I've been pushing them to raise price from $1 per cup/cookie to $2 or two for $3. They counter that they "already made the sign!" They're also still struggling with the concept of value-based pricing and the value of convenience to a thirsty hiker on a hot day. Maybe next year β¦
π‘π’π§π: Utah has an amazing "Lemonade Stand Law" allowing child-run businesses like this to operate without licenses or permits. Youth entrepreneurship thrives here as a result. LOVE this state! β€οΈ