How to Perfect the Lemonade Stand Game

Perfecting Your Lemonade Stand

• 1

  Sit down with your kids and plan out your strategy ahead of time. Decide where you want to set up your stand. Traditionally, people set up lemonade stands in their yards or at the end of the driveway; however, if your house is not located in a busy or safe area, you should consider setting up in a park or a soccer field. If you take your business someplace outside your neighborhood, make sure you have permission to be there. Decide which days and times are the busiest based on the location you have chosen, and from there select your dates and hours of operation. Discuss whether you want to make lemonade from scratch or use a mix, and then settle on a fair price per glass. It is important to price your lemonade fairly to attract more customers, so keep each glass in the range of $0.25 to $0.50 if you can.

• 2

  Have your children create flyers and posters with detailed information about the stand's location, hours of operation, and pricing. Encourage them to add drawings to liven up the advertisements. Do not worry about the odd misspelled word; this will add to the authenticity of the lemonade stand. Hang these advertisements around the area in which you will be setting up your stand.

• 3

  The day or morning before you open your stand, make a trip to the bank to get bills and coins to use for change. You will want dollar bills, quarters, nickels and dimes, but be prepared for customers who pay with large bills, too. Purchase your supplies if you haven't done so already. Supplies will include disposable cups, lemonade ingredients, ice, and a pitcher and stirrer if you do not already have them at home. Make up the first batch of lemonade and place it in the refrigerator to chill so you are ready to go as soon as you set up the stand. Pre-slice some lemons to place in the lemonade and in or on the cups.

• 4

  Set up your stand in the location you have selected. You can use any kind of table or even a large, sturdy, overturned box or crate. Cover your work surface with a colorful tablecloth. Bring enough chairs for all the children to sit down and set them up behind the table. Attach some large, colorful signs to the front of the table to increase visibility, and make sure you include the price per glass in bold print. Bring along a garbage can or trash bag for empty cups or lemon slices.

• 5

  For each customer, stir up the contents of the pitcher, fill a cup with some ice and pour in the lemonade. Add a lemon slice in the cup or attach it to the rim. Tell the customer his total, collect the money and give him back the correct change. If you plan on setting up shop regularly, tell the customer what days and times he can expect you again; this will start to earn you regular customers.

• 6

  Clean up your workspace and pack up items you plan to take home. Throw away any trash you find, and remove any flyers or posters you set up beforehand to be recycled.