Kidpreneurs: Protect Your Lemonade Stand with “Legal-Ade”
Remember all those summers where you would set up a lemonade stand in the yard or at the park and try to encourage passerbys in the neighborhood to stop and buy a refreshing cup for no more than 50 cents? As a kid, the only thought you had on your mind running this kind of business was how much money you could earn to go to the movies or an amusement park. As an adult, and especially if you grew up to be an entrepreneur, you’re probably wondering how you were able to set up shop like that without a permit.
Luckily, Country Time Lemonade has decided to take a stand for kidpreneurs everywhere by introducing Legal-Ade. This crack team of professionals is here to assist kids with permits and fines as they relate to their lemonade stands. Their goal is to get kidpreneurs back to making lemonade with the lemons life has handed them while Legal-Ade handles any potential legal implications.
If a child is fined for running a lemonade stand without a permit during the 2017 or 2018 calendar year, they may have their parent or legal guardian apply for reimbursement. The application process consists of snapping a photo of the child’s permit or fine and including a description of what the lemonade stands means to the child in their own words. The Legal-Ade team will then review the documents and if it complies, they will cover the fine or permit fee up to $300. Up to a limit of $60,000 total will be reimbursed by the Kraft Heinz-owned brand.
I wish I could say that this is just a very cute PR stunt for the brand, but shutting down kid-run lemonade stands is a real thing that can happen. As outlined in this blog post by the Freedom Center of Missouri, there aren’t many towns that allow kid-run concession stands to operate without a permit. Some towns will declare that these stands are illegal unless the children obtain at least one city permit or they will shut down the stand entirely. Lemonade, brownies, cupcakes—all food and drink is fair game for the youngsters with an entrepreneurial spirit unless they abide by permit laws.
If your child is a budding entrepreneur who is interested in opening up their own lemonade or snack stand this summer, one of the best lessons you can teach them early on before starting their business is the importance of permits. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, the kinds of permits you apply for depend on activities your business conducts and where it is located. Check in with the state, county, or city to see what permits your kidpreneur may need and pricing for the fees.
