The humble lemonade stand, a childhood staple, has evolved. Thanks to cashless payment options and savvy business practices, tech-smart kids are now cashing in on sidewalk beverage services like never before.
Alex Mitchell profiled some elementary children entrepreneurs in the New York Post.
The Next Generation of Business Owners: Lemonade Stand Moguls
In today’s digital world, exchanging lemonade for spare change is a thing of the past. With fewer people carrying cash, contactless payment options like Venmo and card readers are crucial to young lemonade stand operators’ success.
“Contactless payment technology with lemonade stands is making these kids a fortune,” said Kareisha Hartsfield, whose nine-year-old daughter Kyrei has earned $7,000 since she began selling lemonade near her Texas home at age seven. Kareisha notes, “At the end of a sales day, we probably only have $20 in cash.”
Similarly, Doreen Farber found that offering digital payment options was a game-changer for her seven-year-old daughter Lilly’s stand. “A lot of people preferred to pay with Venmo,” Farber related, estimating that ±30 percent of the Long Island lemonade market opts for cashless transactions.
How Young Entrepreneurs are Using Online Platforms to Grow Their Businesses
These young business owners aren’t just taking orders—they’re building brands. From designing QR codes for easy payments to managing social media accounts, these kids are learning entrepreneurial skills beyond their years.
Eleven-year-old Amer Bharti from Kansas City, Mo., for example, sells syrup-infused lemonade. His business savvy, leaning heavily into social media, has propelled him to a million TikTok views.
He cites his lemonade business as educationally beneficial: “Start to finish, this probably taught me a lot more than school has,” he claims. Bharti made $350 during his last sale and now plans to obtain permits to sell in high-traffic areas.
Other pint-sized profiteers are using their resources, including digital fame, to help meaningful charities.
Kyrei Hartsfield—whose business Stroke Survivor Lemonade & Co. donates profits to the hospital that treated her—has nearly 1,600 social media followers and celebrity shoutouts. Her online orders and tradeshow sales have led to moments where “…people were raving about it… coming back to get like 20 bottles,” says her mom, Kareisha.
Lilly Farber, who has used her profits to donate to a cerebral palsy charity in honor of her brother, is already planning a Halloween cider stand after her summer success. “She’s learning how to do business… and also take a little for herself,” said her mom, Doreen.
The Importance of Business Skills for Young Entrepreneurs
Nonprofits like Lemonade Day, an entrepreneurial resource from Houston, supply fledgling tycoons with resources to run their stands like real businesses. Lemonade Day CEO Nicole Cassier-Mason explained, “Part of our kids’ marketing plan is designing QR codes… and they have really leaned into modern and in-depth aspects of business.”
The full serving of this story on these young entrepreneurial savants is in the New York Post.
