Lemonade stand or kids' drink stall
- Outdoor: weather matters
Children sell homemade lemonade or cold drinks from a table at home, a market or a sports day.
Typically raises
$60
$20–200 per eventest.
About $30 per organiser hour
Based on one children's stand for one day
Is it right for us?
- Money
- Under $500
- Work
- An afternoon
- Helpers
- 1–2 people
- Lead time
- A week or less
- Red tape
- Some
Fairly common: familiar kid-run classic, small but charming
- People
- 1-3 children plus an adult
- Organiser time
- 1-3 hours
- Lead time
- A few days
- Up-front cost
- $20. Lemons, sugar, cups (estimate)
- Risk
- Very low.
How it works
The money, as an example sum
Take about $80, pay about $20 of costs, and you keep about $60 per event: the typical result for one children's stand for one day.
From the typical figure on this page. Your result will differ.
Where the money figure comes from
Estimate. No NZ data found.
Last checked October 2026. Ran this? Tell us what you raised and we’ll use real results to improve the figures.
Step by step
- Choose a spot on private land or at an event with permission.
- Make drinks with clean water and clean jugs; keep chilled.
- Make a sign with price and what the money is for.
- Supervise children and handle cash with them.
- Clean up and count.
Getting the word out
Even a well-run plan fails if nobody hears about it. There are two asks, and the first one goes out first.
- Ask for help
- Families to bake, give stock or take a shift on the stall.
- Ask people to buy
- People to come and buy on the day.
- When to start
- Ask for helpers first, as soon as the date is set. Start the public ask about 1–2 weeks out, and book newsletter and paper notices before that: small newsletters close early.
Where to put it
- School, club and church newslettersYour own newsletter is free and read by the families most likely to say yes. Check when it closes.
- PostersPosters at the school gate, the clubrooms and shop windows, with the date, place, price and how to pay.
- Local Facebook pages and community groupsPost in your town’s community page and local groups (check their rules), and share from your group’s own page.
- Billboards and roadside signsYour school’s or club’s own sign by the road, a banner on the fence, or a sandwich board on the day for passers-by.
The full guide to getting the word out: every channel from flyers to the evening news, with lead times and costs.
What you’ll need
- Place
- NeededYour own grounds or hall
- Landowner’s permission
- NeededYes, in writing
- Council permit
- CheckCheck with your council
- Food rules
- CheckNo registration if you sell food to fundraise for a good cause up to 20 times a calendar year. It must still be safe and suitable, and your council may need a stall permit
- Alcohol
- Not neededNo alcohol sold
- Gambling rules
- Not neededNot gambling
Fine on your own property or at an event with permission. Selling on a public footpath may need a council permit in some cities; check before setting up on the street.
What you can get donated
Lemons from a neighbour's tree; cups from a local business.
Tips
- Say what the money is for on the sign; it lifts sales (estimate).
- Best on a hot day near foot traffic.
Watch out for
- Footpath trading without a council permit where one is required.
Lemonade stand or kids' drink stall: checklist
0 of 13 done
Before
On the day
After
Fine on your own property or at an event with permission. Selling on a public footpath may need a council permit in some cities; check before setting up on the street.
* General fundraising information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Money figures are examples and estimates, not promises. Check current official requirements before you commit. About this guide