Indy Kids in Business: Rouse Kids Serve Up Lemonade, Iced Tea, and a Lesson in Hard Work

On hot summer days in southeastern Colorado, sometimes the best business idea is also the simplest one, a cold drink, a good location, and a group of kids willing to put in the work.

The Rouse kids, Ramona, Bay, Jace and Isaiah Rouse, have been setting up shop Monday through Thursday in front of Grandma Marnie’s house on Maine Street in Eads, selling pink lemonade and iced tea to anyone needing a break from the heat.

Their stand is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., right during the hottest part of the day, when a cold cup of lemonade or tea sounds like just about the best deal in town. At $1 per cup, it is also an easy way for neighbors, friends and passersby to support a group of young entrepreneurs learning some real-world lessons.

Their mom, Autumn, told the Independent the kids first had to work hard just to cover their startup costs, including cups, lemonade, tea, straws and supplies. After several days of selling, they finally paid off their expenses, which means now they are officially, as the kids might say, rolling in the big bucks.

Of course, in the lemonade stand business, profits can be a dangerous thing, especially when your product is cold, sweet and sitting right in front of you all day. The kids had different ideas about how they might split or spend their earnings, but one thing is certain, they are learning quickly that making money takes time, effort and a little self-control when the inventory looks pretty tasty.

With their mom there to supervise, the Rouse kids are doing more than selling drinks. They are learning how to talk to customers, count money, pay attention to costs, and understand that business is not just about what comes in, but also what goes out.

They are also learning something just as important, how a small stand on Maine Street can become a way to connect with the community.

For customers, it is a cold drink on a hot day. For the Rouse kids, it is a hands-on lesson in hard work, responsibility and the power of a good idea. And for Eads, it is another reminder that sometimes the best things in a small town happen right out front, under the summer sun, with a homemade sign and a $1 cup of lemonade.