Marketplace Today Blog

This summer four Oshkosh-area children are starting their own business with the help of Choice Bank in Oshkosh.

The owners, self-proclaimed “Team Lemonade,” range in age from seven to ten. Along with attending sports camps and swimming during summer vacation, they will also be learning valuable lessons about what it takes to run a business, the importance of community giving and teamwork.

Choice Bank granted the financing request for Oshkosh’s newest, and possibly smallest, “small business,” Best Choice Lemonade.

“They came prepared,” said Stan Leedle, Chief Credit Officer for Choice Bank. “They were ready to work hard, learn a lot and give back to the community.” Quoting from the mission statement in Team Lemonade’s business plan, he added, “‘Our mission is to start a business all run by kids to help people get houses with Habitat for Humanity’ — who can say no to that?”

Beginning this week Team Lemonade will be accepting ”job applications” from kids ages six to 12. As a team, they will all take turns staffing and promoting the Best Choice Lemonade Stand. Kids will not only learn a bit about business, but will also be taught about community giving and personal savings.

To teach giving, Team Lemonade will direct all proceeds from the business, along with a matching donation from Choice Bank, to Habitat for Humanity of Oshkosh. To also teach smart saving the stand will have a tip jar, which the children will divide at the end of each shift to save toward reaching their personal summer goal.