(The Center Square) — As a parent, T.L. Matthew knows setting up a lemonade stand can be fun and educational.
“In my personal experience, setting up a lemonade stand with my daughter was a fun and rewarding bonding experience that taught her valuable skills in communication, entrepreneurship, and money management,” Matthew, the CEO and founder of Fayetteville-based SumFoods, told The Center Square via email. “Unfortunately, in many states, kids who try to set up their own businesses have been bogged down by unnecessary regulations and taxes, forcing them to obtain permits and licenses or risk being shut down or fined.”
They may not have to fret over paperwork for much longer in Georgia. The state Senate passed legislation allowing children under 18 years old to set up a lemonade stand without securing a permit or a license.
Senate Bill 55, known as the Lemonade Stand Act, allows pint-sized purveyors to sell non-consumable goods, pre-packaged food and non-alcoholic drinks. It also permits them to skip paying the taxman if their revenues do not exceed $5,000 in a calendar year.
“Lemonade stands have been a tradition for children across the country for decades,” state Sen. Elena Parent, D-Atlanta, said in a news release. “The passage of the Lemonade Stand Act will allow children in the state of Georgia to continue this tradition without the added stress and expense of permits, licenses, or filing taxes.”
Matthew said such a change is a step in the right direction toward nurturing…
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