Yellowknife (July 14/04) - Two eight-year-olds became serious entrepreneurs last Wednesday when they received a business licence for their lemonade stand.

Ashley MacLellan and Kayla Modeste run M&M Lemonade with the help of Ashley's little sister Missy on Borden Drive.

The two hope to raise money to buy guitars.

Success came quickly to the two young businesspeople. On their first day, they charmed one customer into paying $10 for a cup of lemonade, 40 times the advertised price.

They should be courting investors. This reporter paid a dollar, and naturally didn't ask for his change.

Don't worry, no one needs a business licence to run a lemonade stand, least of all two eight-year-olds (even if they had made $35 in two days).

The two received a visit from Municipal Enforcement officer Vishal Luthra last week and presented with the licence.

Apart from being a nice gesture, the presentation was a chance for Luthra, who is new to Yellowknife, to connect with the community.

He arrived from Edmonton two weeks ago.

Ruth Lyons, the city's business licence clerk, says that the city issued 815 licences between January and May of this year. Most of those were for renewals and out-of-town contractors, but new businesses have registered as well. The cost of a licence is $100 for a commercial business, or $200 for a home business.

Licences for children and students, however, are complimentary. Last year, says Lyons, three or four were issued to students, among them a licence for a video production company and another for a theatre camp.

"Anybody doing any kind of business in the city has to have a licence of some kind," she says.

It remains to be seen if being licensed improves business for Ashley and Kayla. Not that they need it: if they stay eight and adorable forever they will be millionaires in no time.