Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I have to pay for the cookies before I order them?
A: Nope! You’ll start turning in money after the sale starts. Plan to submit your money on each Wednesday. The first auto-draft from our bank account will be 2 weeks into the sale (February 4th).
Q: Can we take Credit Cards?
A: Yes! Square is the official app for Girl Scouts of Central Texas and they will reimburse us all CC fees once the sale is over. I have 3 square readers, so feel free to check one out from me if your girl is going to your work, walking the neighborhood, etc.
Q: What if I have my own Square reader/account?
A: You can use your own square reader, but you’ll need to be signed in to our GS account, so that the money will go to the correct place and the fees will be reimbursed. Txt/Email Tiffany for details.
Q: Where does the cookie money go?
A: By default, our troop receives $0.80 per box sold, and we can earn an additional $0.30/box at the end of the sale if we don’t have any overdrafts in our bank account and turn in our financial forms on time. So, $1.10/box goes directly into our troop bank account! The rest goes back to Girl Scouts of Central Texas to provide programming throughout the year. All money stays local!
Q: What does our troop do with our portion of the cookie money?
A: The money we earn from cookie sales goes directly into our troop bank account and can be used for whatever the troop decides. In the past, our troops have used the money for camping trips, GSCTX sponsored activities, and supplies.
Q: What’s the point of selling cookies?
A: There are 5 main skills that cookie selling teaches our Girl Scouts:
Goal Setting
Girls learn how to set goals and create a plan to reach them!
Decision Making
Girls learn to make decisions on their own and as a team!
Money Management
Girls learn to create a budget and handle money!
People Skills
Girls find their voice and build confidence through customer interactions.
Business Ethics
Girls learn to act ethically, both in business and in life.
Q: How many cookies should I order for the initial order?
A: 75% of last year’s sale OR 75% of this year’s goal (If you’ve sold cookies before, ask Tiffany for your end of year numbers from last year!)
Q: What cookies are the most popular?
A: 
Q: What if I run out of cookies and my girl wants to sell more?
A: We can reorder cookies twice a week for the duration of the sale. Reorders are due on Sundays at 12pm (for pickup on the following Sunday). Reorder form can be found here: http://atxcookies.com/reorder/
Q: What if I have too many cookies and I don’t think I can sell them?
A: Email your cookie coordinator to let her know how many boxes of what flavors you’d like to return. 99% chance that we can take them back to be shuffled to other girls in our own troop, or back to our Service Unit for other troops. Most cookies for return last year were accepted. Do *not* trade cookies directly with other girls, otherwise the rewards won’t match up at the end. All trades should go through your cookie coordinator! The earlier you ask to return cookies, the greater chance for success. Ultimately, you are financially responsible for all cookies you order. If we cannot re-allocate the cookies, you will be financially responsible at the end of the sale.
Q: How do booths work?
A: Booths are just those tables that sit outside of Walgreens/Randalls, etc.
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- Cookie coordinators will sign up for booths and send out a signup genius for girls/adults to staff the booth.
- One of the adults on the first shift will need to stop by the Cookie Cupboard to pick up the booth supplies before heading to the booth that morning.
- This includes: table, tablecloth, cash box, square reader, signs, folder with forms, and cookies.
- Fill out one booth checkout form before you leave to make sure you have everything, document the cash in the cashbox, and document the cookies you’re taking.
- Arrive at the booth location a few minutes early. If there are no other girl scouts there, you may begin setting up, otherwise, unload your things to the side and wait for their time to finish.
- Set up the table/signs/cookies on display.
- Record your cookies as you sell them on the cookie tally form. Very important to tally the Operation Cookie (donations to military).
- Sellers must be courteous, always say thank you (even to non-buyers), stand up (this is your business – no sitting on the job!). Water is ok, if it’s kept under the table and out of sight (not on top of the table).
- If you’re running low on cookies, send a text and see if someone can bring you reinforcements!
- Pack up at your end time and one adult needs to bring everything back to the Cookie Cupboard
- Once back at the cupboard, document everything you’ve returned:
- Table, tablecloth, cash box, square reader, signs, folder with forms, and cookies
- Fill out one booth check-in form before you leave to make sure you have left everything, document the cash in the cashbox, and document the cookies you’re giving back to the cupboard.