With each new cookie season, Girl Scout entrepreneurs know it’s about more than just the cookies—it’s about being BRAVE enough to make their pitch, FIERCE enough to smash their biggest goals, and having loads of cookie FUN while doing it!
This guide is designed to help you empower every Girl Scout, from new cookie entrepreneurs planning their first cookie booth to experienced Girl Scouts boosting their social media marketing strategies to reach more consumers.
There’s no limit to what Girl Scouts can achieve. With your support, this cookie season promises to be BRAVE, FIERCE and oh-so-FUN!
Troop volunteers model leadership
It's a fact: Cookie season couldn't happen without the hard work of our volunteers. You serve as a model for Girl Scouts developing important leadership skills. Thank you for serving as a Troop Volunteer!
Rocky road ice cream-inspired cookies filled with flavors of chocolate, marshmallow and toasted almond crème. FIND NEW RESOURCES HERE:
Market their business online
NEW Social Media Guide
The Little Brownie Social Media Guide is all new with tips and tricks for volunteers, caregivers and entrepreneurs to reach more cookie customers this season.
Today's consumers average over three hours on social media per day, and more than half of cookie customers say their phone is their most important shopping tool. Whether or not you are social media savvy, the new Social Media Guide will help you Follow, Like, Share your way to cookie season success.
Ready-to-share gifs and reels
Ready-to-share gifs and reels make social media a snap. Fact: When Girl Scout entrepreneurs promote their businesses online it boosts sales. More frequent posts equate to increased sales. Check out the video below to see all the social content Little Brownie has to offer.
• Social Sizzle Reel
Safety resources
Before launching their Digital Cookie site and engaging in online marketing and sales efforts, Girl Scouts and caregivers must read and agree to the guidelines below.
• Safety Tips from GSUSA
• Digital Cookie® Pledge
Market their business in person
Create booth buzz
Having a cookie booth or neighborhood stand? Any way your troop does it, we have lots of resources to entice cookie lovers! Find resources like mouthwatering cookie photography, fun clip art, and attention-grabbing booth signage all in one place.
* For more details on how cookie booths are coordinated, talk to your council and visit girlscoutcookies.org.
• Materials available in English and Spanish.
• Use Digital Cookie® QR codes at booths.
• Bundle cookies to boost sales.
• Remind customers proceeds stay local.
Market their business in person
Ordering made easy
Order materials can help increase sales.
Entrepreneurs can use order materials at booths and encourage customers to scan their QR code to visit their Digital Cookie® site. Customers make a purchase and bookmark their site for future purchases. It's especially handy if booth inventory in a certain variety is running low!
• Fun to personalize.
• Add QR codes for easy online purchasing. Bookmark for later messaging. Encourage customers to bookmark for reorders.
• Order forms available in English and Spanish.
• Order materials are useful and engaging.
Encourage customers to bookmark Digital Cookie link
your Digital Cookie
The printable lanyard makes reorders easy for Girl Scouts on the go!
Leave-behinds make reorders easy
• Leave behind order forms
• Door flyer order forms
• Business cards
• Notecards
• QR code stickers
• Thank you slips
Inspire cookie entrepreneurs
Skills they build
The Girl Scout Cookie Program® helps Girl Scouts develop real-world skills in five essential areas:
1
Goal Setting
Girl Scouts learn how to set goals and create a plan to reach them.
How you can help: Encourage them to set incremental, achievable goals. Work with them to break down their goals into small, frequent wins like weekly challenges.
2 Decision Making
Girl Scouts learn to make decisions on their own and as a team.
How you can help: Talk about how they plan to spend the troop’s cookie earnings.
3
4
Money Management
Girl Scouts learn to create a budget and handle money.
How you can help: Build on their interest in learning to manage all facets of the cookie business, like creating a budget to fund a troop experience or figuring out the percentage of customers who chose the donation option.
People Skills
Girl Scouts find their voices and build confidence through customer interactions.
How you can help: Ask them about new marketing ideas they want to try. They can discuss how to tailor their cookie pitch to achieve their goals.
Business Ethics
5 Learn more
Girl Scouts learn to act ethically, both in business and life.
How you can help: Talk to them about the importance of delivering on their promise to customers. They can also consider offering a cookie donation option.
Cookie business badges
Entrepreneurs can earn these official Girl Scouts® recognitions by completing requirements that help them develop new business skills.
Learn more at girlscouts.org.
Getting families involved
Families can support their Girl Scouts as they learn the five skills and think like entrepreneurs. With the encouragement of their family, there’s no stopping a Girl Scout!
Inspire families to get involved by reviewing these resources:
• Cookie Program Family Meeting Guides
• Cookie Entrepreneur Family Pins
eBudde™ basics
The app is a must-have for Girl Scout Cookie™ volunteers
Use eBudde to manage your entire cookie program! The eBudde™ cookie management system offers calendar reminders, reports, training and much more — on either your desktop or mobile device. It’s also where sales are recorded so Girl Scouts get full credit for their hard-earned rewards.
Top tips
Contact Caregivers
Use eBudde to communicate directly to caregivers. You can send deadline reminders, booth openings, cookie inventory info and more! Use this eBudde feature in place of a text group or Facebook group.
Top Reports for Managing the Troop Sale
• Use the Girl Initial Order report to sort cookies for easy pickup and receipt writing.
• Check the Sales Report to see troop proceeds and amount due to council.
• Run the Cupboard Report for a list of cupboard locations, hours, and contact information.
Cookie Exchange
A troop-to-troop transfer can help with excess inventory.
• Log your extra cookie inventory.
• Check the cookie exchange before visiting a cupboard.
Help is a Click Away
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Simply tap the question mark icon for quick access to helpful information.
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Build Your Own Cookie Experience
Participation Methods of the Girl Scout Cookie Program
The Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois’ Cookie Program is set up in a direct sales platform. A direct sale means that girls and troops have cookies in hand as soon as the cookie program starts.
Girl Scouts and Troops can build their cookie program by choosing the method(s) that work best for them!
Simply Sweet
The Simply Sweet method of the Cookie Program is Digital Cookie, our online platform.
Troops and girls can do everything online!
Participating in Simply Sweet means girls and troops are reaching out to friends, families, and customers through emails and links to your cookie store.
Troops can use cookies from their initial order to fill the girl delivery orders they receive online. Troops can always pick up more cookies at any of our cookie cupboards whenever they need additional stock. Another option is for a troop to place a cupboard order each week for the cookies needed to fill orders, if they prefer not to place an initial order.
Hit the Streets
Meet and Greet
The Meet and Greet method is Cookie Booths.
Cookie booths can be set up at any business location within the Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois’ jurisdiction.
If your troop wants to have a cookie booth outside of your Service Unit, you must obtain approval from that Service Unit. However, all troops must follow specific guidelines, which are discussed later in this guide.
If a troop decides to do just a Meet and Greet, it is highly recommended to place an initial order to cover the first couple of booths planned, then order additional cookies from a cookie cupboard.
Your troop has two options in the Hit the Streets method:
• Have the girl take the order cards, go out and take orders with paper order cards. Your troop can fill those orders using your initial supplies, or you can place a cupboard order with what you need to fill the orders. We recommend filling paper card orders weekly to prevent customers from waiting a long time for their cookies.
• Give each girl a cookie inventory, fill a wagon and hit the street with cookies. To keep inventory among the troop manageable, always check what each girl has on hand before placing an additional cookie cupboard order.
Build Your Own Cookie Experience
Simply Sweet Method
The Simply Sweet Method is all about Digital Cookie. Digital Cookie is a fun and educational tool that helps girls run and manage their online Cookie Business. Digital Cookie lets customers pay by credit card and choose between girl delivery or direct shipping. Donations are also an option for every customer.
The Digital Cookie App makes it easy to make and track sales. All Digital Cookie sales will automatically be recorded in eBudde. It is essential to keep the troop sales and individual girl sales separate in Digital Cookie. Every Girl Scout Family with a site for their Girl Scout will be able to see the Troop Site and must ensure they have logged into the correct account when making a sale.
Important Dates for this method:
• Volunteers will get access to Digital Cookie on January 5th.
• Girls and Caregivers will get access to Digital Cookie on January 8th.
As the troop volunteer, before the girls and caregivers gain access, you need to verify that all the girls have the correct information listed for them in eBudde. For this method, the email address listed for the Girl Scout must be accurate, as this is the email address that the caregiver will need to use for Digital Cookie. Caregivers will receive an email on the access day, allowing girls to set up online stores.
Troop Sites on Digital Cookie
In Digital Cookie, each troop can set up a Troop Cookie Link. Your troop site links will help your troop make sales online in addition to, or instead of, your regular in-person cookie booths. When you set up your troop site, you will have two links available: one for in-person delivery and direct shipping only. These links will let your troop reach new customers in your community and beyond.
Troops can also set up Virtual Cookie Booths through Digital Cookie. Virtual Cookie Booths are like a traditional booth, but your troop will collect all the orders before the booth's scheduled date. Customers would come to pick up their cookie order at the advertised locations.
All cookie sales that come through the Troop Cookie Links will appear under the Troop Girl in eBudde.
Girl Sites on Digital Cookie
Each Girl Scout has the option to set up their own online Digital Cookie store. Girl Scouts can collect orders for girl delivery, direct ship, and/or donations by sending out emails to friends and family or sharing their online link.
The caregiver who has access to the girl’s online store must approve all the girl’s delivery orders within 5 days of placing the order. If the order is not approved within this period, it will automatically default to the second option chosen by the customer at the time of ordering (either donate or cancel the order).
Girl Scouts and Caregivers will need to communicate with you as the Troop Cookie Manager about their cookie needs to fulfill outstanding orders.
Build Your Own Cookie Experience
Meet and Greet Method
There are three types of Cookie Booths that a troop can choose to facilitate: Cookie Stands, Drive-Thru Booths, and Cookie Booths. Troops must adhere to all booth guidelines.
Cookie Stand
A small, lemonade-stand-style booth run by a Girl Scout (or Girl Scouts from a household), supervised by their caregiver (s).
Cookie Stands can be held at the residence of the Girl Scouts or a family member, but family members must live within the Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois' jurisdiction.
Cookie Booth Guidelines
Drive Thru Booths
Set up in a parking lot or open area where customers stay in their vehicles. Troops should create a safe lane and keep Girl Scouts away from traffic.
Drive Thru Cookies need to be ran by a larger group of Girl Scouts with appropriate adult supervision.
These must be entered into eBudde for approval.
Cookie Booths
These are typically set up at a business location near an entrance and exit.
Usually these are run by 2-4 girls with the appropriate adult supervision.
These must be entered into eBudde for approval.
• Two unrelated adults must be present at a booth. If a troop leader and/or Troop Cookie Manager cannot be at your booth, your troop can give the role of Troop Helper to a registered adult in your troop through the myGS site. Registered adults with this role will be sent a background check to complete.
• At least two registered girls from the same troop must be present at one single booth location.
• Girl Scouts should not sell inside or in front of establishments that have age restrictions to enter the building.
• Family friendly restaurants with bars and breweries that house a kitchen are allowed.
• Council has the right to deny a booth location if it is deemed inappropriate.
• A Senior or Ambassador Girl Scout may sell cookies at a booth with only one registered adult (1 or older) present.
• Other than water (stay hydrated!), do not bring food or drinks to your booths.
• Encourage girls to make eye contact with customers—this demonstrates courage, confidence and prepares girls to be lifelong leaders.
• Troops Numbers should be posted somewhere at your booth.
Build Your Own Cookie Experience
Girl Scout Cookie Supply Methods
Troops can receive their cookies in two ways by either placing an initial order or by ordering through a cookie cupboard.
Troop Initial Order
Troops place an initial order during the designated ordering window in eBudde. These cookies will be picked up at your assigned delivery site on the scheduled delivery day. On page 14, you will see the breakdown of each variety on what sells.
Troop initial orders will always be in full cases.
Cookie Donations
Customers can make donations to the Bake it Forward Donation Program through the Girl Scouts and Digital Cookie.
Bake it Forward donations taken in person through a Girl Scouts needs to be allocated in eBudde correctly.
These cookies do NOT come out of your troop's physical inventory but do count toward your troop’s goals!
These cookies stay in a virtual world until the council donates them to the designated organization.
Cupboard Order
Troops can pick up Girl Scout Cookies at our Cookie Cupboards throughout the entire Cookie Season.
These Cookie Cupboards are all volunteer run.
Cookie Cupboard orders must be placed by Sunday to receive them the following week. Orders must be placed in full cases only.
For Cookie Cupboard locations and hours of availability, check eBudde.
Direct Shipped Orders
Customers can place a cookie order through Digital Cookie to have them shipped directly to their house. The customer pays for the shipping cost.
These cookies do NOT come out of your troop's physical inventory but do count toward your troop’s goals!
Any direct ship order will show up under the Girl Scouts' name in eBudde.
Helpful information
Girl Scout Cookie™ pick-ups
Picking up your cookie order is exciting, and there are a few steps you can take to make sure everything goes smoothly. First, be aware that troops are responsible for counting and verifying the total number of cases received. When in doubt, recount!
Tips for a smooth pick up
• Know exactly how many cases you ordered of each variety.
• Arrive at your scheduled pickup time.
• Make sure you have enough vehicles to load your order (see below).
• Line up your vehicles at the same time.
• Check in and receive your pickup ticket.
• Give your pickup ticket to the loader and count cases as they’re loaded in.
• Sign for your order and take your receipt.
Cars case capacity
Cookie Communication
The Product Program team will send out our Thin Mint Press Newsletter each week of the Cookie Program. This newsletter will give troop cookie volunteers important cookie information each week. It will be sent out around 3 p.m. every Tuesday.
Average sales per cookie variety
Deciding how many packages to order for booths isn’t an exact science, but here are average sales per cookie variety to give you an idea of how many to order:
Cookie Program Financials
Once a Girl Scout or Troop takes possession of any cookies they become financially responsible for them.
The cookie price for 2026 is $6.50 a box, and troops can earn $1.15 per box for troop funds.
Money Management
Troop Cookie Managers must fill out a receipt every time cookies and/or cookie funds move between the troop and the Girl Scouts.
If your troop is allowing caregivers to check out any of the troop cookies, please follow these steps.
• Always fill out a receipt for you and the caregiver.
• Enter this transaction into eBudde under the Girl.
• To keep your troop inventory under control, always see what is unsold amongst the girls before placing a cookie cupboard order.
• When a caregiver makes any cookie payments to the troop, fill out a receipt and enter the payment in eBudde under the girl.
• If the caregiver has an outstanding balance over $200, do not give them more cookies. This is to protect the troop. Always check eBudde to see the balance for any Digital Cookie payments will lower the balance due.
Troop Cookie Managers must go to the bank as soon as possible to deposit any cookie funds into the troop bank account.
How the Cookie Crumbles
Resources at a glance
All resources can be found on gsofsi.org/cookieresources and on Rallyhood.
Found at LittleBrownie.com
• NEW Social Media Guide
• Exploremores™ Launch Resources
• FAQs and Nutrition Information
• Social Media Tools and Graphics
• BRAVE, FIERCE, FUN! Resources
• Resources for Girl Scouts to Grow Their Cookie Businesses
• Cookie History
• Cookie Recipes
Girl Scouts’ safety guidelines
One of the most essential steps you can take to have a great season is to review all safety guidelines with troop members and their caregivers.
• Practical Tips for Parents
• Safety Tips for Product Sales
• Your Council’s Volunteer Essentials and Safety Activity Checkpoints
For more information visit: girlscouts.org/cookieresources
Reducing our footprint
Packages of Samoas® have reduced plastic packaging. Cases of Thin Mints® use 26% recycled content (and 18% less packaging material). Adventurefuls® NEW packaging uses a recyclable PET tray. Samoas® packaging reduces 65k pounds of plastic.
Cookie Reward Highlights
Membership or Uniform - 500 Level
2027 Girl Scout Membership OR New vest/sash with patches/pins!
• Troop Number
• Flag
• Council ID
• WAGs Pin
• Insignia Tab
• Membership Pin
Adventure Bucks - 800 Level
$125 to use towards all things at GSOFSI
• GSOFSI Program Events
• GSOFSI Overnight Camp
• GSOFSI Shop/Trading Post
• 2027 Girl Membership
Funds will be virtual. An email will be sent with further instructions, if earned.
Expires March 1, 2027
Family Day at the Zoo - 700 Level
May 2, 2026 | No rain out date, no alternative.
Join us at the STL Zoo for a day of fun up to 4 people included Girl Scout + 3 family members!
We will have our own event tent, lunch, adventure passes and more.
Crossover Patch
Girl Scouts who participated in the 2025 Fall Product Program and met the requirements for the first patch ($350+ Total Sales, 18 emails sent, Avatar created, and Share My Site used) are eligible for the Crossover Patch.
Girls who sell 250+ packages plus the requirements above will earn this patch.
Patches will be mailed directly to you, if earned.
10–12-week processing time, once the program has ended.
Amazon Shopping Experience - 500 and 1000 Level and Up
We are offering an exciting, new reward to the Girl Scout Cookie Program lineup. Girl Scouts who reach 500+ (and choose the Amazon experience) and/or Girl Scouts who reach 1000+ packages in sales will get their very own shopping experience.
• Each higher-level reward will offer additional funds to be spent in a personalized storefront set up by GSOFSI.
• Items will include STEM, outdoors, art and more!
• Girl Scouts will receive an online voucher via email at the end of the season to be used.
• Vouchers must be used by July 1, 2026
• More details to come throughout the season and will be shared with those who have earned via email.
Cookie Reward Highlights
Older Girl Options - Cadette, Senior and Ambassadors
Khaki Club - NEW!
Now Girl Scout Cadette, Senior and Ambassador troops can opt in to a new rewards program. Troops who opt in to the Khaki Club will earn Amazon shopping credit for every 100+ packages sold in lieu of the order card rewards.
