Communication, knowledge and execution are key components to any successful venture. This FAQ will better explain the fiscal responsibility and participant accountability that is expected from girls, caregivers and volunteers involved in our Fall Product Program.
Who can participate in the Fall Product Program?
Every registered Girl Scout, regardless of troop participation, who does not have an outstanding balance from previous Fall Product or Cookie Program.
Is it required for a troop to participate in the Fall Product Program and the Girl Scout Cookie Program?
No. Troops can participate or not in either program, but participation is required if they want to participate in additional money-earning activities. Additional troop money-earning activities are not permitted during the Fall Product, and Cookie Program dates. Girls also do not qualify for Financial Assistance from the council if they do not participate in the Girl Scout Cookie Program.
How does an adult leader or Troop Fall Product Manager sign up to participate in the Fall Product Program?
Register for the current membership year. Troops must have two fully screened and approved volunteers (registered with background checks). Then attend Fall Product training in your area, submit a Troop Program Product Manager Agreement and Policies, and ACH Form to the Service Unit Fall Product Coordinator/Council. No volunteer may have an outstanding balance from any previous Girl Scout Product Program.
What are the dates for Fall Product Program?
Girls can start selling beginning September 5, 2026. Girls submit nut/candy orders to troops by October 8, 2026. Girls turn in final payment for items not sold online to your Troop by November 15, 2026.
My troop does not want to participate, but I have an individual girl(s) who does. What do I need to do?
Girls can participate as registered individuals with a responsible adult who is willing to be trained as Troop Fall Product Manager and sign a Troop Product Program Manager Agreement and Policies. If a caregiver or other adult is not able to do so, her leader, Service Unit Fall Product Coordinator, or the council can help with the program. However, each troop participating must have two fully screened and approved volunteers, meaning all troops must have two registered adults with a current background check to participate.
How can I encourage my troop and their caregivers to participate online?
All girls have to do is send emails to their family and friends and watch the orders add up. Their friends and relatives on Facebook would love to help out by ordering. Customers like to purchase online because they can use their debit/credit card and take their time making selections. No door-to-door selling is necessary when you use the computer; there is no money to handle; subscriptions are filled out correctly, and there are no delays with delivery.
How do we get proceeds from the orders sold online?
M2 Online System will calculate all proceeds from online and in-person sales and subtract it from the total the troop owes at the end of the program. If a troop has not sold in-person nut and candy items and has no balance to remit, the council will issue a payment for any proceeds owed to the troop for online sales via ACH transaction to the troop’s bank account.
How can my troop participate if I don’t have access to a computer?
All of the online Fall Product platforms are easily accessible with a smart phone so a computer is not necessary. However, if you are not comfortable with using online systems, ask a responsible caregiver or volunteer who is tech savvy to be the Troop Product Program Manager for your troop. They need to be registered, complete a Troop Product Program Manager Agreement and Policies, and ACH Form and follow the same guidelines as any other volunteer.
Who do I call if I have a problem?
Contact your Service Unit Fall Product Coordinator first, then contact Council Customer Care at 1-800-624-4185, or info@girlscoutshs.org.
When do we collect payment from the customer?
If orders are sold online, the customer will pay online with a debit/credit card. Payment for nuts/candy in-person orders is due when product is delivered. However, some troops and/or service units may require payment for nut/candy items to be collected at the time of order.
What do I do if I have a caregiver who does not want to pay?
Let the Service Unit Fall Product Coordinator know as soon as possible that you are having a problem. Fill out the Outstanding Balance Form and submit through the ACH Shortage Form along with the Caregiver Permission Form and signed paperwork/receipts from when the caregiver picked up product. Turn these in by the deadline set by the council. Do not delay your troop’s payment waiting on a caregiver. Do not use troop proceeds to pay a caregiver’s outstanding balance. If outstanding balance paperwork is not received by November 18, 2026 for any caregiver debt, then the Troop will be responsible for any debts owed to the council.
Will we be able to get extra product?
Each Girl Scout Leadership Center will have a limited amount of extra product. Product can be picked up between November 2-18. Contact Customer Care at 1-800-624-4185 or info@girlscoutshs.org to place orders.
Can non-registered girls or troops participate in product programs?
No. All troops and girls must be registered to participate in any council product program.
What is the Caregiver Permission Form?
This form outlines the caregiver's financial responsibility to the council. Troops must collect this form before giving order cards and sales materials. Caregivers and girls should never be allowed to participate in a product program without having submitted a completed permission form.
What is the Troop Product Program Manager Agreement and Policies Form?
This form outlines the Troop Leader/Fall Product Manager’s financial responsibility to the council. Service Unit Fall Product Coordinators should collect this form before giving sales materials. Troops will not be allowed to participate in a product program without having submitted a completed agreement form.
Do you need my Social Security Number?
Yes. In order to receive product program material and/or products we must have an identifier for the person signing the Caregiver Permission Form and/or Product Program Manager Agreement and Policies. If you do not feel comfortable with giving the full number, we must have the last four digits of your social security number and full date of birth. The council cannot proceed with collections through the credit bureau if we do not have this information. Caregivers might also be asked to pay up front for products if this information is not provided to the troop. All personal information is kept secure and confidential.
How do we pay council?
Once money is collected from girls for nut and candy orders, it needs to be deposited into your troop bank account. After all nut and candy orders and all online sales are finalized in the system, M2 Online System will calculate proceeds for all. An automated clearing house (ACH) transaction will remove the balance due to the council from your troop bank account.
What is ACH?
ACH stands for Automated Clearing House, which allows the council to automatically withdraw a payment from a troop’s checking account on a specified date. Troops must submit an ACH Debit Authorization form to council. This process saves volunteers time turning in payments to council offices.
Is ACH Payment Mandatory?
Yes. Girl Scouts Heart of the South Council requires payment via ACH for all Product Program accounts. ACH forms must be submitted to the council by the designated deadlines. Full payment, minus troop proceeds, must be available in the troop’s bank account for ACH draft on November 23, 2026.
What if my troop does not have the full ACH draft amount in the bank account?
If a troop does not have the full amount due to the council in their bank account for the draft on November 23rd, they must communicate any shortages to the council by November 18th at 5 p.m. via the ACH Shortage Form. Troops that do not make the council aware of account shortages by the deadline will be responsible for any and all fees associated with the transaction.
Do troops accept personal checks?
It is at the troop’s discretion whether they will accept personal checks or not (from caregivers and/or customers). If they choose to do so, those checks will be deposited into the troop account; the troop will be responsible for collecting on any checks that are returned for insufficient funds, closed account, etc.
Are receipts necessary?
Yes. Receipts are to be used for all transactions, both product and money. Signatures must be obtained from both parties when any type of exchange occurs. If there are discrepancies, the receipts and paperwork will verify the transaction in question.
If there is no receipt, it didn't happen.
How do I handle online items purchased?
Customers will pay online by credit card directly to M2 Online System. Since customers pay M2 directly, troops will not remit payment to the council for these orders. M2 Online System will deduct all proceeds and payments made to the council (including online) to show a balance due for each troop.
What if a caregiver is on the Debtors List?
If a caregiver is on the debtors list, then their girl will not be allowed to participate in any product programs until her balance is paid in full.
What if a caregiver consistently pays late?
If they do not have a current balance due, then this girl can participate in the program. However, troops should require frequent payments, payment up front for product or only allow them to participate in sales that do not require the handling of money (booth sales, online sales, etc.).
What if a Troop Leader/Troop Fall Product Manager is on the Debtors List?
If a Troop Leader/ Troop Fall Product Manager is on the debtors list, they will not be allowed to participate in any product programs until the balance is paid in full. The troop will need to have a different volunteer take the Troop Fall Product Manager position and payment arrangements made for any debt in order for the girls in that troop to participate. This troop may be required to provide payment up front for product or will be allowed to participate online only.
What if a caregiver does not pick up product?
If a caregiver/girl fails to pick up product in a timely manner, do not wait to notify your Service Unit Fall Product Coordinator or the council. If you wait until the end of the program, it is much more difficult to find someone that needs the product, and it is most likely too late for anyone to help.
- Have other girls in the troop help to sell the product. Be sure to transfer product to the appropriate girl for her to receive credit.
- Contact other troops in your area to see if they need extra product.
- If product remains at the end of the program, complete an Outstanding Balance Form on the caregiver and submit it, along with all documentation to the council.
What is the Outstanding Balance Form?
An Outstanding Balance Form outlines the responsible party and all information for a debt to the council. This form should be completed for any caregiver or troop with a remaining balance at the end of the program.
If an Outstanding Balance Form is not submitted for a caregiver's debt by the set deadlines, then the troop accepts responsibility of that debt. All Outstanding Balance Forms must be submitted through the ACH Shortage Form.
What documentation is to be submitted with a Caregiver Outstanding Balance Form?
Troops must submit the signed Caregiver Permission Form, balance due, all receipts for product and money, notes on all attempts to collect, and any other pertinent information for the debt.
What if there is a caregiver with a remaining balance at the end of the program?
If a troop is unable to collect money from a caregiver, the Troop Fall Product Manager should keep a record of all contact attempting a resolution and contact the Service Unit Fall Product Coordinator. If further assistance becomes necessary, the Troop Fall Product Manager must complete an Outstanding Balance Form and attach a signed Caregiver Permission Form, receipts, all documentation of correspondence and amount due. An Outstanding Balance Form and all necessary paperwork for each caregiver with a remaining balance must be submitted with the ACH Shortage Form or the troop will be held liable for those funds.
What if a Caregiver Outstanding Balance Form is not submitted to the council?
An Outstanding Balance Form for each caregiver with a remaining balance must be submitted to the council with all documentation. If a form is not submitted by the designated deadline through the ACH Shortage Form, the troop will be held liable for the balance due.
Should a troop pay a caregiver’s debt to the council?
No. Troops should never cover a caregiver’s debt to the council. If this does happen, then the debt is owed to the troop (not the council) and the troop is responsible for collecting payment from the caregiver. The council can assist the troop by sending letters to the caregiver regarding the balance due, but cannot take further action (collection agency, legal action, etc.). The debt is ultimately the responsibility of the troop to collect.
What if there is a troop with a remaining balance?
If a troop has a remaining balance, the service unit must complete an Outstanding Balance Form on the Troop Leader/ Troop Product Program Manager and submit it along with all documentation. The Troop Product Program Manager Agreement should already be on file at the council office.
What documentation is to be submitted with a Troop Outstanding Balance Form?
Service units must submit balance due, all receipts for product and money, notes on all attempts to collect, and any other pertinent information for the debt. The signed Troop Product Program Manager Agreement should already be on file with the Council office.
Should a service unit pay a troop’s debt to the council?
No. Service units should never cover a troop’s debt to the council. If this does happen, then the debt is owed to the service unit (not the council) and the service unit is responsible for collecting payment from the troop. The council can assist the service unit by sending letters to the troop regarding the balance due, but cannot take further action (collection agency, legal action, etc.). The debt is ultimately the responsibility of the service unit to collect.
What if there are extenuating circumstances that cause a debt?
Circumstances that may require special arrangements for payment will be handled on a case-by-case basis. These may include serious illness or death in the family, fire, theft and auto accidents. You will be required to provide proof and/or documentation in these instances. In the case of theft documented by a police report, the council would expect the loss to be covered by personal insurance and additional time will be allowed to collect from insurance. If not covered by insurance and not properly documented, payment in full is expected by the due date.
