Alana Thompson, 7-year-old star of "Here Comes Honey Boo-Boo," recently stopped selling Girl Scout Cookies via her Facebook page after the regional Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia council complained. Thompson, who is not a Girl Scout, was selling cookies on behalf of a friend. So why are the Girl Scouts so controlling about who can sell cookies?

It's a teaching tool. Selling Girl Scout Cookies is supposed to be an entrepreneurial learning experience. According to the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, cookie selling helps Scouts develop five skills: goal-setting, decision-making, money management, people skills and business ethics.

Where can they sell them? Girl Scouts may sell directly to consumers or at booths at retail locations or public areas.

What do they get? Girl Scouts are eligible for several badges representing specific achievements related to the five skills, and they may also earn "recognition items" for their sales efforts.

How about the money? Each of the nation's 112 Girl Scout councils is in charge of organizing cookie sales for its region. Forty to 60 percent from each box goes into council coffers, and an additional 25 percent is invested into the troop that sold the box.

Who else can sell them? Buying cookies not sold by a Girl Scout is discouraged, since they can't "guarantee the freshness or origination" and "purchasing cookies in this way does not support girls participating in the cookie program." However the Girl Scouts have entered into licensing agreements with other companies, such as ice cream makers, to promote the brand.

Are they available online? The Girl Scouts of the United States of America prohibits online sales of Girl Scout cookies because it has not yet developed a platform through which Girl Scouts can sell cookies safely and legally. Most other regulations on Girl Scout Cookie sales are determined by each council.

When are they available? The national organization provides marketing support to councils from January through April, so most cookie sales happen in spring. Sales typically last between 12 and 16 weeks; councils limit the length to make sure Scouts have time for other projects, too.

Who bakes them? Two bakeries, ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers, are licensed to bake the cookies. Each regional council negotiates price, sales terms and delivery agreements with one of the two bakeries. The dual bakeries are the reason some Girl Scout Cookies go by more than one name: Little Brownie Bakers produce Samoas, Tagalongs, Do-si-dos, and Trefoils, while ABC Bakers make Caramel deLites, Peanut Butter Patties, Peanut Butter Sandwiches, and Shortbread.