What license do I need to sell homemade food?
Figuring out the right license depends entirely on the specific food you plan to make and your business goals. Certain items, like cakes that require refrigeration, cannot be sold under a standard cottage food license. This leaves beginners overwhelmed and unsure of which legal route to take for a simple side business.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Checking local health department websites for cottage food lawsDid this help you?
- 2Renting a shared commercial kitchen by the hourDid this help you?
- 3Starting by selling small batches to friends informallyDid this help you?
- 4Considering selling without any permits out of a parking lotDid this help you?
- 5Renting a commercial kitchen without knowing if it is the correct routeDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“BUT after further research I found out that some of the cakes I want to sell cant be sold with a cottage food license because they need to be refrigerated.”source ↗
“I dont know what kind of license I need to sell the type of food I want or what route I need to take since I just want this to be a side business.”source ↗
“Anyways, any advice would be appreciated because my head is spinnjng on what i need to do 🥲 lol.”source ↗
“i never started a business and would like to start. how do you get through like regulation and stuff.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 5Unexpected business taxes and compliance requirements
- 6How to avoid customs fines and drone laws abroad
- 11How do I figure out what compliance rules apply to selling internationally?
- 3Can you bring food across international borders?
- 6How to find reliable staff for a food business
- 6Do I need a business license to sell my crafts?