Start Your Florida Cottage Food Business

Cottage food is homemade food you can legally sell from your own kitchen in Florida, with no license and no commercial kitchen. It is the lowest-cost way to turn your baking or cooking into a real business.

• Sell straight from your home kitchen, no rented space needed
• No state license and no kitchen inspection required
• Earn up to $250,000 in sales per year

💡 Over 250,000 Americans run cottage food businesses from home.

You can sell shelf-stable foods that do not need refrigeration to stay safe. Most baked goods and sweets are allowed, and a few things are off limits.

• Allowed: baked goods, jams, honey, candy, granola, dry mixes
• Not allowed: anything needing refrigeration, like meats or cream pies
• Not sure about your product? Check it in seconds with the free tool

Florida does not require a state cottage food permit or license. The only thing you might need is a simple local registration, depending on where you live.

• No state cottage food permit or license
• Some cities and counties require a local Business Tax Receipt
• We show you how to check what your county requires

You can start as a sole proprietor for free, or form an LLC to protect your personal assets. Many markets also ask for liability insurance before you sell.

• Sole proprietor is free and you can start today
• An LLC keeps your personal savings and home protected
• Liability insurance is often required at farmers markets

Florida recommends food safety training even though it is not required. Knowing the basics protects your customers and your reputation.

• Learn handwashing, allergens, and preventing cross-contamination
• Not required to sell, but it builds customer trust
• Take a short class made just for cottage food makers and earn a certificate

Every product you sell needs an FDACS compliant label. There are a few required pieces of information, and our free generator handles them all for you.

• Your business name, address, and the product name
• Ingredients and any allergens, plus the net weight
• The required cottage food disclosure statement

Pricing is where most new makers lose money. Price to cover everything and still make a profit, not just to cover your ingredients.

• Count ingredients, packaging, your time, and any fees
• Aim for a real margin, not just breaking even
• The calculator does the math for every recipe

Sell at farmers markets, from home pickup, or online. Each channel has simple rules and tricks, and we walk you through all of them.

• Farmers markets, pop-ups, home pickup, and events
• Sell online and ship your products within Florida
• Take preorders so you never oversell your kitchen

List your business on Florida Cottage Foods so local customers searching for makers can find you. Getting listed is free and it is the fastest way to start getting orders.

• A free profile with your products, photos, and reviews
• Local customers find you by city and by what you make
• Paid plans boost you higher in your area and statewide

Once you are selling, grow with social media, repeat customers, and premium placement that puts you at the top of search across Florida.

• Turn one-time buyers into regulars with email and social
• Get featured on our Instagram and Facebook
• Rise to the top of search across the whole state