Quick Answer

Yes, you can legally sell food from home in Florida under the cottage food law. You can sell non-perishable foods like baked goods, jams, and granola directly to consumers—no license required if you stay under $250,000/year in sales.

How to Legally Sell Food From Home in Florida

Complete step-by-step guide to starting your cottage food business under Florida law.

1

Verify Your Product Qualifies

Florida's cottage food law allows you to sell non-perishable foods that don't require refrigeration. This includes:

Baked goods (cookies, cakes, bread)
Jams, jellies, preserves
Granola, trail mix, popcorn
Honey, candies, dry herbs

NOT Allowed:

Perishable items requiring refrigeration (cheesecakes, cream pies, meat products, fresh pasta, milk-based products, canned goods requiring pressure canning)

2

Understand Labeling Requirements

Every product you sell must have a label that includes:

  • Product name (e.g., "Chocolate Chip Cookies")
  • Your name and address (home address is fine)
  • Ingredient list (in descending order by weight)
  • Allergen warnings (if contains milk, eggs, nuts, wheat, soy)
  • This statement: "Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Florida's food safety regulations."
See label examples and templates →
3

Choose Where to Sell

Under cottage food law, you can sell:

✅ Direct to Consumer

  • Farmers markets
  • Your home (pickup or delivery)
  • Community events and fairs
  • Direct online sales (your own website/Facebook)

❌ NOT Allowed

  • Selling to restaurants or retailers
  • Consignment at coffee shops or stores
  • Selling across state lines (out of Florida)
  • Third-party platforms that ship (Amazon, Etsy shipping)
4

Know Your Sales Limit

Cottage food operations in Florida have a $250,000 annual gross sales limit. If you exceed this, you'll need to transition to a licensed food establishment.

💡 Pro Tip: Track your income carefully. You don't need to register with the state, but you DO need to report income to the IRS like any business.

5

Price Your Products

Don't guess at pricing! Calculate your true costs to ensure profitability:

Use Free Pricing Calculator
6

Get Found by Customers

The #1 challenge for cottage food makers? Finding customers. Get listed on Florida's largest cottage food directory:

Free tier gets you found

Basic profile listing visible to customers searching for cottage food

Paid tiers get you customers

Priority placement, customer reviews, analytics, and inquiry management

Ready to Start Selling?

Get your free listing and start connecting with Florida customers looking for homemade goods.