TIPS WHEN STARTING YOUR FOOD BUSINESS FROM HOME AND WORKING UNDER THE COTTAGE FOOD LAW.

1. THERE ARE CERTAIN APPROVED PRODUCTS UNDER THIS LAW THAT YOU ARE ALLOWED TO SELL FROM YOUR HOME, HERE A FEW OPTIONS ACCORDING TO FDACS.GOV:

• GRANOLAS, TRAIL MIXES AND CEREALS 

• JARED HONEY 

• HOME MADE PASTAS

• DRIED FRUIT

• PIES

• CAKES

• BREADS

• PAISTRIES

• POPCORNS

• NUTS

• JELLIES AND JAMS

• CANDIES

2. ALL FOODS MUST BE PACKAGED PROPERLY ACCORDING TO THE COTTAGE FOOD GUIDELINES IN YOUR STATE (PACKAGED IN THE KEY WORD). 

3. ALL FOODS MUST BE LABELED ACCORDING TO COTTAGE FOOD GUIDELINES IN YOUR STATE.

4. YOU CAN NOT SELL MEAT ITEMS UNDER THE COTTAGE FOOD LAW. MEAT ITEMS ARE CONSIDERED A TCS FOOD AND THEREFORE YOU WILL NEED TO GET YOUR FOOD SAFETY MANAGER LICENSE, BUSINESS LICENSE, RENT A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, AND PASS A STATE INSPECTION IN ORDER TO SELL ANY FOODS IN THAT CATEGORY.

5. YOU DO NOT NEED TO RENT A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN WHEN WORKING UNDER THE COTTAGE FOOD LAW. ALL FOODS CAN BE COOKED FROM HOME AND SOLD FROM HOME AS LONG AS YOU FOLLOW YOUR STATE REGULATIONS. 

6. ITEMS NEED TO BE SOLD DIRECTLY TO THE CONSUMER 

7. YES YOU CAN GIVE OUT FREE SAMPLES BUT THE SAMPLES MUST BE PROPERLY PACKAGED ACCORDING TO YOUR STATE GUIDELINES.

8. YES, YOU CAN SELL YOUR COTTAGE FOOD ITEMS ONLINE.

9. NO, YOU CANNOT SHIP YOUR COTTAGE FOOD PRODUCTS.

10. YOUR COTTAGE FOOD ITEMS CAN'T BE SOLD WHOLESALE.