Sell Homemade Food in Indiana — A Friendly 2026 Guide
Everything you need to start your home food business in Indiana — what you can sell, what permits you need, where to register, and how to ship.
New here? RestauNax helps people just like you turn home baking into a real online business — for $4.99/month.
No limit
Revenue Limit
No cap on earnings
Allowed
Online Sales
Sell through your own website
No
Permit Required
Start selling right away
business-friendly
Regulation Level
Indiana is considered business-friendly for home food
You've Got This — Here's How to Start
Selling food from home in Indiana is easier than it sounds. Just follow these steps in order.
Read your state's rules (5 min)
Indiana Department of Health, Food Protection Division explains everything you need to know about the Indiana Home-Based Vendor Law (IC 16-42-5-29, as amended by HEA 1149/SEA 132).
Get your food handler card (online, ~$15)
Indiana requires a food handler certification. Most people finish the online course in under two hours.
Print your labels
Every package needs a label with your name, ingredients, and a few other details. We list exactly what Indiana requires below.
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Here's What You Get for $4.99/month
Your own online store with photos and menu
Online ordering, pickup, and local delivery
Nationwide shipping for dry goods (FedEx, USPS, UPS)
Labels, receipts, and customer messaging — all in one place
What You Can Sell in Indiana
baked goods
candy
jams
jellies
honey
popcorn
dry mixes
Prohibited Products
meat
dairy
canned foods
TCS foods
Rules can change — quickly check with Indiana Department of Health, Food Protection Division before you start, just to be safe.
Indiana Requirements Checklist
Here's what you need to start selling homemade food in Indiana under the Indiana Home-Based Vendor Law (IC 16-42-5-29, as amended by HEA 1149/SEA 132)
No Permit Needed
Indiana does not require a permit for cottage food operations.
Food Handler Certification Required
Available through online courses — typically $10–$15.
No Kitchen Inspection Needed
Indiana allows you to use your home kitchen without inspection.
What Goes on Your Label
Every package you sell needs a label. Here's exactly what Indiana wants on it — copy this list.
Name and address of person preparing the food
Date the food was processed
Name of the product
Net weight and volume
Ingredients in descending order by weight
Allergen disclosure
Statement in 10-pt type: "This product is home produced and processed and the production area has not been inspected by the State Department of Health."
Ingredient list — listed in order from most to least
Indiana requires you to list every ingredient on each package. Start with the heaviest ingredient and work your way down. Sub-ingredients (like "chocolate chips: cocoa, sugar, milkfat") go in parentheses.
Allergen disclosure — required
Clearly list any of the 9 major allergens your product contains: milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, and sesame. A simple line works: "Contains: wheat, eggs, milk."
What You Can Ship From Indiana
Cookies, jams, dry mixes — these ship great from Indiana. Here's what works.
Shelf-stable products that ship well
baked goods
candy
jams
honey
popcorn
dry mixes
Ship within Indiana only
Indiana home-based vendors can sell in person, by phone, or online and ship by mail or third-party carrier within Indiana. Shipping out of state is not permitted under the home-based vendor exemption.
What can't ship
Anything that needs refrigeration — cheesecakes, custard pies, cream-filled pastries, fresh dairy, meat — can't be shipped under cottage food rules. Stick to dry, shelf-stable items for shipping. Local pickup and delivery still work great for everything else.
Ship Your Products Nationwide
Integrated with major carriers for reliable delivery
FedEx
USPS
UPS
Flat Rate Shipping
Weight-Based Pricing
Free Shipping Thresholds
Where You Can Sell in Indiana
Direct Sales (from home)
Allowed in Indiana
Online Sales (website)
Allowed in Indiana
Farmers Markets
Allowed in Indiana
Wholesale to Stores
Not permitted under Indiana cottage food law
Start Your Home Food Business in Indiana
Explore city-specific guides with local market data and business type recommendations
Farmers Markets in Indiana
Indiana allows cottage food sales at farmers markets — here are popular venues
Indianapolis City Market
Wednesday, Friday, Saturday · Year-round
Indianapolis, Downtown
Food Events in Indiana
Taste of Tippecanoe
Annual food festival in the historic Lockerbie Square neighborhood.
Indiana State Fair
17-day fair with home food competitions, vendor booths, and artisan food showcases.
Indy Food Truck Festival
Downtown food truck gathering with local food entrepreneurs and home cooks.
Home Food Business Types in Indiana
Start any of these home food businesses under the Indiana Home-Based Vendor Law (IC 16-42-5-29, as amended by HEA 1149/SEA 132)
Start Your Indiana Home Food Business — $4.99/month
Professional website, online ordering, payments, shipping, customer directory, and analytics — everything you need to comply with the Indiana Home-Based Vendor Law (IC 16-42-5-29, as amended by HEA 1149/SEA 132) and grow your business.
Explore Cottage Food Laws in Other States
Moving or expanding beyond Indiana? Compare the rules elsewhere.
About RestauNax for Home Food Businesses
RestauNax offers a $4.99/month platform for home food businesses, cottage food operators, home bakers, food influencers, and small food makers. The platform includes a professional website, online ordering, nationwide shipping (FedEx/USPS/UPS), Stripe payment processing, customer directory, multi-language support, and analytics — all with zero commission fees. RestauNax replaces expensive platforms like Castiron, Shopify, and Square Online for home food sellers at a fraction of the cost.