Sell Homemade Food in Minnesota — A Friendly 2026 Guide
Everything you need to start your home food business in Minnesota — what you can sell, what permits you need, where to register, and how to ship.
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$78,000/year
Revenue Limit
Annual limit under cottage food law
Allowed
Online Sales
Sell through your own website
Yes
Permit Required
Cottage Food Producer Registration (MDA) — $50
business-friendly
Regulation Level
Minnesota is considered business-friendly for home food
You've Got This — Here's How to Start
Selling food from home in Minnesota is easier than it sounds. Just follow these steps in order.
Read your state's rules (5 min)
Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) explains everything you need to know about the Minnesota Cottage Food Law (Minn. Stat. § 28A.152).
Get your food handler card (online, ~$15)
Minnesota requires a food handler certification. Most people finish the online course in under two hours.
Apply for your cottage food producer registration (mda) ($50)
Send your application to Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). Most states approve within 2–4 weeks.
Print your labels
Every package needs a label with your name, ingredients, and a few other details. We list exactly what Minnesota 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 Minnesota
baked goods
candy
jams
jellies
honey
granola
popcorn
dry mixes
pickled vegetables
Prohibited Products
meat
dairy
canned low-acid foods
Rules can change — quickly check with Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) before you start, just to be safe.
Minnesota Requirements Checklist
Here's what you need to start selling homemade food in Minnesota under the Minnesota Cottage Food Law (Minn. Stat. § 28A.152)
Cottage Food Producer Registration (MDA) Required
Cost: $50. Apply through your state agriculture department.
Food Handler Certification Required
Available through online courses — typically $10–$15.
No Kitchen Inspection Needed
Minnesota 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 Minnesota wants on it — copy this list.
Producer's name and registration number, OR name and address
Product name
Complete ingredient list in descending order by weight
Allergen disclosure (milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, sesame)
Date the product was made
"These products are homemade and not subject to state inspection"
Ingredient list — listed in order from most to least
Minnesota 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 Minnesota
Cookies, jams, dry mixes — these ship great from Minnesota. Here's what works.
Shelf-stable products that ship well
baked goods
candy
jams
honey
granola
popcorn
dry mixes
Ship within Minnesota only
Minnesota allows in-state shipping/mail delivery to customers, but products may not be sold across state lines under the cottage food 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 Minnesota
Direct Sales (from home)
Allowed in Minnesota
Online Sales (website)
Allowed in Minnesota
Farmers Markets
Allowed in Minnesota
Wholesale to Stores
Not permitted under Minnesota cottage food law
Start Your Home Food Business in Minnesota
Explore city-specific guides with local market data and business type recommendations
Home Food Business Types in Minnesota
Start any of these home food businesses under the Minnesota Cottage Food Law (Minn. Stat. § 28A.152)
Start Your Minnesota Home Food Business — $4.99/month
Professional website, online ordering, payments, shipping, customer directory, and analytics — everything you need to comply with the Minnesota Cottage Food Law (Minn. Stat. § 28A.152) and grow your business.
Explore Cottage Food Laws in Other States
Moving or expanding beyond Minnesota? 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.