Sell Homemade Food in Tennessee — A Friendly 2026 Guide
Everything you need to start your home food business in Tennessee — 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 revenue cap
Revenue Limit
No cap on earnings
Allowed
Online Sales
Sell through your own website
No
Permit Required
Start selling right away
very business-friendly
Regulation Level
Tennessee is considered very business-friendly for home food
You've Got This — Here's How to Start
Selling food from home in Tennessee is easier than it sounds. Just follow these steps in order.
Read your state's rules (5 min)
Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Consumer & Industry Services (Food & Dairy) explains everything you need to know about the Tennessee Food Freedom Act (Tenn. Code § 53-1-110; Public Chapter 813, 2022).
Print your labels
Every package needs a label with your name, ingredients, and a few other details. We list exactly what Tennessee requires below.
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Take orders, accept payments, manage shipping, and message customers — all from one dashboard for $4.99/month.
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 Tennessee
baked goods
candy
jams
jellies
honey
popcorn
granola
dried herbs
Prohibited Products
raw milk
Rules can change — quickly check with Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Consumer & Industry Services (Food & Dairy) before you start, just to be safe.
Tennessee Requirements Checklist
Here's what you need to start selling homemade food in Tennessee under the Tennessee Food Freedom Act (Tenn. Code § 53-1-110; Public Chapter 813, 2022)
No Permit Needed
Tennessee does not require a permit for cottage food operations.
No Food Handler Cert Needed
Tennessee does not require a food handler certification.
No Kitchen Inspection Needed
Tennessee 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 Tennessee wants on it — copy this list.
Statement: "This product was produced at a private residence that is exempt from state licensing and inspection. This product may contain allergens."
What You Can Ship From Tennessee
Cookies, jams, dry mixes — these ship great from Tennessee. Here's what works.
Shelf-stable products that ship well
baked goods
candy
jams
honey
popcorn
granola
dried herbs
Ship within Tennessee only
Non-perishable homemade foods can be sold online and shipped within Tennessee. Perishable (TCS) items must be sold in person, and out-of-state shipping is not permitted under the Food Freedom Act.
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 Tennessee
Direct Sales (from home)
Allowed in Tennessee
Online Sales (website)
Allowed in Tennessee
Farmers Markets
Allowed in Tennessee
Wholesale to Stores
Not permitted under Tennessee cottage food law
Start Your Home Food Business in Tennessee
Explore city-specific guides with local market data and business type recommendations
Farmers Markets in Tennessee
Tennessee allows cottage food sales at farmers markets — here are popular venues
Food Events in Tennessee
Nashville Food Festival
Annual celebration of Nashville's booming food scene with local artisan vendors.
Music City Food + Wine Festival
Multi-day culinary event featuring Nashville chefs and local food producers.
Visit WebsiteTomato Art Fest
East Nashville's quirky festival combining art, music, and local food vendors.
Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest
World's largest barbecue competition — the ultimate venue for BBQ entrepreneurs.
Visit WebsiteCooper-Young Festival
Neighborhood festival with 100+ artisan and food vendors in the Cooper-Young district.
Home Food Business Types in Tennessee
Start any of these home food businesses under the Tennessee Food Freedom Act (Tenn. Code § 53-1-110; Public Chapter 813, 2022)
Start Your Tennessee Home Food Business — $4.99/month
Professional website, online ordering, payments, shipping, customer directory, and analytics — everything you need to comply with the Tennessee Food Freedom Act (Tenn. Code § 53-1-110; Public Chapter 813, 2022) and grow your business.
Explore Cottage Food Laws in Other States
Moving or expanding beyond Tennessee? 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.