Home Bakery Licensing: What You Actually Need
By Jordan Pierce··6 min read
Most home bakers in the US can launch under a cottage food exemption with little to no licensing. A handful of states require more.
Cottage food states (no inspection needed)
States like Florida, Texas, Ohio, Wyoming, and Arkansas let home bakers sell directly to consumers with little or no licensing. You'll typically need a food handler card and labels.
States that require inspection or registration
Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, Illinois, and a few others require a residential kitchen permit or inspection before you can sell.
What you don't actually need
Most home bakers don't need a commercial kitchen, an LLC on day one, or food liability insurance — though insurance becomes worth it past $1k/month in sales.
