How to Sell Baked Goods From Home

Can You Sell Baked Goods From Home?

Usually, yes, within limits. Cottage food laws let home cooks sell lower-risk foods without a commercial kitchen. What counts as lower-risk depends on your state.

Commonly Allowed

• Cookies, brownies, and bars
• Yeast breads, quick breads, and muffins
• Fruit pies and other dry baked goods, in many states
• Candy, granola, and dry mixes

Commonly Restricted

• Cheesecake, custard, and cream pies
• Cream cheese frosting and whipped cream fillings
• Anything containing meat
• Anything that needs refrigeration to stay safe

Some states allow much more under broader "food freedom" laws. Others require a licensed kitchen for anything beyond the basics. Check your state's list before you post a menu.

Where to Sell

• Your own ordering page: you set the prices and keep the customer list.
• Farmers markets and pop-ups: good for discovery. Confirm your state allows cottage food sales there.
• Cafés and shops: some states restrict cottage food sales to stores and restaurants, so check first.
• Social media: use it to show your bakes, then send people to your ordering page instead of taking orders in the comments.

How to Price Baked Goods

Price each item from five costs: ingredients, packaging and labels, payment fees, your labor, and a share of overhead such as utilities and equipment. Add profit on top. Selling by the box or dozen instead of single items raises your average order and cuts packaging time.

Take Orders Without Living in Your DMs

• Share one link with the menu, prices, and pickup times.
• Take payment when the order is placed.
• Close orders at a weekly cutoff so you can plan the bake.
• Cap quantities so popular items cannot oversell.
• Collect allergy notes and custom requests in the order form.
• Send confirmations and pickup reminders automatically.

Pickup or Delivery?

Pickup is the simplest start: set two or three windows on bake day. Local delivery lets you charge a fee and reach busier customers. Keep it to a small radius, set a minimum order, and group stops by area. The last-mile delivery checklist covers the details.

Label Every Package

Most states require a label with the product name, ingredients, allergens, net weight, your name and address, and a statement that the food was made in a home kitchen. List major allergens such as wheat, milk, eggs, tree nuts, and peanuts clearly.

Ready to set up orders? Hand-Off gives home bakers preorders, pickup windows, and local delivery on a storefront they own.

This guide is general business education, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with your state and local agencies.