Massachusetts Makes It Tough to Sell Homemade Food

Everyone raves about your homemade pasta sauce and gushes over your from-scratch pies and birthday cakes. Your kale soup is the best anyone has ever made.

"You should market these," they say.

Sound tempting?

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Perhaps preparing and selling those ancient family recipes could bring in some extra revenue, and you could do it from home, all while managing your other commitments.

Would you consider it?

Massachusetts law permits cottage food businesses but requires a permit and a home inspection, both of which cost money. The process also involves local health officials, and there are limitations to what you can make and sell to the public.

It is possible, but it is not easy.

Castiron says, "Navigating the overwhelming legal landscape when opening a cottage food business in Massachusetts is difficult." It requires full compliance with Massachusetts Cottage Food Laws.

Shopcastiron.com can help you to navitae the process.

The Institute for Justice gives Massachusetts an overall grade of "C" for its Homemade Food Laws. The site issues a grade of "D" for Food Varieties, a "D-" for Regulatory Burdens, and an "A+" for Sales and Venue Restrictions.

Massachusetts law permits the sale of homemade food items to retail outlets like restaurants and grocery stores. Online orders and mail deliveries are also allowed.

Sales of refrigerated baked goods and meat products are not allowed under Massachusetts law.

The Institute for Justice has a comprehensive assessment of what you need to know to get started in the cottage food industry, which is available on its website.

Remember, a cottage food business is a job that involves deadlines and other issues.

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