Missouri cottage food laws
No license, no sales cap, in-state shipping allowed.
Missouri Revised Statute 196.298 lets home producers sell baked goods, jams, jellies, and dried herb mixes from a private kitchen with no license, no inspection, no fee, and no annual sales cap. Online orders and in-state shipping are allowed as long as both producer and buyer are in Missouri. The product list, however, is narrower than many states.
Missouri cottage food, quick facts.
How the Missouri cottage food law actually works.
Missouri's cottage food law lives at RSMo 196.298. Unlike most states, it lists exactly three product categories that qualify: baked goods, jams or jellies, and dried herbs or herb mixes. If your product does not fit one of those three buckets, it is not a cottage food in Missouri and you would need a licensed kitchen to sell it.
Within those categories the law is unusually friendly. There is no permit, no inspection, no registration, and no annual revenue cap. You do not pay a fee or take a class. The law also explicitly allows online sales as long as the producer and the buyer are both in Missouri, and lets producers ship or deliver products in state.
Sales must be directly to the consumer. Missouri does not let cottage operators sell wholesale to restaurants, grocery stores, or other retailers. Shipping or selling out of state is not authorized under cottage food because that crosses into federally regulated interstate commerce.
Missouri preempts local rules in a useful way: a cottage food operator cannot be regulated as a food service establishment by either the state or a local health department. Local governments may still apply zoning, business registration, and sales tax to home businesses, but they cannot license you as a food establishment for the foods covered by the statute.
Allowed and prohibited foods.
- Cookies, brownies, biscotti, bars
- Cakes and cupcakes (without cream fillings or perishable frosting)
- Breads, rolls, danish, donuts, pastries
- Fruit pies that are shelf-stable (apple, peach, pecan, etc.)
- Tortillas, pretzels, crackers, scones
- Traditional jams, jellies, and fruit preserves
- Dried herbs and dried herb mixes
- Dry seasoning blends made with dried herbs
- Cheesecakes, cream pies, custard pies, meringue pies
- Cream cheese frostings and cream-filled cakes
- Sugar-free, no-sugar-added, or hot pepper jams and jellies (excluded by statute)
- Refrigeration-required dairy desserts (tres leches, mousse, tiramisu)
- Candies, chocolates, fudge, brittles (not in the statute)
- Granola, snack mixes, popcorn (not in the statute)
- Meat, poultry, fish, or shellfish
- Low-acid canned vegetables, pickles, salsas
- Beverages requiring refrigeration
Missouri's cottage food list is narrower than many states. If your product is not a baked good, a traditional jam or jelly, or a dried herb mix, it is not a Missouri cottage food and you would need a licensed kitchen to sell it.
Sales channels for Missouri cottage bakers.
- Sales must be direct from producer to end consumer.
- Local jurisdictions may add zoning, business registration, or sales tax requirements but cannot license you as a food establishment for cottage products.
Label every product, exactly like this.
This product is home-produced and processed and the production area has not been inspected by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
- Labels must be in English. Other languages are welcome in addition to English.
- If you sell unpackaged items at a farmers market table, the disclaimer must be displayed at the point of sale.
How much can you earn under Missouri cottage law?
Missouri does not impose any annual sales cap on cottage food operations. The previous $50,000 income cap was repealed; you can earn any amount selling baked goods, jams or jellies, and dried herbs as cottage foods.
Food safety training in Missouri
Missouri does not require state food safety training for cottage operators. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and University of Missouri Extension publish guidance booklets that are useful even though they are not mandatory. Some farmers markets may ask for a food handler card on their own; check with the market manager.
Registration, permits, and inspections in Missouri
There is no state registration step. You do not file paperwork with the Department of Health and Senior Services, do not pay a fee, and do not receive a permit number. You simply follow the labeling rules and the direct-to-consumer requirement. Local rules around business registration and sales tax still apply.
How to start a cottage bakery in Missouri.
- 01Confirm your products fit the three allowed categoriesMissouri cottage food is limited to baked goods, traditional jams or jellies (no sugar-free, no-sugar-added, or hot pepper varieties), and dried herbs or herb mixes. If your product is not one of those three, it is not a cottage food in Missouri.Missouri DHSS: Home-Based Kitchen Guidance →
- 02Build your label templateInclude producer name and address, common product name, ingredients in descending order, net weight or volume, allergens, and the required home-kitchen disclaimer.
- 03Pick your sales channelsDecide whether you will sell from home, at farmers markets, online with in-state delivery or shipping, or a mix. Missouri lets you do all of them under cottage food.
- 04Set up your storefront on CakeryCakery gives you a free bakery page at cakerybakeries.com/your-bakery. Add your menu, prices, lead times, and pickup or delivery zones so Missouri customers can request quotes in one place.Create a free Cakery page →
- 05Handle business and tax basicsRegister a fictitious name with the Secretary of State if you operate under a business name. Open a separate bank account, check zoning and HOA rules, and register with the Missouri Department of Revenue for sales tax if your products are taxable.
- 06Plan for the cottage limitIf you want to sell candies, fudge, granola, snack mixes, or refrigerated desserts, those are not Missouri cottage foods. You would move into a licensed home processor or commercial path through DHSS.
A few things Missouri bakers should know.
- Missouri's allowed-foods list is narrower than most states. Candies, chocolates, granola, and snack mixes are not in the statute, even though many other states allow them.
- The cap was removed: there is no $50,000 limit anymore. Cottage operators in Missouri can earn any amount, as long as they stay inside the three product categories.
- Sugar-free, no-sugar-added, and hot pepper jams and jellies are explicitly excluded from cottage food.
- Local jurisdictions cannot license you as a food establishment for cottage foods, but local zoning, business registration, and sales tax still apply.
- If you want to sell wholesale to a coffee shop or sell refrigerated desserts, you must move into a licensed kitchen.
Bookmark these for Missouri baking.
Official agency resources
Statute and rules text
Helpful resources for bakers
Missouri cottage food FAQ.
Do Missouri cottage bakers need a license or permit?
Is there a sales cap on Missouri cottage food?
Can I sell cottage food online in Missouri?
Can I ship Missouri cottage foods out of state?
What can I sell as a Missouri cottage baker?
Can I sell to a coffee shop or grocery store?
What disclaimer must appear on the label?
You bake. We handle the tech.
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