How to start a home-based food business in Michigan

Do I need a license to sell homemade food in Michigan?

No, you don’t need a license to sell homemade food in Michigan. According to Cottage Food Law, you can sell non-hazardous foods at home without any kind of license or registration. Of course, there are other things to keep in mind, and we’ll cover them below.  

How to start a home-based food business in Michigan

There are many ways you can start a home-based food business in Michigan, but most people follow a series of steps. 

Here are the steps: 

1. Figure out what kinds of food you want to sell. Not only will this make labeling easier later, there are some foods you may not be allowed to sell as a “Cottage Food” business. We’ll cover what kinds of food you can and cannot sell below.
2. Make sure your home is up to safety standards. For the safety of both yourself and your customers, it’s a good idea to keep your home clean and safe while you’re cooking in it. The Michigan Department of Agricultural & Rural Development (MDARD) has more information on the standards you have to meet. Remember to keep pets and children out of your kitchen, sanitize your equipment, and wear proper clothing.
3. Take a Food Safety Training Course. It’s not a legal requirement, but you can choose to take the Michigan Cottage Food Law Food Safety Online Training provided by the government.
4. Label your foods properly. You’ll have to have the following information labeled on your food:
   1. Name and physical address of the Cottage Food operation (You must use the physical address of your home kitchen; Post Office Box addresses are not adequate).
   2. Name of the Cottage Food product (All capital letters or upper/lower case are both acceptable).
   3. The ingredients of the Cottage Food product, in descending order of predominance by weight. If you use a prepared item in your recipe, you must list the sub ingredients as well. For example: soy sauce is not acceptable, soy sauce (wheat, soybeans, salt) would be acceptable, please see the label below for further examples.
   4. The net weight or net volume of the Cottage Food product (must also include the metric equivalent - conversion charts are available online).
   5. Allergen labeling as specified in federal labeling requirements.
   6. The following statement: "Made in a home kitchen that has not been inspected by the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development" in at least the equivalent of 11-point font (about 1/8" tall) and in a color that provides a clear contrast to the background (All capital letters or upper/lower case are both acceptable).
5. Sell your food at events or from your home. You can sell your food at farmers’ markets and food fairs as a cottage food business operator. These events may require licenses for you to participate, so make sure to check. You can also sell food directly from your home, and you can take orders over the phone or online as well. If you’re selling from your home, you can use an e-commerce tool like FormPay to keep track of your orders and transactions.
6. Promote your business. The last step is to let everyone know about your business. You can advertise through word of mouth at first, then with social media to reach a wider audience. This article also has more tips on how to promote your business. 

What homemade food can I sell in Michigan?

You can sell non-hazardous foods, while you CANNOT sell “potentially hazardous foods” (PHFs) that are time- or temperature-controlled. For example, food that has to be refrigerated to stay fresh cannot be sold. 

Foods you can sell include: 

• Breads
• Baked goods
• Cookies
• Cakes, including celebration cakes (birthday, anniversary, wedding)
• Quick breads and muffins (e.g., pumpkin or zucchini bread, blueberry muffins)
• Cooked fruit pies, including pie crusts made with butter, lard, or shortening
• Fruit jams and jellies (as defined in 21 CFR part 150) in glass jars that can be stored at room temperature (except vegetable and other non-fruit based jams/jellies)
• Confections and candies (made without alcohol)
• Granola
• Dry herbs and dry herb mixtures
• Dry baking mixes
• Dry dip mixes
• Dry soup mixes
• Dehydrated vegetables or fruits
• Popcorn
• Cotton Candy
• Non-potentially hazardous dry bulk mixes sold wholesale can be repackaged into a Cottage Food product. Similar items already packaged and labeled for retail sale cannot be repackaged and/or relabeled.
• Chocolate covered pretzels, marshmallows, graham crackers, Rice Krispies treats, strawberries, pineapple, bananas, or other non-TCS foods
• Coated or uncoated nuts
• Dried pasta made with or without eggs
• Roasted coffee beans or ground roasted coffee
• Vinegar and flavored vinegars

Foods you CANNOT sell include: 

• Meat (beef, pork, lamb)
• Poultry (chicken, turkey, duck)
• Fish
• Shellfish and crustaceans
• Eggs
• Milk and dairy products
• Cooked plant-based foods (for example: cooked rice, beans, vegetables, or mushrooms)
• Baked potatoes
• Certain synthetic ingredients (such as artificial flavoring)
• Raw sprouts
• Tofu and soy-protein foods
• Untreated garlic and oil mixtures
• Pickled or acidified foods
• Cooked vegetable products (like salsas, tomato sauces, spaghetti sauces, or focaccia bread with roasted vegetables)
• Fermented foods (such as kombucha tea)
• Apple butter, pumpkin butter, or other fruit butters
• Cider
• Honey and Maple Syrup
• Candies that contain alcohol (like truffles or liqueur flavored, cream-filled chocolates)
• Buttercream frosting
• Tinctures, herbal teas, or other supplemental products aimed at promoting wellness or treating ailments
• Freeze-dried food or candies
• Meat and meat products like fresh and dried meats (jerky)
• Fish and fish products like smoked fish
• Raw seed sprouts
• Vegetable jams/jellies (e.g., hot pepper jelly)
• Canned fruits or vegetables like salsa or canned peaches
• Canned fruit or vegetable butters like pumpkin or apple butter
• Canned pickled products like corn relish, pickles, or sauerkraut
• Pies or cakes that require refrigeration to assure safety like banana cream, pumpkin, lemon meringue or custard pies; cheesecake; and cakes with glaze or frosting that requires refrigeration (e.g., cream cheese frosting)
• Milk and dairy products like cheese or yogurt
• Cut melons
• Caramel apples
• Hummus
• Garlic in oil mixtures
• All beverages, including fruit/vegetable juices, Kombucha tea, and apple cider
• Ice and ice products
• Cut tomatoes or chopped/shredded leafy greens
• Confections that contain alcohol, like truffles or liqueur-filled chocolates
• Focaccia style breads with fresh vegetables and/or cheeses
• Food products made from fresh cut tomatoes, cut melons or cut leafy greens
• Food products made with cooked vegetable products that are not canned
• Sauces and condiments, including barbeque sauce, hot sauce, ketchup, or mustard
• Salad dressings
• Pet food or treats

How to sell homemade food online in Michigan

In Michigan, you can’t deliver your food directly to customers. You can take orders and accept payment for your products online, but the product itself has to be given over by hand, not by mail. Many independent food businesses like G Sweets and Uncle Tim’s Delicacies use e-commerce services like FormPay to keep track of their orders, transactions, and pickup info. 

Can you sell homemade bread in Michigan?

Yes, you can sell homemade bread in Michigan, so long as the bread was baked in an oven in your home. Cottage Food Law only applies to food product made in your own home, not any rented or commercial kitchen outside of it, so the bread has to be homemade. 

Do you need a permit to sell lemonade in Michigan?

Unfortunately, since lemonade is a beverage, you cannot sell it under Cottage Food Law. This is not to say that a child from your family can’t try it for fun on a street corner, but if you’re actually trying to create a food business, you won’t be able to sell lemonade. 

Summary

Fortunately, it’s very easy to sell homemade food in Michigan – you don’t even need a license. All you have to do is make sure you’re ready with a business plan and a home kitchen, then sell your food by either registering for in-person events, or directly from your home with the help of tools like FormPay.  

Resources

MDARD - Michigan Cottage Foods Information