How to start a home-based food business in Pennsylvania

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

You do need a license to sell homemade food, and to get one, you’ll need to fill in an application form from the PA Dept. of Agriculture. In PA, you’re allowed to sell some “limited” types of food in a “residential style kitchen”, which would apply to your home kitchen. You’ll have to follow regulations from the Food Safety Act, which we’ll cover in a later section. 

The form can be found here, and the PDA has other links with more information too. 

How much is a license to sell food in PA?

Registering for a Limited Food Establishment costs $35. Your license needs to be renewed yearly, with each renewal also costing $35. 

Can you make food at home and sell it in PA?

Yes you can, but there are specifics in what you can and cannot sell in PA. 

In the Code of Federal Regulations, the Food Safety Act in PA states that you’re only allowed to sell foods that are not “time and temperature controlled for safety” (TCS), and not “potentially hazardous foods” (PHF). 

Foods that you’re NOT allowed to sell include: 

• Raw or heat-treated animal foods, like: 
  • Fluid milk
  • Dairy products
  • Eggs
  • Meat & poultry
  • Fish
  • Shellfish
  • Edible crustaceans
• Heat treated plant food
• Raw seed sprouts
• cut/prepared fresh fruits and vegetables, like: 
  • Melons
  • Tomatoes
  • Salad greens
• Garlic-in-oil products
• Tofu & soy-protein foods
• Perishable baked goods, like: 
  • Cream pastries
  • Cheesecakes
  • Custard pies

How to start a limited food establishment in PA?

Although you’re free to do whatever you choose as long as you submit your form and get approved, most people follow a similar series of steps. 

Here are the steps:

1. Decide what food you’re going to sell. Other than making sure you’re selling types of foods that the Food Safety Act allows, it’ll be convenient for labeling them later and for filling the application form.
2. Label your food correctly. You’ll be required to label the food you’re selling, including: 
   1. Name of the product
   2. Ingredients, listed from most to least by weight
   3. Allergen declaration, if needed
   4. Name and address of the manufacturer or distributor
   5. Net Wt. or count; placement on the bottom 1/3 of the primary panel and no less than 8 pt. Font

There are some exceptions, such as some baked goods, which we’ll cover in a later section. 

3. Submit the application form and wait. Again, the form can be found here, and you’ll have to submit information of your home and any employees, and you may have to meet additional requirements or submit water from your home for lab testing depending what kinds of food you're selling.
4. Schedule an inspection with an inspector after your form is approved. Once the inspector confirms that your home is how you described it in the form, you can pay the $35 for your license.
5. Sell your food online. Since you’d have to apply for an additional Retail Food License to sell your food at farmers’ markets and similar events outside your home, most people choose to sell their food online with an e-commerce tool like FormPay.
6. Promote your business. Finally, it’s time to let the world know about your business.  You could start by telling people through word-of-mouth, then expand your customer base through social media. For more tips on how to promote your business, you could check out this article. 

How to sell food online in PA?

Selling food online from your home is the easiest way to get started for a home-based food business in PA. We recommend using the e-commerce tool, FormPay, that’s designed for home-based food operators like yourself. FormPay is used by food businesses like G Sweets and Uncle Tim’s Delicacies, to make it easy for their customers to buy from them, and for you to collect orders and payment.

How to sell vegetables in PA?

Just like any other food, you’ll need a limited food establishment license as mentioned above. Some vegetable products can’t be sold from a home food business if they spoil easily at certain temperatures or after being left out, so be sure to double-check the form. 

How to sell baked goods in PA?

Selling baked goods is a great choice for a food business – many successful independent food businesses, like G Sweets and Uncle Tim’s Delicacies, mainly sell baked goods online with the help of services like FormPay, which allows anyone to set up an order form in minutes. 

Although perishable baked goods can’t be sold from a residential kitchen in PA, it’s fine to sell non-perishable baked goods, such as: 

• Cakes
• Breads
• Bagels
• Cookies
• Rolls
• Muffins
• Brownies
• Biscuits/biscotti
• Tortilla
• Most fruit pies/pastries

You may also have to test for the pH and the Available Water for your baked goods. Additionally, if you’re making your baked goods from scratch, you don’t have to directly label your products, though you’ll still have to provide information on the ingredients if asked. 

Summary

Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to start a home-based food business in Pennsylvania. Once you have your license, you’ll have a lot of options in what you want to sell – and what’s more, you can sell directly from your home thanks to the internet. Once you have a license, all you have to do is set up a store with a tool like FormPay and you’re ready to go. 

Resources

Limited Food Establishment