Sell Homemade Food in Arkansas — A Friendly 2026 Guide
Everything you need to start your home food business in Arkansas — what you can sell, what permits you need, where to register, and how to ship.
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No limit
Revenue Limit
No cap on earnings
Allowed
Online Sales
Sell through your own website
No
Permit Required
Start selling right away
very business-friendly
Regulation Level
Arkansas is considered very business-friendly for home food
You've Got This — Here's How to Start
Selling food from home in Arkansas is easier than it sounds. Just follow these steps in order.
Read your state's rules (5 min)
Arkansas Department of Health, Food Protection explains everything you need to know about the Arkansas Food Freedom Act (Act 1040 of 2021).
Print your labels
Every package needs a label with your name, ingredients, and a few other details. We list exactly what Arkansas requires below.
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Here's What You Get for $4.99/month
Your own online store with photos and menu
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Nationwide shipping for dry goods (FedEx, USPS, UPS)
Labels, receipts, and customer messaging — all in one place
What You Can Sell in Arkansas
baked goods
candy
jams
jellies
fruit butter
honey
popcorn
dry mixes
Prohibited Products
meat
dairy
TCS foods
Rules can change — quickly check with Arkansas Department of Health, Food Protection before you start, just to be safe.
Arkansas Requirements Checklist
Here's what you need to start selling homemade food in Arkansas under the Arkansas Food Freedom Act (Act 1040 of 2021)
No Permit Needed
Arkansas does not require a permit for cottage food operations.
No Food Handler Cert Needed
Arkansas does not require a food handler certification.
No Kitchen Inspection Needed
Arkansas allows you to use your home kitchen without inspection.
What Goes on Your Label
Every package you sell needs a label. Here's exactly what Arkansas wants on it — copy this list.
Producer's name and address
Product name
Ingredients in descending order of predominance
Allergen disclosure
"This product is homemade and not subject to state inspection" disclaimer
Ingredient list — listed in order from most to least
Arkansas requires you to list every ingredient on each package. Start with the heaviest ingredient and work your way down. Sub-ingredients (like "chocolate chips: cocoa, sugar, milkfat") go in parentheses.
Allergen disclosure — required
Clearly list any of the 9 major allergens your product contains: milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, and sesame. A simple line works: "Contains: wheat, eggs, milk."
What You Can Ship From Arkansas
Cookies, jams, dry mixes — these ship great from Arkansas. Here's what works.
Shelf-stable products that ship well
baked goods
candy
jams
fruit butter
honey
popcorn
dry mixes
Yes — you can ship across state lines
Arkansas's Food Freedom Act is one of the most permissive in the country — it allows online sales, shipping, and even interstate sales of non-TCS homemade foods directly to informed end consumers.
What can't ship
Anything that needs refrigeration — cheesecakes, custard pies, cream-filled pastries, fresh dairy, meat — can't be shipped under cottage food rules. Stick to dry, shelf-stable items for shipping. Local pickup and delivery still work great for everything else.
Ship Your Products Nationwide
Integrated with major carriers for reliable delivery
FedEx
USPS
UPS
Flat Rate Shipping
Weight-Based Pricing
Free Shipping Thresholds
Where You Can Sell in Arkansas
Direct Sales (from home)
Allowed in Arkansas
Online Sales (website)
Allowed in Arkansas
Farmers Markets
Allowed in Arkansas
Wholesale to Stores
Allowed in Arkansas
Home Food Business Types in Arkansas
Start any of these home food businesses under the Arkansas Food Freedom Act (Act 1040 of 2021)
Start Your Arkansas Home Food Business — $4.99/month
Professional website, online ordering, payments, shipping, customer directory, and analytics — everything you need to comply with the Arkansas Food Freedom Act (Act 1040 of 2021) and grow your business.
Explore Cottage Food Laws in Other States
Moving or expanding beyond Arkansas? Compare the rules elsewhere.
About RestauNax for Home Food Businesses
RestauNax offers a $4.99/month platform for home food businesses, cottage food operators, home bakers, food influencers, and small food makers. The platform includes a professional website, online ordering, nationwide shipping (FedEx/USPS/UPS), Stripe payment processing, customer directory, multi-language support, and analytics — all with zero commission fees. RestauNax replaces expensive platforms like Castiron, Shopify, and Square Online for home food sellers at a fraction of the cost.