Missouri Cottage Food Law

Sell Homemade Food in Missouri — A Friendly 2026 Guide

Everything you need to start your home food business in Missouri — what you can sell, what permits you need, where to register, and how to ship.

New here? RestauNax helps people just like you turn home baking into a real online business — for $4.99/month.

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

Missouri is considered very business-friendly for home food

You've Got This — Here's How to Start

Selling food from home in Missouri is easier than it sounds. Just follow these steps in order.
1
Read your state's rules (5 min)

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) explains everything you need to know about the Missouri Home-Based Food Production Law (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 196.298).

Read the law
2
Print your labels

Every package needs a label with your name, ingredients, and a few other details. We list exactly what Missouri requires below.

3
Open your online store with RestauNax

Take orders, accept payments, manage shipping, and message customers — all from one dashboard for $4.99/month.

Get free demo
Here's What You Get for $4.99/month

Your own online store with photos and menu

Online ordering, pickup, and local delivery

Nationwide shipping for dry goods (FedEx, USPS, UPS)

Labels, receipts, and customer messaging — all in one place

See full pricing and features

What You Can Sell in Missouri

baked goods

jams

jellies

honey

dried herbs

dry mixes

Prohibited Products

meat

dairy

canned foods

TCS foods

Rules can change — quickly check with Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) before you start, just to be safe.

Missouri Requirements Checklist

Here's what you need to start selling homemade food in Missouri under the Missouri Home-Based Food Production Law (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 196.298)
No Permit Needed

Missouri does not require a permit for cottage food operations.

No Food Handler Cert Needed

Missouri does not require a food handler certification.

No Kitchen Inspection Needed

Missouri 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 Missouri wants on it — copy this list.

Producer's name and address

Product name

Complete ingredient list in descending order of prominence

Net weight or volume (English or metric units)

Allergen disclosure per federal FALCPA

Disclaimer that the kitchen is uninspected

For honey: "Honey is not recommended for infants less than twelve (12) months of age"

Ingredient list — listed in order from most to least

Missouri 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 Missouri

Cookies, jams, dry mixes — these ship great from Missouri. Here's what works.
Shelf-stable products that ship well

baked goods

jams

honey

dried herbs

dry mixes

Ship within Missouri only

Missouri's 2022 reform allows in-state online sales and delivery. Interstate shipping is not authorized under the cottage food law, so check with DHSS before mailing across state lines.

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 Missouri

Direct Sales (from home)

Allowed in Missouri

Online Sales (website)

Allowed in Missouri

Farmers Markets

Allowed in Missouri

Wholesale to Stores

Not permitted under Missouri cottage food law

Start Your Home Food Business in Missouri

Explore city-specific guides with local market data and business type recommendations

Home Food Business Types in Missouri

Start any of these home food businesses under the Missouri Home-Based Food Production Law (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 196.298)

Start Your Missouri Home Food Business — $4.99/month

Professional website, online ordering, payments, shipping, customer directory, and analytics — everything you need to comply with the Missouri Home-Based Food Production Law (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 196.298) and grow your business.
No contracts
No setup fees
0% commission
Free demo

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.

Ready to Start Selling Homemade Food in Missouri?

Get a professional website, online ordering, and nationwide shipping — all for $4.99/month with zero commission fees.