Sell Homemade Food in South Carolina — A Friendly 2026 Guide
Everything you need to start your home food business in South Carolina — what you can sell, what permits you need, where to register, and how to ship.
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No revenue cap
Revenue Limit
No cap on earnings
Allowed
Online Sales
Sell through your own website
No
Permit Required
Start selling right away
business-friendly
Regulation Level
South Carolina is considered business-friendly for home food
You've Got This — Here's How to Start
Selling food from home in South Carolina is easier than it sounds. Just follow these steps in order.
Read your state's rules (5 min)
South Carolina Department of Agriculture, Consumer Protection Division explains everything you need to know about the South Carolina Home-Based Food Production Law (S.C. Code § 44-1-143).
Print your labels
Every package needs a label with your name, ingredients, and a few other details. We list exactly what South Carolina requires below.
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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 South Carolina
baked goods
candy
jams
jellies
honey
popcorn
Prohibited Products
meat
dairy
canned foods
Rules can change — quickly check with South Carolina Department of Agriculture, Consumer Protection Division before you start, just to be safe.
South Carolina Requirements Checklist
Here's what you need to start selling homemade food in South Carolina under the South Carolina Home-Based Food Production Law (S.C. Code § 44-1-143)
No Permit Needed
South Carolina does not require a permit for cottage food operations.
No Food Handler Cert Needed
South Carolina does not require a food handler certification.
No Kitchen Inspection Needed
South Carolina 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 South Carolina wants on it — copy this list.
Name and address of the home-based food production operation
Product name
Net weight
Ingredient list in descending order by weight
Allergen statement listing major allergens (or contains-statement equivalent)
Statement (all caps, contrasting): "PROCESSED AND PREPARED BY A HOME-BASED FOOD PRODUCTION OPERATION THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO SOUTH CAROLINA'S FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS."
Ingredient list — listed in order from most to least
South Carolina 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 South Carolina
Cookies, jams, dry mixes — these ship great from South Carolina. Here's what works.
Shelf-stable products that ship well
baked goods
candy
jams
honey
popcorn
Ship within South Carolina only
Home-based food producers in South Carolina can sell direct to consumers, wholesale to in-state retail stores, and ship online or by mail anywhere within South Carolina. Sales and shipments outside the state are not allowed.
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
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FedEx
USPS
UPS
Flat Rate Shipping
Weight-Based Pricing
Free Shipping Thresholds
Where You Can Sell in South Carolina
Direct Sales (from home)
Allowed in South Carolina
Online Sales (website)
Allowed in South Carolina
Farmers Markets
Allowed in South Carolina
Wholesale to Stores
Allowed in South Carolina
Home Food Business Types in South Carolina
Start any of these home food businesses under the South Carolina Home-Based Food Production Law (S.C. Code § 44-1-143)
Start Your South Carolina Home Food Business — $4.99/month
Professional website, online ordering, payments, shipping, customer directory, and analytics — everything you need to comply with the South Carolina Home-Based Food Production Law (S.C. Code § 44-1-143) and grow your business.
Explore Cottage Food Laws in Other States
Moving or expanding beyond South Carolina? 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.