Sell Homemade Food in Texas — A Friendly 2026 Guide
Everything you need to start your home food business in Texas — what you can sell, what permits you need, where to register, and how to ship.
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$150,000
Revenue Limit
Annual limit under cottage food law
Allowed
Online Sales
Sell through your own website
No
Permit Required
Start selling right away
very business-friendly
Regulation Level
Texas is considered very business-friendly for home food
You've Got This — Here's How to Start
Selling food from home in Texas is easier than it sounds. Just follow these steps in order.
Read your state's rules (5 min)
Texas Department of State Health Services, Foods Group explains everything you need to know about the Texas Cottage Food Law (Tex. Health & Safety Code § 437.0193; SB 541 / HB 970).
Get your food handler card (online, ~$15)
Texas requires a food handler certification. Most people finish the online course in under two hours.
Print your labels
Every package needs a label with your name, ingredients, and a few other details. We list exactly what Texas requires below.
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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
What You Can Sell in Texas
baked goods
candy
jams
jellies
honey
dried fruits
popcorn
granola
roasted nuts
dry mixes
pickled fruits
fermented vegetables
frozen fruits
Prohibited Products
meat
fresh dairy
canned low-acid foods
Rules can change — quickly check with Texas Department of State Health Services, Foods Group before you start, just to be safe.
Texas Requirements Checklist
Here's what you need to start selling homemade food in Texas under the Texas Cottage Food Law (Tex. Health & Safety Code § 437.0193; SB 541 / HB 970)
No Permit Needed
Texas does not require a permit for cottage food operations.
Food Handler Certification Required
Available through online courses — typically $10–$15.
No Kitchen Inspection Needed
Texas 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 Texas wants on it — copy this list.
Common or usual product name
Ingredient list in descending order by weight (with sub-ingredients)
Net weight or volume
Major allergen disclosure (milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, sesame)
Producer name and home address (or DSHS-issued unique identifier for Class B)
Statement: "This food is made in a home kitchen and is not inspected by the Department of State Health Services or a local health department."
Lettering at least 1/16-inch tall in contrasting color, attached directly to packaging
Ingredient list — listed in order from most to least
Texas 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 Texas
Cookies, jams, dry mixes — these ship great from Texas. Here's what works.
Shelf-stable products that ship well
baked goods
candy
jams
honey
dried fruits
popcorn
granola
roasted nuts
dry mixes
Ship within Texas only
Texas cottage food operators can sell direct, online, by phone, by mail, and ship within Texas. Sales to consumers outside Texas are not permitted under the cottage food rules.
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 Texas
Direct Sales (from home)
Allowed in Texas
Online Sales (website)
Allowed in Texas
Farmers Markets
Allowed in Texas
Wholesale to Stores
Not permitted under Texas cottage food law
Start Your Home Food Business in Texas
Explore city-specific guides with local market data and business type recommendations
Farmers Markets in Texas
Texas allows cottage food sales at farmers markets — here are popular venues
Food Events in Texas
Houston Restaurant Weeks
Month-long citywide dining event benefiting the Houston Food Bank.
Visit WebsiteHouston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Three-week event with massive food court featuring Texas home cooks and artisans.
Night Market HTX
Asian-inspired night market featuring local food entrepreneurs and home cooks.
Fiesta San Antonio
10-day citywide celebration with food booths, Night in Old San Antonio, and local vendors.
Visit WebsiteCulinaria Wine + Food Festival
Multi-day festival celebrating San Antonio's culinary scene with local artisan food.
Tamales! Holiday Festival
Annual Pearl District festival celebrating tamale-making traditions with vendors and competitions.
Home Food Business Types in Texas
Start any of these home food businesses under the Texas Cottage Food Law (Tex. Health & Safety Code § 437.0193; SB 541 / HB 970)
Start Your Texas Home Food Business — $4.99/month
Professional website, online ordering, payments, shipping, customer directory, and analytics — everything you need to comply with the Texas Cottage Food Law (Tex. Health & Safety Code § 437.0193; SB 541 / HB 970) and grow your business.
Explore Cottage Food Laws in Other States
Moving or expanding beyond Texas? 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.