In Georgia, as of July 1, 2025, you can sell homemade non-perishable foods with no state license, no registration, and no sales cap — and you can sell to retail stores and restaurants, not just direct to customers. House Bill 398 overhauled the old rules; the only requirement now is a one-time food-safety course. This guide covers exactly what you can sell, how to label it, what HB 398 changed, and how to start this week.

The short version: Georgia used to require a license and capped cottage food sales at $5,000. HB 398 removed both. Now you can sell unlimited non-perishable homemade foods with no license and no registration — you just complete a one-time ANAB-accredited food-safety course. You can sell direct to consumers and wholesale to retailers and restaurants anywhere in Georgia, as long as you label products with the required "not subject to state food safety inspections" statement.

Does Georgia Have a Cottage Food Sales Limit?

No. HB 398 removed Georgia's old $5,000 cap entirely — there is now no revenue limit on cottage food sales.

Do You Need a License to Sell Food From Home in Georgia?

No. Since HB 398 took effect on July 1, 2025, Georgia no longer requires a state cottage food license or registration. The one thing you must do is complete a one-time ANAB-accredited food-safety course (not an annual renewal). After that, you can start selling — a dramatic simplification from the old license-and-cap system.

What Foods Can You Sell Under Georgia Cottage Food Law?

Georgia allows a broad range of shelf-stable, non-hazardous (non-TCS) foods. Commonly sold items include:

• Breads, rolls, and other non-perishable baked goods
• Cakes, cookies, pies, and pastries (no refrigerated fillings)
• Candies and confections
• Jams, jellies, and fruit preserves
• Granola, dry mixes, dried herbs, and similar shelf-stable items

Not allowed:

• Anything requiring refrigeration or temperature control (TCS foods)
• Cream-filled pastries and custards
• Meat-based items and other perishable foods

The test is whether the finished product is shelf-stable at room temperature. Confirm specifics with the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

How Do You Start Selling Cottage Food in Georgia? (Step by Step)

1. Confirm your product is non-TCS — it must be shelf-stable at room temperature.
2. Complete the one-time food-safety course — an ANAB-accredited course (no annual renewal).
3. Set up safe production — follow good food-safety and allergen practices.
4. Label every product — include the required all-caps statement and the elements below.
5. Choose your sales channels — direct, online, and wholesale to retail/restaurants within Georgia.
6. Start selling — with no cap, you can scale freely as long as sales stay in-state.

What Must a Georgia Cottage Food Label Include?

Every Georgia cottage food product must include:

• The product name
• Your name and address
• The ingredients
• Allergen information
• The net weight
• This exact statement — in all capital letters, Times New Roman or Arial, at least 10-point type, in a color that contrasts with the background: MADE IN A COTTAGE FOOD OPERATION THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO STATE FOOD SAFETY INSPECTIONS.

See our cottage food labeling guide for templates.

Where Can You Sell Cottage Foods in Georgia?

HB 398 expanded where you can sell. Cottage food operators can now sell:

• Directly to consumers — farmers markets, events, from home, and online
• Wholesale to retail stores and restaurants within Georgia

Sales must be to end consumers or retailers located in Georgia.

Because Georgia now lets you sell online and into retail with no cap, a real storefront helps you take orders and manage pickup without living in your DMs. Homegrown gives Georgia sellers an online storefront with built-in payments and pickup scheduling for $10/month at 0% commission — you keep every dollar except standard card processing. Start a free trial and have a Georgia-ready storefront live in about 15 minutes.

How Much Can You Make Selling Cottage Food in Georgia?

With the $5,000 cap gone, Georgia no longer limits your income — your ceiling is time, demand, and how you sell. Because HB 398 also opened retail and restaurant sales, Georgia sellers have more ways to grow than they did before. A few ways to get the most out of a Georgia cottage food business:

Most successful Georgia sellers start with one strong channel — a weekly market or an online pickup window — build a base of repeat customers, then layer in retail and restaurant accounts once supply is steady. With the $5,000 cap gone, your production capacity, not the law, sets your ceiling.

Georgia's HB 398 retail access is the lever — getting onto local shop shelves is a channel the state only recently opened.

• Price for margin — with no cap, what you keep per item matters more than raw volume, so cost out ingredients, packaging, your time, and card processing before you set a price.
• Use retail and restaurant access — wholesale placement is a channel Georgia only recently opened.
• Keep direct sales central — markets, home pickup, and online ordering hold the best margins.
• Turn one-time buyers into regulars — Georgia's best home sellers run weekly pickups, pre-orders, and seasonal boxes so revenue is predictable, not feast-or-famine.
• Reinvest in capacity — with no cap, the limiting factor becomes how much you can produce.

What Mistakes Should You Avoid Selling Cottage Food in Georgia?

• Skipping the food-safety course — it's the one requirement; you must complete it before selling.
• Selling perishable foods — refrigerated items, cream fillings, and meat products aren't allowed.
• Getting the label statement wrong — it must be all caps, Times/Arial, 10pt+, and contrasting.
• Selling across state lines — keep sales to Georgia consumers and retailers.
• Assuming you still need a license — you don't, post-HB 398; don't pay for one.

What Recently Changed in Georgia's Cottage Food Law?

• Before July 1, 2025 — Georgia required a license and capped sales at just $5,000, making it one of the more restrictive states.
• HB 398 (effective July 1, 2025) — removed the state license, eliminated the $5,000 cap, and allowed wholesale sales to retailers and restaurants. The trade-off is a one-time food-safety course.

The law moved Georgia from one of the more restrictive states to one of the most open. Always confirm the current rules with the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Georgia have a cottage food sales limit?

No. HB 398 removed the old $5,000 cap effective July 1, 2025. There is now no revenue limit on Georgia cottage food sales.

Do you need a license to sell food from home in Georgia?

No. Since July 1, 2025, Georgia requires no state license or registration for cottage food — only a one-time ANAB-accredited food-safety course.

Can you sell cottage food in stores in Georgia?

Yes. HB 398 now allows cottage food operators to sell wholesale to retail stores and restaurants within Georgia, in addition to direct sales.

What foods can't you sell under Georgia cottage food law?

Anything requiring refrigeration — cream-filled pastries, meat-based items, and other temperature-controlled (TCS) foods. Only shelf-stable, non-hazardous foods qualify.

What label is required on Georgia cottage foods?

Product name, your name and address, ingredients, allergens, net weight, and the statement "MADE IN A COTTAGE FOOD OPERATION THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO STATE FOOD SAFETY INSPECTIONS." in all caps, 10-point or larger.

Do you need food safety training in Georgia?

Yes — a one-time ANAB-accredited food-safety course is required, but it does not need to be renewed annually.

Can you sell cottage food online in Georgia?

Yes. Georgia allows online sales with pickup or delivery, plus wholesale to retailers and restaurants — as long as sales stay within Georgia.

Do you have to register your Georgia cottage food business?

No. HB 398 removed the registration requirement. You may still want a local business license for tax purposes, but the state no longer requires cottage food registration.

Start Selling Cottage Food in Georgia

After HB 398, Georgia is one of the easiest states to sell homemade food: no license, no cap, and retail access. Once you've taken the food-safety course and your labels are right, the next step is making it easy for customers to order and pay. Set up a Homegrown storefront for Georgia cottage food orders with local pickup, then compare the rules in nearby states like Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, and South Carolina, or see the full cottage food laws by state hub.

*This guide is general information, not legal advice. Cottage food rules change — verify current requirements with the Georgia Department of Agriculture before selling. Last verified: June 2026.*