In Indiana, you can sell homemade non-perishable foods as a Home Based Vendor (HBV) with no license, no registration, no inspection, and no sales cap — you only need an ANSI food handler certificate. You can even take orders online and ship within Indiana. This guide covers exactly what you can sell, how to label it, where you can sell it, and how to start.

The short version: Indiana's Home Based Vendor law has no revenue cap and no permit, registration, or kitchen inspection — the one requirement is an ANSI-accredited food handler certificate (via Purdue Extension or ServSafe). You can sell non-perishable baked goods, candies, and traditional high-sugar jams (the only home-canned food allowed). You can advertise, take orders online, and ship to consumers within Indiana. Every label needs the "home produced... NOT FOR RESALE" statement in 10-point type.

Does Indiana Have a Cottage Food Sales Limit?

No. Indiana imposes no limit on gross annual revenue for home-based vendors.

Indiana rule	Detail
Annual sales cap	None
License / registration / inspection	None
Required step	ANSI food handler certificate (Purdue Extension or ServSafe)
Allowed foods	Non-TCS baked goods, candy, traditional high-sugar jams
Where you can sell	Direct + online; ship within Indiana (third-party OK)
Label statement	"This product is home produced and processed and the production area has not been inspected by the state department of health. NOT FOR RESALE." (10pt)

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

No license, registration, permit, or kitchen inspection. The one requirement is an ANSI-accredited food handler certificate — you can get it in person through Purdue Extension or online through ServSafe. Once you hold the certificate, you can start selling, which makes Indiana one of the lower-friction states.

What Foods Can You Sell Under Indiana Cottage Food Law?

Home Based Vendors may sell non-TCS foods that don't require refrigeration. Commonly sold items include:

• Baked items — cookies, cupcakes, cake pops, breads, and muffins
• Candy and confections — chocolates, nougats, caramels, and chocolate-covered nuts
• Traditional jams, jellies, and preserves made from high-acid fruits with full-sugar recipes — the only home-canned food allowed

Not allowed:

• TCS foods and anything requiring refrigeration
• Low-sugar or no-sugar jams and other home-canned foods beyond traditional high-sugar preserves

Confirm specifics with the Indiana Department of Health.

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

1. Confirm your product is non-TCS — baked goods, candy, or traditional high-sugar jams.
2. Get your ANSI food handler certificate — through Purdue Extension (in person) or ServSafe (online).
3. Set up safe production — follow good food-safety and allergen practices.
4. Label every product — include the required statement and the elements below.
5. Choose your channels — direct, online, and in-state shipping (third-party carriers OK).
6. Start selling — there's no cap and nothing to register.

What Must an Indiana Cottage Food Label Include?

Indiana labels must include:

• The producer's name and address
• The product's common name
• The ingredients listed by weight
• The net weight or volume
• The processing date
• Allergen information
• This statement in 10-point type: This product is home produced and processed and the production area has not been inspected by the state department of health. NOT FOR RESALE.

A simple compliant label might read: *"Hoosier Honey Cookies — [Your Name], [Address]. Made [date]. Ingredients: flour, butter, honey, sugar (contains wheat, milk). Net wt. 10 oz. This product is home produced and processed and the production area has not been inspected by the state department of health. NOT FOR RESALE."* See our cottage food labeling guide for templates.

Where Can You Sell Cottage Foods in Indiana?

Indiana is flexible. You can:

• Sell in person — farmers markets, events, and from home
• Advertise and take orders online
• Ship directly to consumers within Indiana — including via third-party carriers

Out-of-state shipping and sales to retail stores or restaurants are not covered by the Home Based Vendor law.

Because Indiana allows online orders and in-state shipping with no cap, a real storefront helps you take orders and manage pickup/shipping without living in your DMs. Homegrown gives Indiana 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 an Indiana-ready storefront live in about 15 minutes.

How Much Can You Make Selling Cottage Food in Indiana?

With no cap, Indiana doesn't limit your income — your ceiling is demand and capacity. Because you can ship in-state, Indiana sellers can reach customers well beyond their town. A few ways to get the most out of it:

Indiana's legal in-state shipping is the multiplier — a Home Based Vendor can reach customers across Indiana, not just the local market.

• 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 in-state shipping — online ordering with Indiana shipping widens your market.
• Specialize — a standout cookie, candy, or jam line earns loyalty faster than a broad menu.
• Turn one-time buyers into regulars — Indiana's best home sellers run weekly pickups, pre-orders, and seasonal boxes so revenue is predictable, not feast-or-famine.
• Scale capacity — with no cap, how much you can produce becomes the real limit.

Do You Need Business Insurance or a Tax ID in Indiana?

Cottage food rules cover food safety, not the business side, and the specifics differ by state. For Indiana: Indiana charges a 7% state sales tax; register for a Retail Merchant Certificate with the Department of Revenue and confirm whether your products are taxable. A few more steps worth handling before you grow:

• Local business license — check whether your city or county requires a basic business license or tax registration.
• Sales tax — Indiana taxes many retail sales, so register for a retail merchant certificate and confirm whether your products are taxable.
• Liability insurance — optional but smart once you sell regularly; a product-liability or home-business policy protects you if a customer ever claims an issue.

None of these are part of the Home Based Vendor law itself, but handling them early keeps your business clean as it scales.

What Mistakes Should You Avoid Selling Cottage Food in Indiana?

• Skipping the food handler certificate — it's the one required credential.
• Selling low-sugar jams — only traditional high-sugar preserves are allowed as home-canned foods.
• Shipping out of state — keep shipping within Indiana.
• Selling to stores or restaurants — only direct-to-consumer sales are covered.
• Missing the "NOT FOR RESALE" statement — it's required in 10-point type, along with the processing date.

What Recently Changed in Indiana's Cottage Food Law?

• Framework — Indiana's Home Based Vendor law has long offered no cap and no permit, with only a food handler certificate required.
• Why it stands out — it explicitly allows online orders and in-state shipping (including third-party carriers), which many states still restrict.

Always confirm the current allowed-foods list and label wording with the Indiana Department of Health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Indiana have a cottage food sales limit?

No. There is no limit on gross annual revenue for Indiana home-based vendors.

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

No license, registration, or inspection — but you must obtain an ANSI-accredited food handler certificate (Purdue Extension or ServSafe).

Can you sell cottage food online in Indiana?

Yes. You can advertise, take orders online, and ship to consumers within Indiana, including through third-party carriers. Out-of-state shipping isn't allowed.

What foods can you sell under Indiana cottage food law?

Non-TCS baked goods, candies and confections, and traditional high-sugar jams and jellies (the only home-canned food allowed). TCS foods are prohibited.

What label is required in Indiana?

Producer name and address, product common name, ingredients by weight, net weight, processing date, allergens, and the statement "This product is home produced and processed and the production area has not been inspected by the state department of health. NOT FOR RESALE." in 10-point type.

Do you need a food handler certificate in Indiana?

Yes. An ANSI-accredited food handler certificate is required — available in person through Purdue Extension or online through ServSafe.

Can you ship cottage food within Indiana?

Yes. Indiana allows shipping directly to consumers within the state, including via third-party carriers, which is more flexible than many states.

Do you have to register your Indiana cottage food business?

No. There's no state registration or permit. You may want a local business license and a retail merchant certificate for sales tax.

Start Selling Cottage Food in Indiana

With no cap, no permit, and legal online sales, Indiana is an easy state to start once you have your food handler certificate. Set up a Homegrown storefront for Indiana cottage food orders with pickup and in-state shipping, then compare the rules in nearby states like Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Kentucky, 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 Indiana Department of Health before selling. Last verified: June 2026.*