In Mississippi, you can sell homemade non-perishable foods with no permit, no registration, and no food-safety course — but the state keeps a $35,000 annual cap and is one of the stricter states on online sales (reform bills to allow them have repeatedly failed). This guide covers exactly what you can sell, how to label it, where you can sell it, and how to start.
The short version: Mississippi requires nothing to start — no registration, permit, fee, or training — but caps sales at $35,000/year and restricts how you can sell. Multiple 2024–2026 bills to raise the cap and legalize online sales have failed, so confirm the current rules with the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) before advertising or selling online. You can sell non-perishable baked goods, jams, candies, and dried products directly to consumers. Every label needs the "not subject to Mississippi's food safety regulations" statement in 10-point type.
The cap is $35,000 in annual gross sales. Reform bills to raise it (to $120,000 or $200,000) or remove it — and to allow online sales — were introduced in 2024, 2025, and 2026 but did not pass, so the $35,000 cap and current sales restrictions remain.
| Mississippi rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Annual sales cap | $35,000 |
| Permit / registration / fee | None |
| Food-safety training | Not required (but recommended) |
| Allowed foods | Non-TCS baked goods, jams/jellies, candy, dried products |
| Online sales | Restricted — reform failed; verify current rules with MSDH |
| Label statement | "Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Mississippi's food safety regulations." (10pt) |
No. Under current Mississippi law there is no registration, permit, or fee required to operate a cottage food business, and no mandatory food-safety training (though a food-handler course is smart practice and prepares you for any future rule changes). The trade-offs are the $35,000 cap and the restrictions on how you can sell.
Mississippi allows non-potentially-hazardous foods. Commonly sold items include:
Not allowed:
Confirm specifics with the Mississippi State Department of Health.
Mississippi labels must include:
A simple compliant label might read: *"Magnolia Pecan Cookies — [Your Name]. Ingredients: flour, butter, sugar, pecans (contains wheat, milk, tree nuts). Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Mississippi's food safety regulations."* See our cottage food labeling guide for templates.
Mississippi cottage foods are sold directly to consumers:
Mississippi has historically restricted internet sales and advertising, and 2026 reform bills to expand online and delivery options did not pass — so verify the current rules with MSDH before selling or advertising online.
Even where online checkout is limited, a storefront helps you organize orders and pickups so you're not buried in DMs and texts. Homegrown gives Mississippi 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 check how it fits Mississippi's current rules for your sales.
The cap is $35,000 per year, so the goal is to make the most of a fixed ceiling within Mississippi's in-person sales rules. Most successful Mississippi sellers focus on higher-margin products and a base of repeat market customers. A few ways to get the most out of it:
Cottage food rules cover food safety, not the business side, and the specifics differ by state. For Mississippi: Mississippi charges a 7% sales tax with few food exemptions; register with the Department of Revenue and collect tax on your sales. A few more steps worth handling before you grow:
None of these are part of the cottage food rules themselves, but handling them early keeps your business clean as it scales.
Watch for future reform, and confirm the current rules with the Mississippi State Department of Health before changing how you sell.
$35,000 in annual gross sales. Bills to raise or remove the cap in 2024–2026 did not pass.
No. There's no registration, permit, fee, or required training under current Mississippi law.
Mississippi has restricted online sales and advertising, and reform bills to change that have failed. Verify the current rules with the Mississippi State Department of Health before selling online.
Non-perishable baked goods, jams and jellies, candy, and dried products. Acidified and low-acid canned goods (other than jams/jellies) are not allowed.
Product name, your information, ingredients, allergens, and the statement "Made in a cottage food operation that is not subject to Mississippi's food safety regulations." in 10-point contrasting type.
Possibly in the future, but reform bills in 2024, 2025, and 2026 failed, so the $35,000 cap remains for now. Watch the legislature and confirm with MSDH.
No, it's not required — but a food-handler course is recommended and prepares you for any future rule changes.
No state registration is required. You may want a local business license and a sales tax permit.
Mississippi is easy to start (no permit) but keep the $35,000 cap and sales restrictions in mind, and watch for reform. Set up a Homegrown storefront to organize your Mississippi orders and pickups, then compare the rules in nearby states like Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Arkansas, 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 Mississippi State Department of Health before selling. Last verified: June 2026.*
