In New Hampshire, the Homestead Food Operation law has no sales cap and a clear two-tier system: sell unlicensed at farmers markets and from home, or get a $150 Homestead License to sell online, ship, and wholesale. New Hampshire even allows properly acidified foods like pickles and salsa. This guide covers exactly what you can sell, which tier fits, how to label it, and how to start.
The short version: New Hampshire removed all revenue caps. As an unlicensed operator you can sell shelf-stable foods at farmers markets, from home, or at your own farm stand. With a Class H Homestead License ($150) you can sell almost anywhere — online, shipped, wholesale, and to retail stores. The allowed list includes properly acidified foods (pickles, salsas, relishes). Labels differ by tier: unlicensed products say "exempt from New Hampshire licensing and inspection"; licensed products say "made in a residential kitchen licensed by NH DHHS."
No. New Hampshire removed all sales caps (previously $35,000 for unlicensed, raised from $20,000). There's no revenue limit for either tier.
| New Hampshire rule | Unlicensed | Homestead License (Class H) |
|---|---|---|
| Sales cap | None | None |
| Fee | Free | $150 |
| Where you can sell | Farmers markets, home, own farm stand | Almost anywhere — online, shipping, wholesale, retail |
| Allowed foods | Non-TCS + properly acidified | Same |
| Label statement | "This product is exempt from New Hampshire licensing and inspection" (10pt) | "This product is made in a residential kitchen licensed by NH DHHS." |
It depends on how you want to sell:
Either way, there's no revenue cap, so most sellers start unlicensed and upgrade to the $150 license when they want online or wholesale reach.
New Hampshire allows many shelf-stable, non-TCS foods, and — because processed acidified foods were removed from the "potentially hazardous" definition — you can also sell properly acidified foods. Commonly sold items include:
Not allowed:
Confirm specifics with NH DHHS.
Every homestead food product must have a label with:
New Hampshire also allows QR codes or website URLs for ingredient lists (for sales from home or your own farm stand), but allergens and standard labeling must still appear on the package. See our cottage food labeling guide for templates.
Your channels depend on your tier:
No revenue cap applies to either.
Because the licensed tier allows online sales and shipping with no cap, a real storefront helps you take orders and manage pickup/shipping without living in your DMs. Homegrown gives New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire-ready storefront live in about 15 minutes.
With no cap on either tier, New Hampshire doesn't limit your income — your ceiling is demand and capacity. The $150 license pays for itself quickly once you add online and wholesale channels. A few ways to get the most out of it:
New Hampshire's $150 license unlocks online, shipping, and wholesale with no cap — for a growing baker it pays for itself almost immediately.
Cottage food rules cover food safety, not the business side, and the specifics differ by state. For New Hampshire: New Hampshire has no general sales tax, so tax paperwork is minimal — keep income records and check whether your town requires a business license. A few more steps worth handling before you grow:
None of these are part of the homestead rules themselves, but handling them early keeps your business clean as it scales.
Always confirm current rules and label wording with NH DHHS.
No. New Hampshire removed all sales caps for homestead food operations.
Not if you sell only at farmers markets, from home, or at your own farm stand. To sell online, ship, wholesale, or sell to retail stores, you need a $150 Class H Homestead License.
Yes. Properly acidified foods like pickled vegetables, salsas, and relishes are allowed if they meet pH requirements.
Refrigerated foods, low-acid canned goods, bottled beverages, and anything requiring special processing.
Your name, address, phone, product name, ingredients by weight, allergens, and the tier statement — "exempt from New Hampshire licensing and inspection" (unlicensed) or "made in a residential kitchen licensed by NH DHHS" (licensed).
The Class H Homestead License is $150, and it unlocks online sales, shipping, wholesale, and retail. There's no revenue cap on either tier.
Yes, for sales from home or your own farm stand — but allergens and standard labeling must still appear on the package itself.
Start unlicensed for markets, home, and farm-stand sales; upgrade to the $150 Class H license once you want to sell online, ship, wholesale, or reach retail stores.
Pick your tier — unlicensed for markets and home sales, or the $150 license for online, shipping, and wholesale — and there's no cap either way. Set up a Homegrown storefront for New Hampshire orders with pickup and delivery, then compare the rules in nearby states like Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New York, 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 NH DHHS before selling. Last verified: June 2026.*
