In South Carolina, you can sell homemade non-perishable foods with no registration, no license, and no sales cap — and, unusually, you can sell both direct to consumers and wholesale to retail stores. You can also sell online and ship within South Carolina. This guide covers exactly what you can sell, how to label it, where you can sell it, and how to start.
The short version: South Carolina requires nothing to start — no registration (an SCDA ID number is optional for privacy) and no revenue cap. You can sell a broad list of non-perishable foods both directly and wholesale to retail stores, a rare combination. Online sales and shipping are allowed within South Carolina. Every label needs your name and address (or SCDA ID) and the all-caps "NOT FOR RESALE... NOT SUBJECT TO SOUTH CAROLINA'S FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS" statement. (Oversight moved from DHEC to the SC Department of Agriculture on July 1, 2024.)
No. South Carolina has no revenue cap, and it allows both direct and wholesale sales — a rare, opportunity-rich combination.
| South Carolina rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Annual sales cap | None |
| Registration / license | None (SCDA ID optional, for label privacy) |
| Allowed foods | Broad non-TCS list |
| Where you can sell | Direct and wholesale to retail stores; online/shipping within SC |
| Label statement | "NOT FOR RESALE PROCESSED AND PREPARED BY A HOME-BASED FOOD PRODUCTION OPERATION THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO SOUTH CAROLINA'S FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS." |
| Oversight | SC Department of Agriculture (since July 1, 2024) |
No. South Carolina does not require registration — you can start selling immediately. Getting an SCDA ID number is optional and recommended only if you want to keep your home address off your labels. The combination of no license, no cap, and both retail and online sales makes South Carolina one of the most opportunity-rich states.
South Carolina allows a broad list of non-TCS foods. Commonly sold items include:
Foods requiring refrigeration aren't covered. Confirm specifics with Clemson Extension or the SC Department of Agriculture.
South Carolina labels must include:
A simple compliant label might read: *"Palmetto Pralines — [Name or SCDA ID]. Ingredients: sugar, pecans, butter, cream (contains tree nuts, milk). NOT FOR RESALE PROCESSED AND PREPARED BY A HOME-BASED FOOD PRODUCTION OPERATION THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO SOUTH CAROLINA'S FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS."* See our cottage food labeling guide for templates.
South Carolina is unusually flexible. You can sell:
Out-of-state shipping is not covered.
Because South Carolina allows online sales, in-state shipping, and even retail wholesale with no cap, a real storefront helps you take orders and manage pickup/shipping without living in your DMs. Homegrown gives SC 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 South Carolina-ready storefront live in about 15 minutes.
With no cap and both retail and online channels, South Carolina is one of the most scalable cottage food states — your ceiling is demand and capacity. The rare wholesale-to-retail allowance means you can grow beyond direct sales. A few ways to get the most out of it:
South Carolina's rare wholesale-to-retail allowance plus in-state shipping means you can grow well beyond direct sales — getting onto shop shelves is the lever.
Cottage food rules cover food safety, not the business side, and the specifics differ by state. For South Carolina: South Carolina charges state and local sales tax; get a retail license from the Department of Revenue and confirm whether your products are taxable. 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.
Always confirm the current allowed-foods list and label wording with the SC Department of Agriculture or Clemson Extension.
No. There is no revenue cap on cottage food operations.
No registration or license is required. An SCDA ID number is optional for label privacy.
Yes. South Carolina is one of the few states that allows both direct-to-consumer and wholesale sales to retail stores.
Yes — online sales and shipping are allowed within South Carolina. Out-of-state shipping isn't covered.
Your name and home address (or SCDA ID), product name, ingredients, allergens, and the all-caps statement "NOT FOR RESALE PROCESSED AND PREPARED BY A HOME-BASED FOOD PRODUCTION OPERATION THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO SOUTH CAROLINA'S FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS."
An optional ID you can request to put on labels instead of your home address, for privacy. Registration itself isn't required.
Foods requiring refrigeration (TCS foods). The allowed non-TCS list is broad, covering baked goods, candies, jams, snacks, and dried products.
The SC Department of Agriculture, which took over from DHEC on July 1, 2024.
With no registration, no cap, and both retail and online sales allowed, South Carolina is one of the most opportunity-rich states for home food businesses. Set up a Homegrown storefront for South Carolina orders with pickup and in-state shipping, then compare the rules in nearby states like North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida, 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 SC Department of Agriculture or Clemson Extension before selling. Last verified: June 2026.*
