To start a cottage food business in Georgia, you complete a one-time food-safety course, confirm your product is non-perishable, label it with the required statement, and start selling — as of July 1, 2025, there's no state license, no registration, and no sales cap, and you can sell to retail stores and restaurants too. This is the step-by-step playbook; for the full legal detail, see our Georgia cottage food law guide.

The short version: Georgia used to require a license and capped cottage food sales at $5,000. House Bill 398 removed both. Now you can sell unlimited non-perishable homemade foods with no license and no registration — the only requirement is a one-time ANAB-accredited food-safety course. You can sell direct to consumers and wholesale to retailers and restaurants anywhere in Georgia, with the required "not subject to state food safety inspections" label. The whole launch comes down to taking one course, labeling correctly, and selling.

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

1. Complete a one-time food-safety course. An ANAB-accredited course is the single state requirement — no annual renewal. Budget about $10–$25 and a couple of hours.
2. Confirm your product is non-perishable. Georgia covers shelf-stable (non-TCS) foods. Check yours in our Georgia cottage food law guide.
3. No license or registration needed since HB 398 took effect on July 1, 2025.
4. Label every product with your name and address, ingredients, allergens, net weight, and "MADE IN A COTTAGE FOOD OPERATION THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO STATE FOOD SAFETY INSPECTIONS."
5. Choose how you'll sell — direct to customers and wholesale to retail stores and restaurants within Georgia.
6. Make your first sale — with no cap, scale as fast as demand allows.

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Cottage Food Business in Georgia?

Georgia is cheap to start now that the license is gone:

• Food-safety course: $10–$25 (one-time, required)
• License / registration: $0 (removed by HB 398)
• Labels and packaging: $20–$100 to start
• First batch of ingredients: $30–$150
• Online storefront: $10/month with Homegrown (0% commission)

Most Georgia sellers start for under $200 all-in.

How Long Does It Take to Start in Georgia?

Plan for just a few days — the only gating step is finishing the course:

• Day 1–2: Complete the one-time food-safety course, confirm your product, design your label.
• Day 2–3: Make your first batch, photograph products, set up a storefront.
• Day 3+: Take your first orders, in person or online, or pitch a local store or restaurant.

What Can You Sell as a Georgia Cottage Food Business?

Georgia allows a broad range of shelf-stable foods: breads, rolls, cakes, cookies, pies and pastries (no refrigerated fillings), candies, jams, jellies, fruit preserves, granola, dry mixes, and dried herbs. Anything needing refrigeration is off-limits. The full allowed/prohibited lists and labeling rules are in our Georgia cottage food law guide and cottage food labeling guide.

Where Can You Sell in Georgia?

HB 398 made Georgia much more flexible:

• Directly to customers in person and from home
• At farmers markets, fairs, and events
• Online with local pickup or delivery
• Wholesale to retail stores and restaurants within Georgia
• Shipping within Georgia

Because Georgia now allows direct, online, and wholesale sales, a real storefront helps you manage orders and payments in one place while you also pitch local stores. Homegrown gives Georgia cottage food sellers an online storefront with built-in payments and pickup 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?

There's no cap — a huge change from the old $5,000 limit. You can earn as much as demand allows. To get the most out of it:

• Pitch retail and restaurants — HB 398 opened wholesale, multiplying your reach.
• Price for profit — cover ingredients, packaging, your time, and card processing, then add margin.
• Sell online statewide — reach customers across Georgia, not just your town.
• Build repeat buyers — weekly pickup, pre-orders, and seasonal boxes make income steady.
• Reinvest — with no cap, growth is limited only by your capacity.

What Mistakes Should You Avoid When Starting in Georgia?

• Skipping the food-safety course — it's the one required step.
• Selling perishable foods — Georgia cottage food must be shelf-stable.
• Using outdated info — guides citing a $5,000 cap or license requirement predate HB 398.
• Missing the all-caps label statement — the "not subject to state food safety inspections" line is mandatory.
• Shipping out of state — keep sales within Georgia.

Do You Need an LLC or to Worry About Taxes in Georgia?

Starting a cottage food business doesn't require an LLC, but it's worth understanding the basics: see whether you need an LLC to sell food from home and how cottage food taxes work on Schedule C. In Georgia you may also need a sales tax number from the Department of Revenue depending on what you sell.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a license to start a cottage food business in Georgia?

No. Since HB 398 took effect on July 1, 2025, Georgia no longer requires a state license or registration. The only requirement is a one-time ANAB-accredited food-safety course.

How much does it cost to start a cottage food business in Georgia?

Often under $200 — a $10–$25 one-time food-safety course plus labels, packaging, and ingredients. An online storefront adds $10/month.

How much can you make selling cottage food in Georgia?

There's no sales cap — HB 398 removed the old $5,000 limit. You can sell an unlimited amount.

What can you sell as a Georgia cottage food business?

Shelf-stable foods: breads, cakes, cookies, pies, candies, jams, preserves, granola, and dry mixes. Refrigerated items are prohibited.

Can you sell cottage food to stores in Georgia?

Yes. HB 398 allows wholesale to retail stores and restaurants within Georgia, in addition to direct sales.

How long does it take to start in Georgia?

Just a few days — the only gating step is completing the one-time food-safety course.

Do you need an LLC to sell food from home in Georgia?

No. Most sellers start as sole proprietors. An LLC is optional and mainly about liability protection if you scale.

Start Your Georgia Cottage Food Business

Georgia just became one of the friendliest states for home food businesses: no license, no cap, and wholesale access — all after a single course. Finish the course, label your products correctly, and set up an easy way for customers and stores to order and pay. Set up a Homegrown storefront to take Georgia cottage food orders online, see the best platform to sell food from home, read the full Georgia cottage food law, and compare other states on our 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 you start selling. Last verified: June 2026.*

Selling at farmers markets? See our Georgia farmers market vendor permit guide for the permits you need on market day.