To start a cottage food business in Massachusetts, you get a Residential Kitchen permit from your local board of health, get your product list approved, label correctly, and start selling — there's no sales cap, and you can sell online and by mail within Massachusetts. This is the step-by-step playbook; for the full legal detail, see our Massachusetts cottage food law guide.
The short version: Massachusetts doesn't cap revenue, but it's locally administered. Each of the state's 351 boards of health sets its own application, fee, training, and inspection requirements within the floor set by 105 CMR 590 — so the exact process depends on your town. You need a Residential Kitchen permit and product-list approval before selling non-perishable foods like baked goods, jams, and candies. You can sell direct, at markets and fairs, and by internet or mail within Massachusetts — but not wholesale, to restaurants, or out of state. Every label needs "Made in a Home Kitchen." Start with your local board of health.
Costs vary by town because the local board of health sets the fee:
Most Massachusetts sellers start for under $250 depending on local fees.
Plan for a couple of weeks, driven by your local board of health's permit + inspection process:
Massachusetts allows non-perishable foods — baked goods, jams, candies, and dry mixes — with your local board's product-list approval. The full allowed/prohibited lists and labeling rules are in our Massachusetts cottage food law guide and cottage food labeling guide.
Massachusetts allows online and mail within the state, but not wholesale:
Because Massachusetts allows online and in-state mail orders, a real storefront makes selling far easier than juggling DMs. Homegrown gives Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts-ready storefront live in about 15 minutes.
There's no cap — you can earn as much as demand allows once permitted. To get the most out of it:
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 Massachusetts you may also need to register for sales tax with the Department of Revenue depending on what you sell.
Yes — a Residential Kitchen permit from your local board of health, plus product-list approval. Each town sets its own application, fee, training, and inspection requirements.
It varies by town because the local board of health sets the permit fee. Plus labels, packaging, and ingredients — most sellers start under $250.
There's no gross-sales cap once you're permitted.
Non-perishable foods — baked goods, jams, candies, dry mixes — with your local board's product-list approval.
Yes — online and by mail within Massachusetts. Wholesale, restaurant, and out-of-state sales aren't allowed.
Usually a couple of weeks, driven by your local board of health's permit and inspection process.
No. Most sellers start as sole proprietors. An LLC is optional and mainly about liability protection if you scale.
Massachusetts has no cap — you just start with your local board of health for the Residential Kitchen permit. Get permitted, label correctly, and set up an easy way for customers to order and pay. Set up a Homegrown storefront to take Massachusetts cottage food orders online, see the best platform to sell food from home, read the full Massachusetts 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 vary by town — verify current requirements with your local board of health and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health before you start selling. Last verified: June 2026.*
