How can we help you?

Go to Orders in your dashboard. You'll see all incoming, active, and completed orders. Click any order to see full details — buyer info, items ordered, and tracking. Use the status dropdown to update orders from Pending → Processing → Shipped → Delivered.

Open the order and click Mark as Shipped. Enter your tracking number and carrier (USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc.). The buyer receives an automatic email notification with the tracking info.

You can use any carrier — USPS, UPS, FedEx, or local delivery. Most cottage food sellers use USPS Priority Mail for its flat-rate boxes and reliable 2–3 day delivery. Bubble mailers with USPS First Class work well for lightweight jam jars under 1 lb.

Open the order → click Resolve Issue → select Issue Refund. Choose full or partial refund amount. Refunds are processed through Stripe and typically appear in the buyer's account within 5–10 business days.

Yes — open the order and click Cancel Order. You can only cancel orders that haven't shipped yet. The buyer is automatically refunded and notified. Repeated cancellations may affect your seller rating.

Go to Settings → Shipping and enable Local Pickup. Add your general pickup area (city/zip — no need for your exact address). Buyers will see the local pickup option at checkout and coordinate details with you via Messages.

Go to Label Creator in the menu. First, select your state — this loads your state's required fields and official disclaimer wording automatically. Then fill in product name, ingredients, allergens, net weight, and your name/address. The label previews live on screen as you type.

Free accounts can create 3 labels per month and download them as PNG files. Upgrading to the Seller plan ($7/mo annual) gives you unlimited labels, PDF downloads, custom colors and fonts, and logo upload.

Six sizes: 2×2" (small jar lids), 2×4" (standard roll), 3×4" (jam jars and bottles), 4×6" (bags and pouches), Round 2.5" (mason jar lids), and Round 3.5" (large jar tops). Select your size from the dropdown at the top of the Label Creator.

The Brother QL-810W (~$120) is our top recommendation — it prints all label sizes wirelessly. The DYMO LabelWriter 450 (~$80) is a great budget option for 2×4" labels. You can also use any home inkjet or laser printer with Avery label sheets at no extra hardware cost. See our full Printer Guide.

The Label Creator automatically loads your state's required fields and official disclaimer language. Use the Check Compliance button before downloading — it checks all required fields are filled in and flags any state-specific requirements (like license numbers in California, Minnesota, and Washington). Always verify with your state's department of agriculture as laws do change.

Yes — open the QR Code tab in the right panel and click Add QR Code to Label. Free accounts get a QR code linking to your SellFood.com shop. Seller plan and above can set a custom URL. Business plan adds scan analytics so you can track how many people scan your labels.

Funds are held for 7 days after delivery confirmation, then move to your available balance. Automatic payouts process on the 1st of each month. You can also request a manual payout at any time from the Payouts page — funds arrive in 2–3 business days via ACH bank transfer.

SellFood.com charges a 10% commission on each completed sale. Stripe adds standard payment processing of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. There are no monthly listing fees on the free plan. The fee breakdown is shown clearly on every payout statement.

Go to Payouts → Bank Account and click Add Bank Account. You'll connect your bank through Stripe — it's secure and takes about 2 minutes. You'll need your routing number and account number. Stripe may send two small verification deposits (under $1) that you confirm within 48 hours.

Go to Payouts → Payout History. Each statement shows gross sales, platform fee (10%), processing fee (Stripe), and your net payout. You can download any statement as a PDF for your records or taxes.

If a buyer opens a dispute through Stripe, the funds are temporarily held pending review. You'll receive an email notification and have 7 days to submit evidence (photos, shipping confirmation, messages). Most disputes are resolved within 5–7 business days.

Go to Listings → Add New Listing. Fill in product name, category, description, price, and quantity. Upload 3–5 photos (the first photo is your main image — make it count). Set your shipping options and click Publish. Your listing goes live immediately.

Natural light is your best friend — shoot near a window on an overcast day. Use a simple background (white cutting board, wooden table, linen cloth). Show the product from multiple angles: sealed jar, open jar, product in use. Buyers convert 3× higher when listings have 4+ photos.

Go to Listings, find your product, and click Edit. Update the quantity field and save. Listings automatically show as "Sold Out" when quantity reaches 0 and reappear when you restock. You can also pause a listing without deleting it using the Pause toggle.

Yes — when editing a listing, use the Variants section to create size or quantity options (e.g. Single jar $8, 3-pack $22, 6-pack $40). Each variant can have its own price and inventory count. This is great for offering bundle discounts.

Lead with the flavor experience: "Bright and tangy with whole strawberry pieces and a hint of fresh basil." Then add ingredients at a high level, serving suggestions, jar size, and shelf life. Mention if it's made in small batches, uses local fruit, or has a family recipe story — buyers love that authenticity.

Cottage food laws allow home cooks to produce and sell certain food products without a commercial kitchen license. All 50 US states have some form of cottage food law, but the rules vary significantly — allowed products, revenue caps, where you can sell, and labeling requirements all differ by state.

Regardless of state, every cottage food label needs: product name, ingredient list (descending by weight), allergen statement, net weight or volume, your name and address, and a cottage food disclaimer stating the product was made in a home kitchen. Our Label Creator auto-fills the exact disclaimer wording for your state.

California requires county registration and limits revenue to ~$172,000/year. Minnesota requires state registration and mandates "NOT FOR RESALE" on certain labels. Washington requires a state license and prohibits online sales entirely. Always check your state's current rules — they update regularly.

Most states prohibit: meat and poultry products, refrigerated items (anything requiring cold storage), fresh juice, canned low-acid vegetables (green beans, carrots), and dairy products. Allowed products typically include: baked goods, jams and jellies, candy, dried herbs, dry mixes, pickles with pH under 4.6, and roasted nuts.

Most states allow: farmers markets, roadside stands, and direct-to-consumer sales. Many now allow online sales and shipping. A few states (like Washington) restrict sales to in-person only. SellFood.com operates in all 50 states but we recommend confirming your state allows online sales before listing. Download our free Cottage Food Guide 2026 for a full 50-state breakdown.

It depends on your state. Many states (Texas, Florida, Michigan) require no license at all. Others (California, Washington, New York, Minnesota, Oregon) require registration or a permit — usually straightforward and low-cost. Our Label Creator flags if your state requires a license number on your label.

Go to Settings → Store Profile. Update your store name, bio, profile photo, and banner image. Your bio shows on your public seller profile — buyers read it before purchasing, so make it warm and personal. Mention your story, how long you've been making food, and what makes your products special.

Go to Settings → Security. From there you can update your email address, change your password, and enable two-factor authentication. We strongly recommend enabling 2FA — it protects your account and your payout information.

Go to Settings → Notifications. You can toggle on/off: new order alerts, message notifications, review notifications, payout confirmations, and marketing emails. Order and payout notifications are on by default and recommended — you don't want to miss a sale.

Go to Settings → Billing or visit the pricing page. You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel at any time. Annual plans save 25% vs monthly. Changes take effect immediately on upgrade, or at the end of your billing period on downgrade.

Go to Settings → Security → Delete Account. This permanently removes your profile, listings, and data. Any pending payouts will be processed first. This action cannot be undone — if you're taking a break instead, consider pausing your listings rather than deleting your account.