Missouri has one of the most streamlined permit environments for home food sellers in the Midwest. Here's exactly what you need — and what you don't — before your first sale.
Missouri's cottage food law (RSMo § 196.298) explicitly states that cottage food production operations are not food service establishments and are not subject to state or local health and food code laws or regulations. There is no cottage food permit to apply for, no state inspection to pass, no food handler certification required at the state level, and no annual registration fee. Local jurisdictions may require a general business license — but they are expressly barred from imposing additional food-specific regulations on top of state law.
Every permit and registration that may apply to a Missouri home food seller — state, federal, and local — in one place.
| Permit / Registration | Required? | Cost | Where to Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cottage Food Permit
Missouri DHSS
|
✓ Not Required | $0 | No application exists — exempt by statute (RSMo § 196.298) |
|
Home Kitchen Inspection
Local Public Health Agency
|
✓ Not Required | $0 | Not applicable — home kitchen explicitly excluded from inspection under § 196.298 |
|
Food Handler Certification
State / County
|
✓ Not Required (State) | $0–$100 voluntary | health.mo.gov — no statewide mandate for cottage food; ServSafe and ANAB-accredited courses available voluntarily |
|
State Business License
Missouri — General
|
✓ Not Required | $0 | Missouri does not require a general state-level business license for most businesses |
|
Local / City Business License
City or County Clerk
|
⚠ Check Locally | Varies by city | Contact your city or county clerk's office — required in many Missouri cities (St. Joseph, Springfield, Kansas City, St. Louis and others) |
|
DBA / Fictitious Name Registration
Missouri Secretary of State
|
⚠ If Using a Business Name | $7 | bsd.sos.mo.gov — required if selling under a name other than your legal name; valid 5 years |
|
Missouri Seller's Permit (Sales Tax)
Missouri Department of Revenue
|
Required for Taxable Sales | $0 to register | dor.mo.gov — required before making taxable sales; cottage food baked goods taxed at reduced 1.225% grocery rate |
|
LLC Formation (Optional)
Missouri Secretary of State
|
Optional | $50 online / $105 paper | bsd.sos.mo.gov — Articles of Organization; no annual report or franchise tax; processed in 1–3 business days |
|
Federal EIN
IRS
|
Situational | $0 | IRS Online EIN Application — required for LLCs with employees or corporate tax election; recommended for all business bank accounts |
|
Farmers Market Vendor Registration
Individual Market Organizations
|
⚠ Market-Specific | Varies by market | Each farmers market sets its own vendor registration requirements and fees — contact the market manager directly before selling |
Under RSMo § 196.298, your home kitchen is explicitly NOT subject to inspection by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services or any local health authority. This is the legal foundation of Missouri's cottage food framework — and it means you can start selling without any government inspector visiting your home.
The tradeoff: every packaged product you sell must include the required disclaimer on its label stating that it was prepared in a kitchen not subject to inspection. At point of sale for unpackaged items, you must display a clearly visible placard with the same message. This transparency is built into the framework by design.
Follow these steps in order. Most Missouri cottage food sellers can complete every required step in a single afternoon — and at very low cost.
Before anything else, confirm that your products qualify under RSMo § 196.298 or the Food Code individual stands exemption. Allowed products under the statewide statute are baked goods, canned jams and jellies, and dried herbs and herb mixes. If you want to sell other shelf-stable non-PHF foods at markets, check with your county health department that the Food Code exemption applies in your area.
Resource: DHSS Home-Based Kitchen Food Protection Guidance (PDF)
Missouri does not require a state-level general business license, but many cities and counties do. Contact your city or county clerk's office and ask whether a general business license or home occupation permit is required for a cottage food business at your address. Costs and requirements vary significantly — some cities charge nothing, others charge $25–$75/year.
Search "[your city] business license application" or call your city hall directly. If you're in an unincorporated county area, call the county clerk.
If you plan to sell under a name other than your legal name — for example, "Prairie Kitchen Bakery" instead of "Jane Smith" — you must register a fictitious name (DBA) with the Missouri Secretary of State. This is a simple online filing and costs $7. The registration is valid for five years and must be renewed.
File at: Missouri Secretary of State Online Business Filing System (bsd.sos.mo.gov)
Before making your first sale, register with the Missouri Department of Revenue for a seller's permit (sales tax license). This is free and done online. Once registered, you'll collect and remit Missouri sales tax on taxable sales. Cottage food baked goods sold for home consumption are taxed at the reduced 1.225% state grocery rate — not the full 4.225% rate.
There is a farmers market sales tax exemption (RSMo 144.527) for farm products sold by participating farmers with under $25,000 in annual market sales — but sellers whose primary ingredients are purchased (not home-grown) generally do not qualify. [VERIFY eligibility at MU Extension farmers market tax guide]
Register at: Missouri Department of Revenue (dor.mo.gov)
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a federal tax ID issued by the IRS. You don't legally need one as a sole proprietor with no employees — you can use your Social Security Number for taxes instead. However, getting an EIN is free, instant, and protects your SSN from being shared with customers or vendors. Most business bank accounts also prefer an EIN over a personal SSN.
Apply free at: IRS Online EIN Application — issued immediately upon completion.
Every packaged product must be labeled before it can be legally sold in Missouri. Required elements: product name, full ingredient list (descending order by weight), net weight or volume, your full name and home address, and the required disclaimer. See the full label requirements in the Label Requirements guide — including the exact wording of the Missouri disclaimer statement.
Missouri does not require food handler or food manager certification for cottage food producers. However, DHSS recommends voluntary certification, and many customers appreciate seeing it. ServSafe Food Handler certification costs approximately $15–$25 online and takes 1–2 hours. ANAB-accredited courses are also widely available. Displaying your certification builds customer confidence — especially for online buyers who can't meet you in person.
Once your labels are ready and your sales tax permit is in hand, you're legally ready to sell in Missouri. Create your SellFood.com storefront to reach buyers online across Missouri, and take your products to local farmers markets and events to build your in-person customer base.
While the state cottage food statute preempts local health departments from imposing food-specific regulations on top of RSMo § 196.298, it does not prevent cities and counties from requiring general business licenses or home occupation permits. These requirements are completely separate from food safety regulation — they're business registration rules that apply to any home-based business.
Additionally, if you plan to sell Pathway 2 foods (non-PHF shelf-stable foods beyond baked goods/jams/herbs at farmers markets), availability depends entirely on your county health department allowing the individual stands exemption. Not all counties do.
VERIFY locally: This page reflects general state-level rules. Local ordinances change. Always confirm current requirements directly with your city or county before your first sale. Contact DHSS at [email protected] or 573-751-6095 for state-level questions.
When in doubt, go straight to the source. These are the agencies responsible for Missouri cottage food regulation and business registration.
Upload your business license, DBA registration, and sales tax permit — and get reminders before renewal dates so nothing lapses.
Create Free Account to Use This Tool →No state permit. No kitchen inspection. No sales cap. Missouri makes it straightforward to start — SellFood makes it easy to sell.