What foods usually qualify as cottage food?
Shelf-stable baked goods, some candies, and some preserves are the common starting point.
Guide
Cottage Food Laws by State, Fast First-Pass Checker
Check cottage food laws by state in minutes. See likely product eligibility, sales channels, label rules, and official source links.
State cottage food rules look simple until you compare product lists, permit steps, venue restrictions, shipping language, and changing sales caps. BakeBadge is built to compress that first read. You pick the state, name the product, add the risky handling facts, and get a practical first-pass answer that still points you back to the official source.
The point is not to replace the state page. The point is to help you arrive there with the right questions. If your product is a normal shelf-stable baked good, the likely-allowed lane may be straightforward. If you need refrigeration, want to ship, or plan to sell wholesale, the result should get more cautious fast.
Why do state results differ so much?
Because product lists, sales channels, permit requirements, and local enforcement are not uniform.