Opening your own business to sell food online can be a very exciting and promising project. With that said, you need to make sure that you follow certain protocols and get a few things done to guarantee the best outcome.
Today, we are going to focus on the importance of getting appropriate permits and licenses to sell food online. Keep in mind that these types of licenses are different depending on the state in which you reside. We will go over some of the most common requirements so that you can have a clearer idea of what to expect.
License and Permits Needed to Sell Food Online
Any home-based cooking business must ensure that they are fully compliant with the laws in their location. Selling food without permits is illegal and it will get your business shut down immediately.
The following steps are going to prove to be essential if you want to start the business on the right track. Keep all of them in mind when you are in the process of creating the business. This is going to save you a lot of unnecessary headaches and hassles in the future.
Federal Licenses
The types of licenses and permits will depend heavily on specific state laws. One thing that is important to note is that most US states have different rules and regulations regarding food. While there are some universal things to expect, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for your licensing.
*New York: This state requires that you make sure that you register your business name in case you are not using your legal name to sell the food.
*Texas: This state makes the process extremely easy, as there is no need to have a general business license to start selling food online. With that said, it is always a good idea to consult with a professional.
*California: You need a DBA (Doing Business As) permit and you have to run it four weeks before launch in a local newspaper.
Just as it happens with these particular states, you are also going to need to consider similar situations in other areas. The process should never be too complicated, but you need to be aware of the difference between all states.
The best way to handle this is to check local laws and to make sure you are meeting the demands and expectations required by your state.
Taxes
Taxes required for this type of business also require that you check your local laws and find out what kind of taxes may be required. This is often as easy as a quick call to a local expert that can guide you in this process. Taxes are always something to have in mind, so do check your specific tax requirements for your business.
Cottage Food Law
The cottage food law allows for several foods that classify as cottage foods to be made privately at home. There are several types of foods that are considered cottage and the following is a list of the most common.
*Bead rolls, biscuits*Candies
*Jams and jellies
*Dry herbs
*Cereals and granola,
*Vinegar
*Honey
*Uncoated and coated nuts
Labeling Regulation for your food products
There are specific labeling regulations that you need to take into account if you want to be compliant with most state requirements. The following is a list of the most relevant food regulation content to put on your food labels.
*The statement of identity*The ingredient statement
*An allergen declaration
*The net quantity of all contents
*The nutritional value
*The manufacturer’s name and address
To ensure that every product you sell with your home food business is compliant, you need to have this type of labeling at all times. This could prove to be a challenge and an extra expense if you need to be looking for a printing service.
A good way to handle this problem is to make a one-time investment in a thermal printer. This is the reason why the MUNBYN Thermal Printer is ideal to help you avoid any issues and situations that require external assistance.
The great thing about having your printer for food labels is that you are going to have an easier time selling any product at any time. You won’t be needing any kind of third-party involvement in your business.
This means you won’t depend on their schedules or on any setbacks that could take place due to their services. That is the most relevant thing that you can consider when looking to make your food business more efficient.
The MUNBYN thermal label printer is very reliable with an easy and seamless interface that will allow you to print your food labels fast. This is the type of investment that makes a world of a difference when you seek to upgrade your productivity and profit margins.
Note on the label design quality: Make sure that you create a reliable and good-looking food label print that is going to make this process easier. It should be easy to read with a label that has clear fonts and detailed information on the product.
How to get your online food business on the map
While this topic is mostly about the license and permits that you need to sell food online, it is also a good idea to consider the importance of promoting your services to achieve success. We can give you some essential ideas that are going to help make this process easier.
Be creative with discounts and special deals
This is going to prove to be an amazing way for you to start finding customers. Offer special deals and discounts for your food as often as possible. This could be costly but your initial goal is not so much to make a profit, as it is to start selling your food.
Build a business website
This is essential for any business regardless of how small it is because it builds credibility and it gives an excellent first impression. Always remember that you can also use your website to link to social media, create blogs, have full control of the look and style of the page for branding purposes, etc.
Unleash the power of social marketing
This is always a great way to promote any kind of food-related service that you offer. Facebook has always been a very food-friendly platform, but you also have Instagram as a great option for this particular industry.
Start writing about food topics
Content is still king and any marketer that is looking for optimal engagement is going to find that creating content is the best approach. You can start blogging about food-related topics that people find interesting. Also, make sure to use targeted keywords so that people can find you in organic search results.
Final thoughts
Starting a food business that sells online is not the most complicated idea, but it does require that you take your time to make appropriate decisions. Once your food business is up and running, you will find it easier to start gaining momentum to make it grow.
