When starting a food business, it's important for you to understand the laws in your city and state. As a marketplace, Shef.com does not provide legal advice, but we want to provide useful links and information to help you better understand the laws and regulations which may apply to your business. The laws governing the sale of food are different in each state and often require some diligence to figure out. In addition to the specific state responsible cooking guides on our site below is a brief overview of the federal and state regulatory framework and some links to resources you may find useful.

Sellers are required to follow all state and local rules. Depending on the state you live in and the type of food you are selling, you may be required by law to cook out of a commercial kitchen or other legal facility. A list of commercial kitchens is provided in each responsible cooking guide or you can also reach out to help@shef.com and we will provide you with a list.

The information on this page is general guidance and does not purport to cover all laws applicable to your business. You should contact your local and state health agencies to understand the specifics as they relate to your business.

There are a myriad of laws related to making and selling food. At the Federal level, the United States Department of Agriculture regulates farming and ranching and helps to ensure the commercial supply of meat, poultry and egg products are safe and properly labeled. The United States Food & Drug Administration regulates food ingredients sold through interstate commerce, with the exception of the meat, poultry and egg products regulated by the USDA.

State and local governments generally regulate where food can be made and how it is sold. Currently, all 50 states and the District of Columbia permit the sale of baked goods and other shelf-stable, non-potentially hazardous foods to be prepared in homes and sold to consumers through cottage food laws. Some states permit the sale of a much wider variety of foods to be prepared in homes and sold to consumers. Currently no single source of truth exists for the wide variety of laws in various jurisdictions but we provide some links to helpful resources below and in the specific state responsible cooking guides on our site. Please do reach out to your local regulators to understand what laws apply to the items you wish to sell through the Shef platform.

Additionally, the Food & Drug Administration links to state regulations for retail food establishments here. County and city regulations may also have additional regulations.

If you determine you need commercial kitchen space based on the regulations in your jurisdiction and your menu, there are many spaces for rent including those listed in our state specific responsible cooking guides. If you are looking for commercial kitchen space in a market not listed in an applicable responsible cooking guide, please reach out to help@shef.com and we will assist you with referrals. Please note, we can't verify they'll meet your specific needs so be sure to do your own diligence before partnering with any location.

Maintaining the safety of the Shef community is our number one priority. All shefs are required to pass an accredited food safety certification exam (either food handler or food manager certification), follow certain food safety guidelines and maintain minimum customer ratings.

Each State (and some counties within various states) have different requirements for food handler certifications. There are a number of organizations that provide online certifications. For a list of ANSI-approved food safety courses, see here but check with your local or state regulatory agency.

As a Seller on Shef.com you run your own business and it's important to protect yourself from liabilities such as injuries to third-parties related to the food you sell. We highly recommend you procure insurance to protect you and your business. There are many options available to you that can be found online and purchased quickly and for a very reasonable price. Below are a few options that we neither partner with nor endorse in any way but list here for your convenience.