When deciding whether to sell food on Shef, it's important for you to understand the laws in your city and state. As a marketplace, we do not provide legal advice, but we want to provide useful links and information that may help you better understand laws and regulations in Florida. This list is not exhaustive and there may be additional requirements or considerations based on your individual circumstances.

Florida passed a law in 2011 (HB 7209) permitting the sale of certain foods from unlicensed home based kitchens. That law has been amended over the years in 2017 (HB 1233) and most recently in 2021 (HB 663 and HB 403). Florida’s Department of Agriculture Services oversees the administration of laws allowing use of unlicensed home kitchens to produce “certain foods that present a low risk of foodborne illness” which includes breads, cakes, pastries, candies, honies, jams, jellies, preserves, pasta, pies and more. Producers can sell up to $250,000 annually of home based goods. Additional guidance can be found here.

Sellers are required to follow all state and local rules. If you would like to sell food items that are not covered by these laws, you are required to cook out of a commercial kitchen or other legal facility.

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 but not limited to a list we maintain here. If you need additional referrals, please email help@shef.com. Please note, we can't verify the commercial kitchens we refer will meet your specific needs so be sure to do your own diligence before partnering with any location.

Shef will determine whether sales tax is applicable, and will collect and remit those sales taxes on behalf of cooks and consumers who use the marketplace.

Additionally, shefs should consult a tax professional regarding their own personal income or other taxes. Cooks may need to obtain a business registration or tax permit depending on where they live, and should check their local city or county website for additional information.

Maintaining the safety of the Shef community is our number one priority. All shefs are required to pass an accredited food safety certification exam and must maintain minimum quality ratings. There are a number of services providing food handler and food manager certification that meet Florida requirements. See here and here for a few options.