What You Need to Sell on Rootly

The Basics

Most states allow individuals to sell many types of homemade and farm-produced foods directly to consumers — but the rules depend on what you're selling, how it was produced, and where you're located.

Products That Generally Do Not Require a License

Cottage Food Products

Most states have a cottage food law that allows individuals to prepare and sell certain foods made in a home kitchen without a food establishment license. Common requirements include:

• The food is sold directly to the consumer — selling on Rootly counts as direct-to-consumer.
• Annual gross sales stay under your state's revenue cap.
• Products are not potentially hazardous (no refrigeration required).
• Products are properly labeled per your state's requirements.

Common cottage food products include:

• Baked goods: bread, cookies, cakes, pies, muffins, brownies
• Candy and confections
• Jams, jellies, and fruit butters (made with proper acidity)
• Honey
• Dried herbs and herb mixes
• Popcorn, granola, trail mix
• Dry baking mixes

What cottage food typically does NOT cover:

• Foods requiring refrigeration (cream pies, cheesecake, cut fruit)
• Canned vegetables (low-acid canned goods typically require a licensed facility)
• Meat or poultry products
• Dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt, butter)
• Fermented foods like kombucha or sauerkraut (requirements vary by state)

Fresh Produce (Fruits, Vegetables, Herbs)

If you grow your own fruits, vegetables, or herbs and sell them unprocessed (whole, not cut or cooked), you generally do not need a license in most states.

Eggs

Many states allow sale of ungraded eggs directly from farm to consumer without a license, from your own flock. Flock size limits and labeling requirements vary by state.

Flowers and Bouquets

No food license required. Standard business requirements may apply depending on your municipality.

Pet Food and Treats

Pet food is regulated separately. Most states require pet food to be registered with the state department of agriculture if commercially manufactured. Contact your state's department of agriculture to confirm requirements.

Products That Require a License and Rootly Verification

Meat Products

Selling meat to the public requires processing in a USDA-inspected or state-inspected facility. This applies to beef, pork, lamb, goat, poultry, processed meats (jerky, sausage), and game meats.

What you need:

1. Meat processed at a licensed, inspected facility with documentation.
2. On Rootly, subscribe to the Verified Seller plan ($24.99/mo) and complete the meat verification process by uploading your licensing documents.

Dairy Products

Selling dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, ice cream) requires a dairy processing license from your state, even from your own animals.

What you need:

1. A valid state dairy processing license.
2. On Rootly, subscribe to the Verified Seller plan ($24.99/mo) and complete the dairy verification process.

Labeling Requirements

Cottage Food Labeling

Most states require cottage food products to include a label with:

• Product name
• Name and address of the business
• Date the product was made
• Ingredients list (in descending order by weight)
• Allergen statement (9 major allergens: milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, sesame)
• A disclaimer that the product was made in an uninspected home kitchen (exact wording varies by state)

Rootly Subscription Tiers

All subscriptions automatically renew. Cancel anytime from your account settings.

Platform Fee Structure

• Buyer platform fee: 5.5% + $0.80 per order (added on top at checkout — the buyer pays this, not you).
• Stripe processing fee: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (deducted by Stripe from your payout).
• Stripe Connect required for payouts — set up during or after onboarding.
• Sales tax: Automatically calculated by TaxCloud based on the product type and your location. Tax exemptions vary by state and product type.

Rootly's Verification Process

Verification is required for meat and dairy products only:

1. Subscribe to the Verified Seller plan ($24.99/mo or $209.99/yr).
2. Select Meat, Dairy, or Both for verification during onboarding.
3. Upload your licensing documents.
4. Our team reviews your documents (typically 1–3 business days).
5. Once approved, you can list products in the Meat and/or Dairy categories.

Your Responsibilities as a Seller

• You are solely responsible for the safety, quality, legality, and labeling of your products.
• You comply with all applicable federal, state, and local food safety regulations.
• Your product listings are accurate (descriptions, images, pricing, allergen info).
• You maintain any required licenses and keep them current.
• You fulfill confirmed orders promptly and maintain accurate inventory.
• You respond to orders within the confirmation deadline. Orders not confirmed before the pickup window minus 30 minutes will be auto-cancelled.
• Sellers may issue full or partial refunds at any time. The buyer is always made whole (refund includes platform fee).

Helpful Resources

• USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
  fsis.usda.gov
• Find Your State Department of Agriculture
  nasda.org — State Departments of Agriculture
• Cottage Food Laws by State
  cottagefoodlaws.com — community-maintained guide to cottage food regulations in all 50 states
• Not sure about your state's rules?
  Email us at support@rootlymarket.comand we'll help you figure it out.