Can I sell food from home?
Yes, and plenty of people in the UK do. Answer a few questions and get your own checklist: when to register with the council, what your kitchen needs, labels and allergens, HMRC, and what the inspector will look at. Free, and no sign-up.
Where will you be selling from?
Have you started selling yet?
What will you make?
If you make both, choose the second.
How will people order?
Will you deliver?
Takings over £1,000 a year?
Do you rent, or have a mortgage?
Any pets at home?
Your checklist
0 of 19 done. Tick things off as you go; it’s saved on this device.
Before your first sale
Register at least 28 days before your first sale. Registration is free.
Register a food business (GOV.UK) ↗Every food business needs written safety procedures. This free pack does it for home kitchens: fill in the sections that match what you make, and keep the daily diary.
Safer Food, Better Business (SFBB) (free) ↗The law says anyone handling food must be trained or supervised in food hygiene to suit the work they do. A Level 2 Food Hygiene certificate is the usual way to show it. Ask your council’s food team which courses they recommend.
Home insurance often doesn’t cover a business. Most home food sellers take out public and product liability insurance, which many markets and venues ask for.
Your kitchen
Surfaces, floors and equipment need to be clean and in good condition, with hot water, soap and a way to dry hands.
Store ingredients for your business away from family food, and label anything you’ve decanted or opened with what it is and the date.
Dispose of food waste securely, and never pour fats or oils down the sink.
Labels and allergens
Keep a written list of the allergens in every product, including in shop-bought ingredients like chocolate, stock cubes and sauces.
Free allergen label makerFor orders taken by WhatsApp, online or by phone, customers must be able to see allergen information before they buy and again when the food arrives. A label on the box covers the second part.
Tell customers how to store it and how long it keeps. Your label can carry both.
Money and admin
Over £1,000 of takings in a tax year (before expenses) means registering for Self Assessment. Under that, you usually don’t need to tell HMRC.
Check if you need to tell HMRC (GOV.UK) ↗Count packaging, gas and electricity, and your own time.
Free pricing calculatorWrite down what you sell and what you spend, with receipts. It makes tax, pricing and any council visit easier.
Ready for your inspection
You’ll get a food hygiene rating from 0 to 5. Displaying it is voluntary in England, but sellers with a 5 usually show it off.
Questions people ask before they start
Can I sell food from my home kitchen in the UK?
Yes. Many people do. You need to register as a food business with your local council, follow food hygiene rules, give allergen information and keep written food safety procedures. Your council will usually inspect your kitchen and give you a hygiene rating.
When do I need to register a food business?
At least 28 days before you start selling, in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Registration is free. If you are already selling regularly and have not registered, do it straight away.
Do I need a food hygiene certificate to sell food from home?
There is no legal requirement for one particular certificate, but anyone handling food must be trained or supervised in food hygiene in a way that suits the work they do. A Level 2 Food Hygiene certificate is the usual way home sellers show this, and inspectors will ask about training.
Do I need to tell HMRC if I sell cakes from home?
If your takings from selling are over £1,000 in a tax year, before taking off expenses, you need to register for Self Assessment by 5 October after the end of that tax year. Under £1,000, you usually do not need to tell HMRC.
What will the council inspector check?
Usually your written food safety procedures (such as Safer Food, Better Business), cleanliness and handwashing, how you store food and keep it at the right temperature, your training, how you handle allergens and, if you have pets, how you keep them out of the kitchen while you work.
Do I need permission from my landlord or mortgage lender?
Often, yes. Running a business from home can be against tenancy or mortgage terms, so ask before you start and get the answer in writing. Check your home insurance too, as it may not cover business use.
A plain-English summary of UK rules, checked against the Food Standards Agency, Food Standards Scotland and HMRC guidance in October 2026. It isn’t legal or tax advice. Your council’s food safety team is the best place to check anything specific to you, and they’re usually glad to help before you start.