How to Start a Home-Based Food Business Archives - Valley Local Pages Business Directory Hemet San Jacinto

How to Start a Home-Based Food Business

Dreaming of selling your homemade treats or meals? In Riverside County, you can turn that dream into reality—right from your own kitchen!

With two main options, the California Cottage Food Operation (CFO) and Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKO), local home cooks can legally start selling food to the community. Whether you’re into baking cookies, making jams, or cooking fresh, hot meals, there’s a path for you.

Here’s a quick look at both options:

Cottage Food Operation (CFO) – Perfect for selling non-perishable items like baked goods or jams, directly from home.

Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKO) – Allows you to prepare a wider variety of foods, including fresh, cooked meals, with options for dine-in or take-out from your kitchen.

Each program has a few rules, so choosing the right one depends on the types of food you want to make and how you plan to sell them. Download our free ebook for the complete guide.

Your Guide to Starting a Home-Based Food Business in Hemet & San Jacinto

This entry is part 1 of 3 in the series How to Start a Home-Based Food Business

Dreaming of selling your homemade treats or meals? In Riverside County, you can turn that dream into reality—right from your own kitchen! With two main options, the California Cottage Food Operation (CFO) and Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKO), local home cooks can legally start selling food to the community. Whether you’re into baking cookies, making […]

Your Guide to Starting a Home-Based Food Business in Hemet & San Jacinto Read More »

What Is a Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO)?

This entry is part 2 of 3 in the series How to Start a Home-Based Food Business

A Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO or MHKO) allows you to legally run a small food business right from your own kitchen at home, and serve your customers right on your premises like a real restaurant! With a MEHKO, you can cook, sell, and serve fresh meals directly to customers. You do need to make,

What Is a Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO)? Read More »

What Is a Cottage Food Operation (CFO)?

This entry is part 3 of 3 in the series How to Start a Home-Based Food Business

A Cottage Food Operation (CFO) is a type of small food business in California that allows you to legally make and sell certain homemade foods directly from your home kitchen. This program is perfect for anyone wanting to sell non-perishable, low-risk foods that don’t need to be refrigerated, such as baked goods, jams, and dried

What Is a Cottage Food Operation (CFO)? Read More »

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