Important Registration and Licensing Links

Ask our business coaches at NEON or the kitchen manager at Appetite for Change for advice as you start this process, but here are some links to get informed about the state and city requirements for food business.

1. Cottage Foods Registration

For those with non-hazardous products wishing to sell as sole proprietors, start here. It’s a great way to start and organically build your business, with an extremely low startup cost.

• START HERE. Click here first to see if your products are eligible: The Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture’s fact sheet

• If you still aren’t sure, click here to see another helpful resource: Introduction/Fact Sheet put together by the Minnesota Farmers’ Market Association with deeper information on Cottage Foods.

• Click here to find more general information: Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture’s Checklist for Cottage Food Registration

• Click here to officially register as a cottage foods producer: Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture’s Registration Form for Cottage Food Producers

2. MN Department of Economic Development

You’re ready to start your registered food business, but you don’t have the non-food side of the business taken care of – the legal, accounting, and insurance part. Do this before you apply for a food license.

• Explore this link to: learn about the various requirements about starting a business, including information about registering your business, which tax identification numbers you’ll need, and where to find them.

3. City of Minneapolis Licensing

If you’re selling ready-to-eat products or potentially hazardous goods at markets, events, in a food truck or restaurant, and more, your business might need a license from the City of Minneapolis.

• START HERE: this is where you get general information about starting a business in the City of Minneapolis. You’ll also find resources like business centers listed here.

• All the licenses live here. See a list of application forms for the various licenses you can obtain in the City of Minneapolis. 

• Click here to find more general information about regulations for food entrepreneurs.

• Click here to officially register as a cottage foods producer: Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture’s Registration Form for Cottage Food Producers

4. Minnesota Department of Health

All food businesses will need contact with the department of Health to secure your Certified Food Manager license, but some businesses (food trucks and restaurants) may require a MDH inspection.

• START HERE. What is the process to becoming a Certified Food Manager, and how do i get started? This link will outline the process, and give you a few resources if you have more questions.

• Find a training here. Look for an “Initial Food Manager Certification and Examination” Course. All businesses need to employ at least one Certified Food Manager, which is also required to operate in a commercial kitchen.

• Does my food business need to be licensed by the MN Department of Health? In some cases, your food business will be required to have a license in the city or county you operate in, as well as the state. Learn more about jurisdiction at the State, County, and City levels here, and find out if you need a license through the state.

5. Minnesota Department of Agriculture

If you’re located in the metro and have a product that needs to be bottled or packaged and sold, you might need a license from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

• START HERE. Not sure which MDA (Minnesota Department of Agriculture) license is right for you? Explore this list of licenses offered by the Department of Agriculture and see which one fits your business.

• This is a common MDA license, the Wholesale Manufacturer License. Find information about becoming a licensed food manufacturer (think selling your hot sauce to grocery stores) in English, Hmong, Spanish, and Somali.