Shannon Martin

David, you’re a genius! Thank you! I don’t know why I didn’t think about a used scale. This one you’ve linked to is perfect and not too expensive. I love this community!

I wonder if you could get a used one. Also I just checked WebstaurantStore and they have one for $100: https://www.webstaurantstore.com/14309/legal-for-trade-scales.html?order=price_asc

Yes, David, I agree, they are strict! And it is seemingly near impossible for me to locate an affordable one. The one the DC govt suggested I buy is $300. So, now I’m a little discouraged.

Wow that’s surprising that they’re that strict! I have never looked into NTEP scales, so I’d be interested to hear what you learn.

Thanks. I always thought you couldn’t but I obviously read the cottage laws wrong

Yes, many people do this. Usually the barriers to entry for selling non-food items are lower. You could likely do it under the same general business license that you get for your cottage food business, but you might need a different sellers permit depending on what you’re selling. Also the sales tax requirements are likely different. I’m not…[Read more]

That’s great!

It’s a gray area to be sure. All we know for sure is that FL, AR, and OK allow interstate shipping. So shipping between those states should be allowed.

That makes sense.
From what I’ve been reading, most states do not allow interstate commerce. I may be wrong, but it seems Florida is the only one allowing mail deliver across state lines.
I think the issue may arise if there are complaints made about the CFO on other states, and that could fall under FDA.

A while back, I called the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and spoke with Melissa Durkin (who has since moved to another position).

At the time, she said that, officially, there is nothing in Florida’s cottage-food law specifically prohibiting shipping out of state – only that the current law (contrary to the past) now…[Read more]

Since this is in the Florida forum, rather than California, I’ll throw in my two-cents’ worth.

In Florida, you can register an LLC quickly and easily online at Sunbiz and it only costs $125.00 each year (with a couple of options that could add up to $35.00 more). Far less than the California numbers mentioned in the Forrager FAQ.

One of the…[Read more]

Starting a green garden and selling produce or eggs from your property can be a great initiative, but there are certain regulations and permits you’ll need to adhere to. Since regulations can vary based on your specific location and local ordinances, it’s essential to consult the official government sources for accurate and up-to-date…[Read more]