How to Start a Home or Online Food Business in the UK (2026)
Selling food from your home kitchen — a home bakery, online treats, meal prep — is a genuinely low-cost way to start. And yes, your home kitchen can be a registered food premises. The two things people miss are the distance-selling rules and how allergen labelling works when the customer isn't standing in front of you. This guide covers every step in order.
Step 1 — Register your home kitchen (28 days before trading)
Your home kitchen counts as a food premises — register it with your local council at least 28 days before trading (free, can't be refused). An Environmental Health officer will inspect and give you a Food Hygiene Rating.
Step 2 — Food safety and hygiene
A written HACCP system (the free Safer Food, Better Business pack) and Level 2 Food Hygiene training. Keep your kitchen clean, separate, and your records up to date.
Step 3 — Allergens and labelling (the distance-selling part)
For distance/online sales, you must give allergen information before the customer buys (on your site) and again on delivery. Anything prepacked needs full ingredient labelling with allergens emphasised under Natasha's Law.
Step 4 — Distance-selling rules
Online sales are covered by the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 and e-commerce rules — clear business details, delivery information and customer rights. Pack and transport food safely (temperature control, sturdy packaging).
Step 5 — Structure, insurance and tax
Register with HMRC within 3 months, get public and product liability insurance (product liability matters most for food sold to strangers), a business bank account, and VAT over £90,000.
Home/online food requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Needed? |
|---|---|
| Home-kitchen food registration | ✅ Free, 28 days before trading |
| HACCP / Level 2 hygiene | ✅ Legal requirements |
| Allergen info for distance sales | ✅ Before purchase and on delivery |
| Natasha's Law labelling (prepacked) | ✅ For prepacked items |
| Consumer Contracts Regs (online) | ✅ For distance selling |
| Public & product liability insurance | ⚠️ Effectively essential |
| VAT registration | ✅ Once turnover > £90,000 |
Start your home food business the easy way
Spark builds your exact checklist — registering your home kitchen, the allergen and distance-selling rules, insurance and tax — tailored to selling online. Free.
Build my free checklist →FAQ
Can I sell food made in my home kitchen? Yes — register it as a food business with your council (free, 28 days ahead); it'll be inspected and rated. How do allergens work online? You must provide allergen information before the customer buys and again on delivery. When do I register for VAT? Once turnover passes £90,000 in any 12-month period.
Last reviewed 2026. Confirm current rules on GOV.UK and the Food Standards Agency before acting.