Minnesota
Minnesota started it.
LocalCottageFoods started here. That's why Pro is included at no cost for verified Minnesota cottage food producers.
Not a trial. No credit card required.
Pro is included for verified Minnesota cottage food producers.
- $0: Pro is included, not discounted
- No credit card required
- No subscription to cancel
- Included for as long as your registration stays verified
How it works
Create or sign into your seller account
Free to start. Set up your storefront the same way every LocalCottageFoods seller does.
Enter your Minnesota cottage food producer registration
Your registration number and the name it's registered under. It takes about a minute.
Once verified, Pro is included
We check your registration against the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's public record, usually within two business days. Then every Pro feature turns on.
What Pro includes
The same Pro every LocalCottageFoods seller can buy. Free-plan sellers pay a 2.5% platform fee on orders; Pro sellers pay none.
0% platform fee
Keep 100% of every completed order.
Cash or check at pickup
Take payment in person without a card.
Connect Square
Run checkout through your own Square account.
Your own website
Connect the site you have, or have one built and hosted for you.
Guaranteed prepaid pickup
Take paid orders for pickup dates further out.
SMS marketing
Reach customers who opted in. SMS credits are purchased separately.
SMS and AI credits are purchased separately. Minnesota Pro does not include a recurring credit allowance.
Why Minnesota?
LocalCottageFoods started in Minnesota. We want to see the producers and communities here flourish, so Pro is included for verified Minnesota cottage food producers.
Not registered with the state yet?
Minnesota cottage food producers register with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture before selling. Registration runs April 1 to March 31 and renews each year. Which tier you register under depends on your gross annual cottage food sales, and the MDA publishes the current thresholds, fees and training requirements.
Register with the Minnesota Department of AgricultureQuestions
Is this really free?
Yes. Verified Minnesota cottage food producers get LocalCottageFoods Pro at no cost. There is no fee, no discount code, and no reduced rate that expires. Pro is simply included.
Is this a trial?
No. It is an ongoing part of how LocalCottageFoods works in Minnesota, not a trial period. It never automatically becomes a paid subscription. Pro stays included while your registration is current and verified.
Do I need a credit card?
No. We do not collect a payment method to include Pro, and no subscription is created. You will still connect a payout account if you want to accept card payments, which is how you get paid, not how you pay us.
How long do I keep Pro?
For as long as your Minnesota cottage food producer registration stays current and verified with us. Minnesota registrations renew each year, so we will remind you before yours is due.
Who qualifies?
Producers whose LocalCottageFoods seller account is based in Minnesota and who hold a current Minnesota cottage food producer registration from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Being located in Minnesota is not enough on its own. The registration has to be verified.
How is my registration verified?
You give us your registration number and the name it is registered under. Our team checks it against the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's public licensing record. Most reviews are finished within two business days.
What happens if my registration expires?
When your verified registration expires, your account uses the Free plan unless another Pro membership is active. The Minnesota program never starts a charge. Your storefront, products, orders and customers stay exactly as they are, and you can re-verify at any time to have Pro included again.
What if I already pay for Pro?
Once you qualify, Pro is included and we stop renewal of your paid Pro subscription. Your already-paid period stays available, with no interruption to Pro access. If your billing needs individual review, your account will show that clearly. Past payments are not automatically refunded.
Is this only for Minnesota?
This particular program is, yes. LocalCottageFoods is a nationwide marketplace and sellers everywhere use the same free and Pro plans. Minnesota is where LocalCottageFoods started, and this is how we invest in the community it came from.
Why is LocalCottageFoods doing this?
LocalCottageFoods started in Minnesota. We want to see the producers and communities here flourish, so Pro is included for verified Minnesota cottage food producers.
Pro is included for verified Minnesota cottage food producers.
Not a trial. No credit card required.
LocalCottageFoods is not affiliated with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and does not issue, renew or revoke state cottage food registrations. Register with the MDA directly.