Start selling

Learn what I need

Requirements depend on what you sell and where you operate. Work through the stages, then check the official guidance for your nation and local authority.

Start with where you operate

Your Direct Food Finder account area is not set. That helps tailor platform guidance, but it is not a council or legal jurisdiction. Confirm your nation and local authority before trading.

Home producers can apply to sell

Food made, prepared, stored, handled or sold from home can be a food business. Direct Food Finder supports the Home Seller route, but platform approval never replaces food-business registration, any required establishment approval or your legal duties.

Before you apply to sell

Register each food premises with the correct local authority, normally at least 28 days before trading
Check whether your activity needs establishment approval before trading, especially some products of animal origin
Put proportionate HACCP-based food-safety, hygiene, temperature and training controls in place
Make required food and allergen information available before purchase for distance sales, and supply the required information when the food is delivered
Keep supplier, batch, sales, recall and other traceability records suited to the business
Check home, premises, product, public and—where relevant—employers’ liability cover
Check the correct HMRC setup and keep income and cost records from day one
Plan safe packaging, storage, stock, collection, delivery or shipping without promising an unavailable route

Direct Food Finder does not register or approve your food business. Rules depend on what you sell and where you operate. Check with your food regulator and local authority before trading.

Official UK guidance

Check the rules that apply to you

Open the regulator or government source for your nation and activity. These links are guidance routes, not proof that an application or food business is approved.

England, Wales and Northern IrelandFood Standards Agency guidance on registration, planning, food-safety procedures and starting a food business.Read the FSA start guide ScotlandFood Standards Scotland’s checklist for registering and preparing a new food business.Read the Scotland checklist Running a business from homeCheck permissions, planning, insurance, business rates and practical home-business responsibilities.Check home-business rules Allergen informationUnderstand the legal allergen information customers need, including for online and distance sales.Read allergen guidance Food labels and packagingCheck labelling, ingredients, claims, dates, quantities and packaging information for the products you sell.Check labelling rules Establishment approval in England, Wales and Northern IrelandCheck whether handling certain products of animal origin requires approval before your establishment starts the relevant activity.Check E, W and NI approval guidance Establishment approval in ScotlandCheck Food Standards Scotland’s approval guidance and contact the relevant local authority before starting an activity that may need approval.Check Scotland approval guidance Tax and business recordsCheck how to tell HMRC, choose a business structure and keep the records your setup requires.Check business setup guidance

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