warebycan you sell cottage food on apps like hotplate or doordash?
ordering apps, yes. courier apps, no. here’s the minnesota rule that decides it, and how to run pickup and delivery yourself.
in this post
1the rule2which apps work3pickup and delivery4what changes in 20275how wareby fits6questions7sourcesordering apps, yes. courier apps, no. minnesota lets cottage food producers sell online, so you can take orders and payment through hotplate, wareby, instagram or your own website. but the mda says the producer or their employee has to be there when the food is handed over, so you deliver it yourself or the customer picks it up at your home. doordash, uber eats and other couriers are out, and shipping human food isn’t allowed until august 1, 2027.
what does minnesota’s rule say?
one sentence from the minnesota department of agriculture (mda) settles almost every app question:
“The cottage food producer or their employee must be physically present during product sale or delivery.”
minnesota department of agriculture, cottage food producer registration
a second one covers shipping: “Cottage food intended for humans cannot be shipped.” pet treats are the exception.
the rule is about who carries the food, not where the order came from. the mda lists “on the internet” as one of the places you can sell, so taking orders and payment in an app is fine.
which apps can you use?
sort apps by what they do. if an app only takes the order, you can use it. if it sends someone else to carry the food, you can’t.
| kind of app | examples | okay for cottage food? |
|---|---|---|
| ordering and preorder apps | hotplate, wareby, square online, your own website | yes, with pickup at your home or delivery by you |
| social media and messages | instagram, facebook, texts | yes, with the same handoff rules |
| courier and delivery apps | doordash, uber eats, grubhub | no, a courier isn’t you or your employee |
| shipping | the mail, ups, fedex | no, not until august 1, 2027, and then only within minnesota |
how do you hand off orders the right way?
every order ends with you, or your employee, handing it to the customer in person. the mda’s guidance spells out the options:
a few things make delivery workable: a delivery area you can cover in an afternoon, a delivery fee or order minimum that pays for your gas and time, and a text when you’re on the way, so someone is home to take the order.
what changes in 2027?
on august 1, 2027, minnesota’s updated cottage food law takes effect, and the mda says it “will allow shipping of human cottage foods (within Minnesota only).” the mda is planning how that will work. until then, use pickup and your own delivery, and check the mda’s guidance before you use any delivery service after that date.
how does wareby fit the rules?
wareby works like an ordering app with a marketplace around it: neighbors within 25 miles find your shop, order and pay online, then pick up from you or get it delivered by you.
- food is pickup or local delivery only, never shipped
- deliveries are made by the shop, never by a courier
- you choose your pickup windows, your delivery area and your delivery days
- your address is shown only to customers who order for pickup
it’s free to start on the open plan: 10% per sale, plus card processing of 3% + 30¢ per order. see seller plans.
questions people ask
can i use hotplate for a cottage food business in minnesota?
yes. hotplate takes the order and the payment. you still hand each order over in person: pickup at your home, or delivery by you or your employee.
can i deliver cottage food with doordash or uber eats?
no. the mda requires the cottage food producer or their employee to be present for the sale or delivery, and a courier is neither.
can a friend deliver my cottage food orders?
the rule names you or your employee. if anyone else would be delivering for you, check with the mda first.
can customers pick up from my porch when i’m not home?
the mda says you or your employee must be present for the sale or delivery, so plan to hand orders over in person. ask the mda before you set up anything unattended.
can i ship cottage food within minnesota?
not yet. shipping human cottage food is allowed starting august 1, 2027, and only within minnesota. pet treats can already be shipped.
sources
- minnesota department of agriculture: cottage food producer registration
- minnesota department of agriculture: cottage food law guidance
- minnesota statutes, section 28A.152
this is general information to help you get started, not legal advice. rules change, so check with the agencies above (and your city) before you sell. last checked october 12, 2026.
we started tandoco, a small bakery in minneapolis, and sold under a blue tent at farmers markets before we built wareby. our story
