Selling homemade foods like cakes, cookies, and jam is a great way for entrepreneurs with big dreams but little capital to start their own small businesses out of their homes. Customers also love buying homemade, local foods from their community. DC’s homemade food laws, however, need updating. It is one of the most restrictive cottage food laws in the country.

Unlike most states, DC only allows cottage food businesses to sell their products at farmer’s markets and at special events. But these venues come with expensive price tags and long waitlists. Worse, under DC’s sales cap, cottage food businesses can’t earn more than $25,000 a year in revenue. Considering how much it costs to start and run these businesses, most cottage food producers would not be left with much income after hitting this very low revenue cap.

We can change this, but we need to hear from entrepreneurs like you!