The increasing popularity of cottage foods in the United States requires that state laws regulating the industry be given careful consideration. However, little is known about cottage food producers or their businesses. This article discusses results from the first comprehensive survey of cottage food producers in the United States. Linear and logistic regression analyses of survey responses from 775 cottage food producers and aspects of state cottage food laws suggest restrictive state laws may hinder entrepreneurship in rural communities. These results suggest policymakers should consider reducing restrictions on the cottage food industry in order to promote small-business creation and growth, especially among women and rural populations.

Suggested citation: McDonald, J. (2019). The relationship between cottage food laws and business outcomes: A quantitative study of cottage food producers in the united states. Food Policy, 84, 21–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2019.01.012

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