Yes, you can sell homemade food in Australia, but you must register as a food business with your local council, comply with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, and meet specific food safety requirements for your kitchen and food type, which vary by risk level (e.g., jams are lower risk than meat dishes). Key steps include contacting your local council's Environmental Health Services, ensuring your kitchen meets standards for cleanliness and design, completing food safety training, and potentially undergoing inspections.
Australia has strict health laws governing the production and sale of commercial food. Therefore as long as you are a registered business and abide by health laws, you may theoretically sell street food... There is, however, local laws governing where you can set up a business according to planning.
If you have a knack for baking—or just a fine-tuned sweet tooth—you might consider selling candy, cookies, baked goods, chocolates, jams, or other sweets. Candy, chocolate, and jams have a longer shelf life than other food products, so you can make products ahead of time and store inventory.
You can sell anything you make but if you're going to Farmers Markets or trying to sell it online (Wix?) you'll likely need a commercial license and food safety certificate. As a developer of my own breads and recipes I wouldn't appreciate someone stealing my recipe for their own benefit but it happens every day.
The 2-2-2 food rule is a simple guideline for leftover safety: get cooked food into the fridge within 2 hours, eat it within 2 days, or freeze it for up to 2 months to prevent bacteria growth, keeping it out of the temperature "danger zone" (40-140°F or 5-60°C).
Confections: Candies, fudge, toffee, and brittle — all sugar‑based and low‑risk for bacterial growth. Preserves: Jams, jellies, and fruit butters made with approved fruits. Some states require pH testing to ensure safety. Dry Goods: Granola, trail mix, popcorn, dry pasta, spice blends, and baking mixes.
Preparing or storing food at home for later sale (including in-kind rewards) is considered a food business. Requirements to be met are the same as for other retail food businesses. Examples of home-based food businesses include: preparing food for sale at markets or school canteens in a domestic kitchen.
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Fried foods
Potatoes, onions, and pickles are budget-friendly items that can be transformed into crowd-pleasing treats. Encourage upselling by offering combo meals that include fried items, like a burger and fries or a sandwich with onion rings.
Yes it's possible and yes you can do it! We did! Bake and Sell Cookies from Home: A Step-by-Step Guide. Learn how to start baking and selling cookies from your home kitchen with our bestseller recipes.
The 2-hour/4-hour rule in Australia dictates how long potentially hazardous foods (like meats, dairy, cooked rice) can safely stay between 5°C and 60°C (the "temperature danger zone") before bacterial growth becomes risky. If out for under 2 hours: it can be refrigerated or used/heated. If 2 to 4 hours: it must be used immediately and cannot be put back in the fridge. Over 4 hours: it must be thrown out. This is a cumulative time, including prep, storage, and display.
Common types of home-based businesses include:
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Chicken Biryani led the pack with 57.7 million orders and the highest repeat demand. Burgers followed as the second most-loved food with 44.2 million orders, while pizzas came third at 40.1 million. Veg Dosa also stood out, clocking 26.2 million orders and proving its lasting appeal.
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Used goods: Reselling used items (like clothes or books) is a simple way to start out. You can sell personal items on social media or other platforms like Poshmark for quick cash.
There are countless unique items that you can consider adding to your inventory of handmade goods — from home decor, to jewelry boxes, to kitchen accessories, and so much more! Among the most popular on Etsy, for example, include wooden toys, cutting boards and furniture.
If you want to make food from home to sell to others or even store food at home to sell to others, you are considered a food business and require registration under the Food Act 1984. A home-based food business must comply with the requirements of the 'Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.
Quick-to-prepare dishes such as burgers, tacos, and ice cream offer great profit margins with minimal prep time. These items can be sold at high prices without significant investment in labor or equipment.
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