Resources for Starting a New Food Business

Getting started as a farmer

Resources for beginning farmers, including training programs and more, from the MA Department of Agricultural Resources.

Toolkits from New Entry Sustainable Farming Project: Starting a Farm from Scratch Decision Tool and the Entrepreneur’s Guide to Farming in MA.

For new farmers seeking land, check out New England Farmland Finder, CISA’s classifieds for land available, or Land for Good’s resources for farmland seekers.

Getting started with a prepared foods or food product business 

Commercial kitchens in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties list from CISA.

Food safety:

• For permits to sell prepared foods or packaged food products direct to customers, go to your local Board of Health
• For permits to sell wholesale, go to the MA Department of Health Food Protection Program
• Find a ServSafe course near you or online

For farmers starting a value-added business:

• The Western MA Food Processing Center offers co-packing and support for farmers.

• CISA’s tipsheet for farmers making value-added products.

• MA Department of Public Health’s Guidance for Farms and Agricultural Businesses on Cottage Food and Other Food Sales.

Running a food business from your home

FAQ on Massachusetts cottage food production regulations, with information about what foods you can make at home and how to get a residential kitchen permit.

Slides from the workshop “Residential Kitchens and Cottage Foods Operations” by Bri Dupras from the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG), with guidance about how to prepare your home kitchen to be certified.

Setting business goals

Goal Setting worksheet from independent farm/food business consultant Stevie Schafenacker.

One page business plan template from Farm Credit East.

Developing a business plan

Business planning toolkit from the Franklin County Community Development Corporation.

Farm-specific business planning courses:

• Online business planning course from New Entry Sustainable Farming Project
• Exploring the Small Farm Dream and Growing your Farm Business courses from MA Department of Agricultural Resources

Finding funding

The PVGrows Investment Fund provides financing and technical assistance to farm and food businesses through community investments.

The Mass Food Trust Program provides loans and grants to retail businesses increasing access to healthy, affordable food in low-income, underserved areas.  

For more farm-specific financing options, see CISA’s farm financing tipsheet.

CISA’s list of grants for farmers and our workshop handout with application tips. If you are new to grants, here are three common MA food system grants to start with: 

• For farmers: Local Farmer Awards and Matching Enterprise Grants for Agriculture (MEGA)
• Food Security Infrastructure Grant (FSIG) – funds farms, food processors, and other food system businesses

Setting up your business

Choosing a business entity:

• The Small Business Administration’s business entity chart
• Farm specific resources: FAQ about business structures from Farm Commons, and Guide to farm business structures from Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (NESARE)

The Healthy Business Checklist from Lawyers for Civil Rights has more information about entity formation steps, insurance, and other business set up steps. You may need support from a lawyer (for entity formation), an accountant (for tax prep), and other professionals as you take these steps.

Tipsheet on insurance options for farmers from CISA.

Connecting with customers

Marketing resources for starting a new business from Good Egg Marketing.

Marketing tipsheets from CISA.

Resources on how to sign up to accept SNAP payments for your business, and more information about how to accept payments from the Health Incentives Program (HIP) from CISA.