There are a few things you should be aware of if you intend to sell food in Maine in order to operate lawfully and securely. The following are the primary criteria you must fulfill: 1. Obtain a license for a food establishment. The Maine Department of Health and Human Services must issue you a food establishment license before you may begin serving food there. This license guarantees that your company complies with all state health and safety laws. Filling out a form and having your food handling facilities inspected are both required steps in the application procedure.
2. Comply with state laws governing food safety In Maine, there are stringent laws in place to protect the quality of the food supply. You must have a written food safety plan in place, adhere to correct food handling and storage methods, and maintain accurate records of your food inventory and sales in order to comply with these rules.
3. Obtain Required Permits and Certifications
The number of permits and certifications you require will depend on the kind of food you sell. For instance, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry requires a license for anyone selling meat or poultry products. The Maine Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations will issue you a liquor license if you intend to sell alcoholic beverages. Do I Need to Report My Etsy Income? You must declare your income to the IRS and pay taxes on it if you sell food on Etsy. If you meet the requirements, Etsy, which is regarded as a third-party payment processor, will give you a 1099-K form. Even if you do not receive a 1099-K form, you are still required to disclose this income on your tax return. In light of this, do I require an EIN for Shopify? You might need to get an EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS if you sell food on Shopify. This number serves as your company’s tax identification number. You can utilize your social security number instead of an EIN if you’re a lone proprietor. However, you must obtain an EIN if you hire people or conduct business as a partnership or corporation. How Much Does Etsy Keep from Each Sale? Etsy charges a $0.20 listing fee in addition to a 5% commission on the item’s sale price. There is also a payment processing fee of 3% + $0.25 per transaction if you want to use Etsy Payments to handle your transactions. Depending on your region and the kind of item you sell, these costs could change.
How Can I Add a DBA to a Maine LLC? You might choose to utilize a DBA (Doing Business As) name for your food business if you run an LLC in Maine. You must submit a Certificate of Assumed Name to the Maine Secretary of State in order to add a DBA to your LLC. You must fill out this form with information such as the name of your LLC, your preferred DBA, and other pertinent details. There is a filing cost associated with this form, and you should speak with a lawyer to be sure you’re adhering to all legal requirements.