For bakers

Seller FAQ

The most common questions from home bakers selling on Ovendrop. Still stuck? Email support@ovendrop.com.

Do I need a permit or license to sell?

No. Ovendrop operates under each state's cottage food law, which lets home bakers sell non-hazardous baked goods without a commercial kitchen, permit, or inspection. You'll register your address with us during onboarding and label your products with the required cottage food disclosure — we handle that part automatically on your listings. See our cottage food guide for the specifics in Florida and Minnesota.

What can I sell?

Shelf-stable baked goods: cookies, brownies, breads, cakes without dairy-based frosting, candies, jams, and similar. Anything requiring refrigeration for food safety (cheesecakes, buttercream cakes, cream pies) is not allowed under cottage food law. If you're unsure about a specific product, check your state's approved list.

What does Ovendrop charge?

8% platform fee on each sale, deducted automatically before payout. During our launch, every new baker is enrolled as a founding baker and pays 4% (50% off) for the lifetime of their storefront — once the founding cohort fills, new signups will pay the standard 8%. There are no monthly fees, no listing fees, and no charge for unsold products. Buyers pay a small service fee at checkout on top of your price — that covers Stripe processing and our buyer-side costs and doesn't come out of your earnings.

How and when do I get paid?

Payouts run through Stripe Connect. Once you complete Stripe's quick onboarding (ID verification, bank account), earnings land in your bank on Stripe's rolling schedule — typically 2 business days after pickup confirmation. You can check your payout schedule and history in your dashboard.

Do I handle sales tax?

Yes — sales tax on cottage food varies by state and locality, and you're responsible for collecting and remitting it if required in your jurisdiction. Ovendrop does not currently calculate tax at checkout. We recommend consulting your state's tax guidance or a local accountant.

How does pickup work?

Buyers come to you at a time you coordinate through the app. Your exact address stays private until you mark an order ready for pickup — buyers only see a general area (like "Near Orlando") beforehand. You can propose up to five pickup windows per order and finalize the exact time with the buyer in the order chat.

What if a buyer cancels or I need to cancel?

Buyers can cancel before you accept at no cost. After you accept, the buyer's 6.5% service fee is non-refundable, but the product total is refunded. If you need to cancel (e.g., you're out of an ingredient), the buyer is refunded in full and no platform fee is charged. We recommend communicating through the order chat before cancelling either way.

How does allergen labeling work?

You'll tag each product with its major allergens (wheat, dairy, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, etc.) and list full ingredients. We display those prominently on your listings. Cottage food law requires accurate ingredient labeling — take this seriously; a missed allergen disclosure is one of the few things that can land a cottage food operator in real trouble.

Can I sell in multiple states?

Under cottage food law you can generally only sell to buyers in your own state, and often only within a limited distance. Ovendrop restricts your storefront to buyers in your registered state automatically. Interstate sale of cottage food is tightly regulated by the FDA and we don't support it.

What about reviews and disputes?

Buyers can rate and review after pickup. If there's a problem — wrong order, something unsafe — buyers can flag the order and we'll mediate. Most issues resolve directly between baker and buyer in the order chat. Consistent serious issues can result in removal from the platform.

Ready to start? Onboarding takes about 5 minutes.

Start selling