Frequently Asked Questions

A cottage food business allows you to prepare and sell certain homemade food products from your home kitchen. In Hawaii, thanks to recent laws HB2144 and SB2106, you can now legally sell online, by phone, and through third parties from your home.

Common cottage food products include baked goods, jams, jellies, candies, and other non-potentially hazardous foods.

While not legally required, a website is highly beneficial for:

• Professional credibility and trust
• 24/7 product showcase
• Online ordering and inquiries
• Meeting new legal requirements for online sales
• Reaching more customers beyond word-of-mouth

With new Hawaii laws allowing online sales, having a compliant website is now more important than ever.

I run my own cottage food business (Alepelekes Hawaiian Ice Pops), so I understand your needs firsthand. I know the regulations, customer expectations, and challenges you face.

With 25+ years building websites and 40+ years in customer service, I bring both technical expertise and real-world cottage food business experience.

The Starter Package ($299) includes:

• Single-page responsive website
• Product showcase (6-8 products)
• Contact form with spam protection
• Google Maps location
• Social media links
• Compliance-ready labels
• Domain name (1 year)
• 2GB hosting (1 year)
• 1 email account
• 2 hours training

Year 2+: $199/year hosting renewal

Starter ($299): Best for new businesses - single page with essential features

Pro ($599): Multi-page site with unlimited products, blog, photo gallery, and more email accounts

Premium ($1,199): Full e-commerce with online ordering, payment processing, and customer accounts

All packages include domain, hosting, training, and full legal compliance.

No hidden fees! The package price includes everything to get you online.

After the first year, hosting renewal is $199/year (Premium package includes upgraded hosting at $360/year value).

Optional add-ons are clearly priced: logo design ($200-400), product photography ($400), social media setup ($200), monthly maintenance ($75-200).

Absolutely! Start with the Starter package and upgrade as your business grows. You can add features anytime - there's no need to commit to the Premium package upfront.

Most websites are ready in 1-2 weeks after we receive your content (product descriptions, photos, etc.).

Timeline depends on:

• How quickly you provide content and photos
• Package complexity (Starter is faster than Premium)
• Number of revision rounds

Yes, you'll need product photos. Good smartphone photos work great! We can also arrange professional product photography for $400.

Tips for good product photos:

• Use natural lighting
• Clean, simple backgrounds
• Multiple angles of each product
• Show scale/size when possible

Yes! All packages include training (2-6 hours depending on package). You'll learn how to:

• Add/edit products
• Update prices and descriptions
• Add blog posts or news
• Manage your email

If you prefer, monthly maintenance plans ($75-200) are available.

Yes! All our websites are mobile-first and responsive. They'll look great and work perfectly on phones, tablets, and desktop computers.

Since most customers browse on their phones, mobile optimization is built into every package.

All packages include ongoing support. You can contact me via phone, email, or the support form.

For regular updates and maintenance, consider a monthly maintenance plan ($75-200) which includes priority support.

Your website will meet all requirements of Hawaii's cottage food laws (HB2144 & SB2106):

• Required labeling information
• Proper disclaimers
• Allergen information display
• Contact information
• Terms of sale (for e-commerce sites)

I know the regulations because I follow them for my own cottage food business.

You should check with your county for specific requirements, but generally you'll need:

• Cottage food license/registration
• General excise tax license
• Any county-specific permits

I can build your website while you're getting licensed, so you're ready to launch as soon as you're legal!

All websites include proper allergen information display and required cottage food disclaimers. We'll work together to ensure your specific products are properly labeled according to Hawaii law.

To begin building your website, I'll need:

• Business name and contact information
• Product descriptions and pricing
• Product photos
• Your preferred domain name (we'll check availability)
• Any specific colors, fonts, or style preferences
• Links to your social media accounts (if any)

Don't worry if you don't have everything ready - we can work on it together!

Absolutely! I specialize in working with non-technical business owners. The training included with your package will teach you everything you need to know.

And if you get stuck, I'm just a phone call away. That's what the "NotRequired" in WebmasterNotRequired means - you don't need to be a webmaster!

We can discuss payment options during your free consultation. Typically, we require 50% to start and 50% upon completion.

After launch, you'll receive:

• All login credentials and documentation
• Training sessions (2-6 hours depending on package)
• Ongoing support for questions
• Annual hosting renewal reminder

You can reach me anytime for support or if you want to add features as your business grows.