To start a coffee brand in Mississippi, pick your path first: a Cottage Food launch (roasted beans/ground coffee, direct-to-consumer) or a permitted commercial roastery for wholesale and shipping. Register your LLC with the Mississippi Secretary of State, secure an EIN, and open a business bank account; then apply for a Mississippi sales tax permit and collect 7% on retail bean sales. If you stay cottage, comply with the statute’s labeling (business name/address, product identity, net weight in oz/g, ingredients, allergens, and the required home-kitchen disclaimer) and sell directly—no wholesale or interstate shipping. If you go commercial, work with MSDH/MDAC on facility approval under Good Manufacturing Practices, install ventilation for your gas roaster, and check with MDEQ about air permitting thresholds; many small roasters qualify for a simplified permit. Buy an NTEP-certified scale and have it inspected by Weights & Measures. Build 1–2 core blends using consistent Gulfport/New Orleans importers, measure moisture/water activity, and stamp roast dates on one-way-valve bags; target 10–14 days degassing for wholesale. Avoid cold brew at launch—it triggers higher controls (process authority, pH/kill step). Line up product liability insurance, samples for Jackson/Oxford/Hattiesburg markets, and a USPTO trademark search before ordering printed packaging. Secure zoning and fire approvals.
