How much should I expect to pay for a private chef?

[Anonymous]

This has always been one of those "if I ever hit the lottery" goals, but lately, I've been thinking more seriously about hiring a chef. We get home from work, and then we're usually running to kids sports, dance, music lessons. It's fast food or mac and cheese or ham sandwiches or some other crap and I am just so sick of it. I'm starting to think it may be well worth it to have someone have a healthy dinner on the table every night at 5:15 so we can all eat well. Anyone do this? I'm curious about these things:

1. How much did it cost?
2. What is your HHI? And at what HHI did it start to make financial sense?
3. Worth it to you? What's it like?

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

You should call a domestic staffing agency. There are a bunch locally, and I bet they could give you a range of options.

It’s concerning that you’re asking about HHI. This isn’t really a HHI question. You need to look at your whole financial picture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should call a domestic staffing agency. There are a bunch locally, and I bet they could give you a range of options.

It’s concerning that you’re asking about HHI. This isn’t really a HHI question. You need to look at your whole financial picture.

Why is that concerning? People ask about HHI here all the time in the context of what luxury goods and services are appropriate. "At what HHI does private school make sense?" "At what HHI does a country club make sense?" We've recently hit seven figures so what used to feel like a pipe dream now feels like something to consider. Interested in perspective of others who've gone the private chef route.

[Anonymous]

If your household income is above seven figures, then you really should not worry about affording a part-time dinner chef IF your finances are in order.

However, the concern about healthy meals has been addressed by several services which ship ready to heat healthy meals.

[Anonymous]

A lot cheaper to just get married to the right woman.

[Anonymous]

There are a ton of people who will shop and come over and cook all Monday for you for the week. Usually in the various immigrant communities and its not per hour but per number of dishes you want. Youd still have to reheat things ar dinner time.

[Anonymous]

I am so curious about this too. It seems impossible to actually figure out, but it's the ONE thing that would actually make our lives run smoothly. I just don't even know where to start looking.

[Anonymous]

Saw this on our local listserv. Contact one and find out?

“My name is Keaton Hopkins, I am a local private chef in Mclean VA. I went to cooking school at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park New York and graduated with Aos in culinary arts. I also went to the School of Regional Italian Cuisine in Jesi Italy and graduated with Masters in Regional Italian Cuisine. I have been a private chef for high profile families in Virginia over 12 years. I am looking for families who would like to hire a private chef 2 to 3 days a week to cook meals at their house. My email is if interested [e-mail]”

[Anonymous]

Having a personal chef will easily be a 6 figure annual cost.

HHI doesn’t really mean as much as how much free cash flow you have.

It would be a luxury well beyond the convenience/utility cost. I wouldn’t consider it unless money is truly no object and/or your NW is generating enough non-employment income that you can pay for a chef out of cash flow from that without touching principle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot cheaper to just get married to the right woman.

How sexist of you. Men can cook too you know. In fact there are many famous men chefs. My husband cooks and my nephew is the cook in his family. Welcome to the 21st century!

[Anonymous]

I know of only one person (family) who has a private chef (well, chefs, because they have a couple homes). their HHI is probably 10-20m average, but their net worth is huge due to a couple major things (selling a company, ipo, etc). the funny thing is that it seems silly to have a private chef in nyc when your assistant can order food from any number of amazing restaurants nightly.

OP, have you tried meal delivery? there's mighy meal, vegetable and butcher, etc. the latter delivers a couple times a week.

I also find meal kits a good halfway point I liked sun basket the best in terms of selection and things were pretty easy to make. Its the planning and organizing that gets me, I dont have an issue with 30 min to cook and clean up.

[Anonymous]

What about a private cook?

I'm a pretty good cook. I make a nice variety of dishes. I'm used to accommodating a variety of needs like veganism and food allergies. But I'm just a "mom" cook and not a professional chef.

I would much rather cook than my current job. How much would people pay for someone like me to come in for a few hours and leave with dinner on the table, lunch boxes packed, and something for breakfast the next morning? If you have kids, I'm happy to involve them so they learn to cook too.

I'm talking about regular family food, not restaurant fancy food.

[Anonymous]

5:15?

Do you and your partner have jobs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about a private cook?

I'm a pretty good cook. I make a nice variety of dishes. I'm used to accommodating a variety of needs like veganism and food allergies. But I'm just a "mom" cook and not a professional chef.

I would much rather cook than my current job. How much would people pay for someone like me to come in for a few hours and leave with dinner on the table, lunch boxes packed, and something for breakfast the next morning? If you have kids, I'm happy to involve them so they learn to cook too.

I'm talking about regular family food, not restaurant fancy food.

I would pay ~$150 per day I think. Does that seem unreasonable? I have literally no frame of reference for this.

[Anonymous]

I'd drop the "sports, dance, and music lessons" crap first. Your kids can learn cooking at home.