Private chef

[Anonymous]

Hi ,
Any idea where I could find position as chef? I see people are looking for nanny and expect from nanny to help with meal preparation. I am not looking that kind of position ( I am looking if someone want me to cook only)
I have part time nanny position and I cook for family as well.
I know it’s nanny form but being honest you guys have lot of information and very helpful.
I am very thankful for all of you.

[Anonymous]

Agency, but anyone hiring a personal chef expects professional training and skill.

[Anonymous]

Do some kind of certification. Years ago I did one in a three day classroom training. Part of what you'll learn is how to market yourself.

[Anonymous]

Private chefs don't make a lot of money, FWIW. The food industry pays so dismally that moving into private may pay better even at $12-$15/hr.

I would pay you to come once a week and make dinners for the week and school lunches. I bet other people would be that, too. Figure out what you would charge to do something like that, assuming you also did the menu planning and shopping, or if you only did the actual cooking and the family did menu planning and shopping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Private chefs don't make a lot of money, FWIW. The food industry pays so dismally that moving into private may pay better even at $12-$15/hr.

I would pay you to come once a week and make dinners for the week and school lunches. I bet other people would be that, too. Figure out what you would charge to do something like that, assuming you also did the menu planning and shopping, or if you only did the actual cooking and the family did menu planning and shopping.

I agree. And quote a flat rate, rather than per hour. My housekeeper said that she could cook, and I asked her to make spaghetti and meatballs and a roast chicken and potatoes one weekend. She did a lovely job shopping and making delicious homemade meals. But it took her five hours at $20/hour. So I paid $100 plus the cost of the food for two meals.
So, if you are going to charge something like $40/hr, I would expect 4-5 meals in about three hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private chefs don't make a lot of money, FWIW. The food industry pays so dismally that moving into private may pay better even at $12-$15/hr.

I would pay you to come once a week and make dinners for the week and school lunches. I bet other people would be that, too. Figure out what you would charge to do something like that, assuming you also did the menu planning and shopping, or if you only did the actual cooking and the family did menu planning and shopping.

I agree. And quote a flat rate, rather than per hour. My housekeeper said that she could cook, and I asked her to make spaghetti and meatballs and a roast chicken and potatoes one weekend. She did a lovely job shopping and making delicious homemade meals. But it took her five hours at $20/hour. So I paid $100 plus the cost of the food for two meals.
So, if you are going to charge something like $40/hr, I would expect 4-5 meals in about three hours.

The beauty of this is that if you get 4-5 families on board, you could meal plan/shop once, and still make the same amount for all 4-5 families, rather than charging each family for a separate shopping trip, or splitting the cost of the shopping/planning time.

[Anonymous]

So, Blue Apron runs abut $10/person per meal. That's what we do now, so I spend about $200/wk on 5 meals. I would totally pay you $250-$300 to come in for the day and do the dinners and lunches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, Blue Apron runs abut $10/person per meal. That's what we do now, so I spend about $200/wk on 5 meals. I would totally pay you $250-$300 to come in for the day and do the dinners and lunches.

That's insane. I spend about $200 a week on groceries, which covers all three meals a day (so, 21 total for the math-challenged) for 4 people, plus things like coffee, milk, snacks, etc. I've never used Blue Apron and didn't know how much it cost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, Blue Apron runs abut $10/person per meal. That's what we do now, so I spend about $200/wk on 5 meals. I would totally pay you $250-$300 to come in for the day and do the dinners and lunches.

That's insane. I spend about $200 a week on groceries, which covers all three meals a day (so, 21 total for the math-challenged) for 4 people, plus things like coffee, milk, snacks, etc. I've never used Blue Apron and didn't know how much it cost.

we found Blue Apron economical for 2 adults per week, but not for a family of 4, that's $40 per meal! Time to switch to Instant Pot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, Blue Apron runs abut $10/person per meal. That's what we do now, so I spend about $200/wk on 5 meals. I would totally pay you $250-$300 to come in for the day and do the dinners and lunches.

That's insane. I spend about $200 a week on groceries, which covers all three meals a day (so, 21 total for the math-challenged) for 4 people, plus things like coffee, milk, snacks, etc. I've never used Blue Apron and didn't know how much it cost.

You do you. I hate meal planning. I like variety. So we do Blue Apron. If you're on this board, then you either have a nanny or are a nanny. I'm sure plenty of people would say what you pay your nanny is insane.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your replies. Do you think Agency could help me? I did some certifications.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for your replies. Do you think Agency could help me? I did some certifications.

An agency will list you if you are truly looking at a private chef position (ie. coming in 3+ days per week, meal planning, all grocery shopping, cooking as many dinners as possible fresh). The positions that PPs are talking about are not the same. A private chef is paid an hourly wage and is a domestic employee. Anyone doing a flat fee, shopping for multiple families at the same time, perhaps not making the food in the families’ homes is now a contractor. Agencies will place employees, not contractors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for your replies. Do you think Agency could help me? I did some certifications.

An agency will list you if you are truly looking at a private chef position (ie. coming in 3+ days per week, meal planning, all grocery shopping, cooking as many dinners as possible fresh). The positions that PPs are talking about are not the same. A private chef is paid an hourly wage and is a domestic employee. Anyone doing a flat fee, shopping for multiple families at the same time, perhaps not making the food in the families’ homes is now a contractor. Agencies will place employees, not contractors.

Thanks again for your reply. Any agency recommendation? Most agencies are for Nannies position.

[Anonymous]

Maybe put an ad out for seniors. My dad pays someone to come clean and do cooking/errands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for your replies. Do you think Agency could help me? I did some certifications.

An agency will list you if you are truly looking at a private chef position (ie. coming in 3+ days per week, meal planning, all grocery shopping, cooking as many dinners as possible fresh). The positions that PPs are talking about are not the same. A private chef is paid an hourly wage and is a domestic employee. Anyone doing a flat fee, shopping for multiple families at the same time, perhaps not making the food in the families’ homes is now a contractor. Agencies will place employees, not contractors.

Thanks again for your reply. Any agency recommendation? Most agencies are for Nannies position.

There are several agencies nationwide placing a variety of domestic employees, but they require education, experiences and references. I don’t know what you have to offer for any of the three so I’m not comfortable recommending them. Do a google search, read through the main minimum requirements to be placed through each one.