Getting started in personal chef / meal prep
Steps to go from home-cooking skill to your first paying personal-chef client.
- 1
Get food handler certified
Most states/counties require a food handler card (e.g. ServSafe) even for in-home cooking businesses — check your local health department's requirements before taking clients.
- 2
Get liability and product liability insurance
Foodborne illness or an allergic reaction claim can be costly; coverage built for food-service solo operators is inexpensive relative to that risk.
- 3
Set your pricing structure
Decide your weekly meal-prep session rate, per-person event rate, and grocery-reimbursement policy before you talk to your first client.
- 4
Build a dietary intake form and contract
Collect allergies, dietary restrictions, household size, and kitchen access details, and get the contract signed before the first session.
- 5
Develop a rotating menu system
A set of tested, easily customizable recipes speeds up shopping and prep and makes it easier to accommodate dietary swaps without reinventing every menu.
- 6
List yourself locally and on niche platforms
Google Business Profile, Nextdoor, local parent/wellness Facebook groups, and personal-chef-specific booking platforms drive early client traffic.
- 7
Track sessions and get reviews
Ask satisfied clients for a Google review and referrals after the first few sessions — word of mouth is the highest-leverage growth channel for solo personal chefs.