Discussion Forums
for the
Personal Chef Industry

My mom handed out her first business card and was asked how much to just come and cook, i never actually thought of that, any ideas guys???? Please help, this guy will probably call me soon!

First off we do not know what area your mom is in or what she feels she needs to make, or wants to make, nor do we know how she wants to charge (fee plus food, all-inclusive, hourly, etc).

Even if we knew the above info,and though we can appreciate that you are trying to help your mom with starting her own personal chef service, the answers she needs to many of her questions, are in the APPCA training materials. You would be doing your mother a real favor by letting her know about APPCA. I would suggest that you at least get the home study training materials, that way, neither one of you have to try to reinvent the wheel. The training materials educate you on how to successfully operate a personal chef service from the ground up. It does not teach how to cook, as potential PCs should already know how to cook.

There are so many benefits to becoming an APPCA member, such as access to member only forums, being listed on the find a chef page (type in personal chef in google...we are first). She can call and talk with Chef Candy herself at 800-644-8389 to get way more info.

Wait a minute...hold the phone! I just read that the guy will probably call YOU soon.....are you the chef & your mother is "backing you financially"? On your very first post, you said YOU were starting this business, then on your 2nd post you claimed it was your mother, & that you were only going to keep the books for her, printing biz cards/menu...admin stuff. So which is it?

If your mother is the personal chef, the clients should be speaking to HER not you my dear.

Me also thinks that just maybe you have used up your "free questions" at least any that I will answer! If I sound irritated, maybe I am...b/c I get the feeling that you are not on the up & up with us.

Yes, my cell phone is on the business card only because out of the 3 of us i will be the one who can speak to clients during the day, my mother has an italian accent and finds it difficult in some cases to get her point across, THAT is why im using my cell number as a contact. Yes my mom will be the personal chef or in home caterer, my sister will be in charge of making desserts, if there are services involved i will be serving or bartending, i will be driving because my SUV will fit everything, i will be keeping books, printing cards & pamphlets and running the web site, i will also be preping food for both my mom and my sister. This buisiness is a gift i gave to my mom, yes im starting it, but she will run the show, she is the chef, this is all in hopes of making her (and our dreams come true) i dont feel that ive been hiding anything from you or anyone else, i even filled out my profile, i really dont know how i have wronged anyone here. I came here in search of answers that werent in any of the books that ive been reading every moment i have free, i also came here to maybe start some friendships, find some support, ya know "the 3 of you can do it Donny!"...that kinda stuff, but i guess not. Paying the membership right now is an IMPOSSIBILITY. SO with that said, I will leave you with my appologies for "irritating" you, and my thanx for the questions that you HAVE answered. I will check back to see what your response is but after that i will definately keep my distance from this message board, so no worries. Have a nice day!

Donny, there is nothing wrong with asking general questions, but the ones you have been asking are in the APPCA training materials. No offense meant...but I like the rest of the members paid for this information. The other organizations are not going to give you free information on how to charge for services, recipes, answering tax issues, licenses, etc.(see this link)

I was just confused b/c all of the postings were different...one said it was your biz, next was your mom & so forth., I think it's great that your mom is going to fulfill her dream, I also understand now, why you are handling certain things. There is more to this business than you think & I'm sure you don't want it to come crashing down on her head.Buying the training materials even if it's just the home study, will help ensure that you do not fail. I understand all too well that financially sometimes we just can't do what we really want to do. You might want to at least buy the book that Chef Candy wrote "The Professional Personal Chef" the business of doing business as a personal chef"....it will answer a lot of those questions and then some...it will only help you all...and of course, it is way less expensive.

Sorry for being so testical with you...I judge the book by the cover this time...and shouldn't have. Anyway, best of luck to you three...and again, please consider getting the book...you won't be sorry & it will only help you.

Hi Donny,
Jackie had a great idea about buying the book. I think I got it from Barnes and Noble. I brought it about 6 or 7 months ago and read it from to back serveral times. After I got money for the holidays I used that to get the home study guides. I know its a steep investment but I get several leads by being a part of this organizatin.

Good Luck.

Hi Donny,

I read your posts also and was a bit confused on who was starting the business. I agree with Jackie, The Professional Personal Chef book by Candy Wallace and Greg Forte will answer A LOT of the questions that you have in starting your own personal chef business.

I think it is a great idea that you are doing this for your Mother and it sounds like you have a plan on how to achieve success. I would like to offer my advice, try to save enough money to purchase the APPCA training materials. If you can not attend a seminar in the beginning, no big deal, we were not able to attend a seminar until months later, but the training materials will help in guiding you and they will help you avoid a lot of the pit falls that comes along with opening your own business.

It took my husband and I about 2yrs. to decided to join the APPCA vs. some of the other organizations and I am here to tell you, joining the APPCA was one of the BEST decisions we have ever made, not to mention by joining it has enriched our lives beyond words.

We wish you and your family the best and hope to see you on the inside.
Ronetta