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Personal Chef Industry

Hi everyone - Full-time worker here trying to get my "ducks in a row" and break into the personal chef field part-time. It looks like my schedule will only allow me to personal chef on weekends...any advice on how receptive clients are to cooking in their homes on weekend days?

Thanks for any advice you can provide!

~Leslie

Hi Twinkie,

I have been doing it part time for almost a year and so far, it's been great.

Because the work is 99% on weekends, the job differs a little from what the full time PCs do. I find myself doing romantic dinners all the time(interactive most of the time), small in-home catering functions for up to 20 people, back yard BBQs and so on. Most of the weekend functions I do are surprise parties for loved ones and the clients are usually doing well for themselves.

Clients are usually so impressed by the whole concept that they don't know how to react. Some want to be sous chefs, some clean for you, some are not too comftable having a stranger in their kitchen.


Remember that this is more than a hobby, whether FT or PT, you need to treat it like a business and joining the APPCA will help you do that. I am not the most active on the forums but I keep reading and soaking the information and because of that, my business and my approach to business is a lot better.

I hope this helps.

Al

Great advice - thanks Chef Al. I guess I'm looking at the weekend cooking pessimisticly from a client's point of view...weekends are for downtime at home and having a PC in the kitchen would be maybe "intrusive"? Kind of like having a maid clean while you're relaxing at home? Thinking out loud here...I'm new to this and hopefully you all can dispel my thoughts!

Thanks - Leslie

Hi Twinkie-

Starting out on weekends is a great first step. Leaving you with the comfort of a full time job.

It allows you the opportunity to become comfortable cooking in others kitchens while building a Rapport with prospective clients and their friends.

"Word of mouth" the best advertising! Definately.

Despite having clients around you, quickly you will become comforatable with this. Perhaps enjoying it!

Dinner Parties, cookdates, whatever the case may be.

Best of luck. - John

Hello Twinkie,

I agree with John, starting on the weekend is a great way to decided if this is for you!!

Another great way to get going is to cook for family and friends, you will quickly find out how happy you can make others!!

The safe factor of having a stable job and a steady income is great, but having control of your own destiny is worth more than all the tea in China!!

Good Luck and have fun with every moment..

Ronetta

Hi, Twinkie

I started out doing my PC business part-time on weekends.

I had both personal chef cookdates and parties. I did have some prospective clients who wanted me to cook for them during the week and of course I could not accommodate them. But most of my clients were ok with me being there on the weekends. I also tried to keep it to one weekend day - usually Saturdays. Working 7 days straight was too much for me.

Joining the APPCA at the beginning was what kept me going with advice, encouragement, etc.

Best of luck to you!
Laurie

Thanks everyone for your replies! Just what I was hoping to hear!