Personal Chef Business Startup Guide

The Chefs Without Restaurants Network
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Welcome to the Personal Chef Business Startup Guide, the podcast that helps culinary professionals build successful, independent careers on their own terms. Hosted by Chris Spear, a personal chef with over a decade of experience and the founder of Chefs Without Restaurants, this show dives into the business side of being a personal chef—from pricing strategies and marketing to client acquisition and scaling your services. Each episode features practical advice, real-world strategies, and expert insights to help you turn your culinary skills into a profitable, sustainable business. Whether you’re transitioning from restaurant work, launching a side hustle, or looking to take your existing personal chef business to the next level, this podcast will give you the tools and confidence to succeed.

Episodes

  1. SEP 30

    Fueling the Pros: Chef Brandon Rogers on Cooking for Athletes and Building a Private Chef Brand

    What does it take to cook for NFL players, wear multiple hats as a culinary entrepreneur and still deliver high-end meals week after week? In this episode, Chris Spear sits down with Chef Brandon Rogers, a Chicago-based private chef with a background in fine dining, luxury hotels and a growing client list that includes professional athletes. What You’ll Learn: How Brandon transitioned from event planning to private cheffingBuilding trust with high-profile clients like pro athletesThe difference between private vs. personal chef work How Brandon handles custom menu creation, pricing and client communicationTips on navigating admin tasks, sourcing and scaling with support staffHow nutrition knowledge helps him stand out in a competitive marketHighlights: Brandon’s journey to becoming a private chef The balance between food, experience, and hospitalityBehind-the-scenes insights on working with celebrity clientsUsing ChatGPT to master photographyWant more Brandon? This is just one part of a two-part series Head over to the Chefs Without Restaurants podcast to hear Brandon talk about his time on Next Level Chef with Gordon Ramsay and Richard Blais.  BRANDON ROGERS Brandon's Instagram Check out Brandon's website PERSONAL CHEF BUSINESS STARTUP GUIDE Follow us on Instagram, Threads and YouTube Reach out at chefstartup@gmail.com ... More Coming soon CHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTS Check out our other podcast and community. If you enjoy the show and would like to support it financially, please check out our Sponsorship page (we get a commission when you use our links). Get the Chefs Without Restaurants Newsletter Chefs Without Restaurants Instagram, Threads, TikTok and YouTube The Chefs Without Restaurants Private Facebook Group Chris Spear's personal chef business Perfect Little Bites

    30 min
  2. How to Grow a Personal Chef Business with AirBnB and Vacation Rentals

    MAY 15

    How to Grow a Personal Chef Business with AirBnB and Vacation Rentals

    Are you a personal chef looking to grow your business and get more clients without spending a ton on advertising? In this episode of the Personal Chef Business Startup Guide, part of the Chefs Without Restaurants podcast network, I’m sharing one of my most downloaded solo episodes, focused on a game-changing strategy that helped me scale my business: partnering with Airbnb and vacation rental property owners directly. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How vacation rentals like Airbnb and VRBO can become your #1 source of clientsWhy I’m booking 10-15 person parties instead of just couples—and how you can tooThe exact steps to find and contact vacation rental hosts and property managersHow to create a media kit that gets shared with every guest staying at a propertyTips for becoming a preferred or exclusive chef for a vacation homeWhy rural locations and wine country rentals can be gold mines for private chefsI also cover the power of social media tagging and how one comped dinner can lead to recurring gigs. Whether you're new to the personal chef business or looking to scale, this episode will give you practical, actionable advice. PERSONAL CHEF BUSINESS STARTUP GUIDE Follow us on Instagram, Threads, TikTok and YouTube Reach out at chefstartup@gmail.com ... More Coming soon CHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTS Check out our other podcast and community. If you enjoy the show and would like to support it financially, please check out our Sponsorship page (we get a commission when you use our links). Get the Chefs Without Restaurants Newsletter Chefs Without Restaurants Instagram, Threads, TikTok and YouTube The Chefs Without Restaurants Private Facebook Group Chris Spear's personal chef business Perfect Little Bites

    10 min

  3. MAR 11

    Deposits, Payment Methods, and Payment Horror Stories – What Every Personal Chef Needs to Know

    When you run a personal chef business, getting paid isn’t always as simple as it should be. From payment disputes to canceled checks and questionable Venmo transactions, every chef has a horror story. In this episode, I sit down with Chef Matt Collins to talk about the best payment methods, when to require deposits, and how to protect yourself from payment issues. If you take money for your services—whether as a personal chef, caterer, or food entrepreneur—this is a must-listen! We share real-life payment horror stories, break down the pros and cons of different payment methods, and discuss strategies to avoid late or missing payments. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✅ The best payment methods for personal chefs (and which ones to avoid) ✅ Why deposits are crucial & how much to require upfront ✅ The hidden risks of Venmo, Zelle, and PayPal transactions ✅ How to handle clients who want to split payments between multiple people ✅ Real horror stories of chefs who got scammed or didn’t get paid ✅ How to protect yourself from last-minute cancellations & chargebacks ✅ Tips for handling cash payments and avoiding tax issues MATT COLLINS Matt Collins on Instagram Chef Collins Events - Private Dinners PERSONAL CHEF BUSINESS STARTUP GUIDE Follow us on Instagram, Threads, TikTok and YouTube Reach out at chefstartup@gmail.com ... More Coming soon CHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTS Check out our other podcast and community. If you enjoy the show and would like to support it financially, please check out our Sponsorship page (we get a commission when you use our links). Get the Chefs Without Restaurants Newsletter Chefs Without Restaurants Instagram, Threads, TikTok and YouTube The Chefs Without Restaurants Private Facebook Group Chris Spear's personal chef business Perfect Little Bites

    33 min

  4. MAR 11

    The Do’s and Don’ts of Running a Personal Chef Business

    Want the INSIDE SCOOP on building and growing a food business? Subscribe to our newsletter. Are you thinking about starting a personal chef business or looking for ways to make yours more successful? After 11 years of experience as a personal chef and building the Chefs Without Restaurants community, I’ve learned what works—and what doesn’t—when it comes to running a profitable, sustainable business. In this episode, I’m breaking down the do’s and don’ts of being a successful personal chef, based on a recent interview I did for the meez blog. Whether you’re just starting or already working as a personal chef, these tips will help you avoid common mistakes, attract more clients, and streamline your operations. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✅ The #1 thing new personal chefs should do before taking paid clients ✅ Why cooking in someone’s home is completely different from a restaurant kitchen ✅ The importance of focusing on the entire dining experience—not just the food ✅ How to ask for and leverage client reviews to grow your business ✅ Why building a strong chef network is one of the best things you can do ✅ How vacation rentals (like Airbnb and VRBO) can help you book more clients ✅ A game-changing tool for organizing your recipes and menus digitally Resources Mentioned in This Episode: 📖 Read my interview on the meez blog: How to Be a Successful Personal Chef 🎙️ Listen to my interview with meez founder Josh Sharkey 🎧 Grow Your Personal Chef Business with Airbnb 🛠️ Try meez for better recipe organization PERSONAL CHEF BUSINESS STARTUP GUIDE Follow us on Instagram, Threads, TikTok and YouTube Reach out at chefstartup@gmail.com ... More Coming soon CHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTS Check out our other podcast and community. If you enjoy the show and would like to support it financially, please check out our Sponsorship page (we get a commission when you use our links). Get the Chefs Without Restaurants Newsletter Chefs Without Restaurants Instagram, Threads, TikTok and YouTube The Chefs Without Restaurants Private Facebook Group Chris Spear's personal chef business Perfect Little Bites

    9 min

  5. SEASON 1, EPISODE 1 TRAILER

    How to Start a Personal Chef Business - Welcome to the Podcast

    Want the INSIDE SCOOP on building and growing a food business? Subscribe to our newsletter. Welcome to the very first episode of Personal Chef Business Startup Guide. If you’re a chef looking to start or grow your personal chef business, you’re in the right place. I’m Chris Spear, a personal chef with over a decade of experience and the founder of Chefs Without Restaurants. After talking to hundreds of chefs, I’ve realized that many struggle with the business side of things—pricing, marketing, and finding clients. That’s exactly what this podcast is here to help with. In this episode, I’ll share: ✅ What this podcast is all about ✅ Who it’s for (aspiring and established personal chefs) ✅ A sneak peek at upcoming episodes ✅ How you can connect with me and our community 📌 Upcoming Topics – A preview of episodes covering: How to get your first clientsPricing your services the right wayGrowing your business by partnering with vacation rental hostsThe biggest mistakes personal chefs make (and how to avoid them) PERSONAL CHEF BUSINESS STARTUP GUIDE Follow us on Instagram, Threads, TikTok and YouTube Reach out at chefstartup@gmail.com ... More Coming soon CHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTS Check out our other podcast and community. If you enjoy the show and would like to support it financially, please check out our Sponsorship page (we get a commission when you use our links). Get the Chefs Without Restaurants Newsletter Chefs Without Restaurants Instagram, Threads, TikTok and YouTube The Chefs Without Restaurants Private Facebook Group Chris Spear's personal chef business Perfect Little Bites

    3 min

Trailer

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About

Welcome to the Personal Chef Business Startup Guide, the podcast that helps culinary professionals build successful, independent careers on their own terms. Hosted by Chris Spear, a personal chef with over a decade of experience and the founder of Chefs Without Restaurants, this show dives into the business side of being a personal chef—from pricing strategies and marketing to client acquisition and scaling your services. Each episode features practical advice, real-world strategies, and expert insights to help you turn your culinary skills into a profitable, sustainable business. Whether you’re transitioning from restaurant work, launching a side hustle, or looking to take your existing personal chef business to the next level, this podcast will give you the tools and confidence to succeed.

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