Invoice templates for personal chefs covering in-home cooking sessions, private dinners, weekly meal prep, and culinary consultations.
A personal chef invoice records fees for cooking meals in a client's home, either for a single private dinner party or on a regular weekly or monthly basis. Personal chefs in the UK work for private households, high-net-worth individuals, busy families, and those with specific dietary requirements. Services can range from a single three-course dinner party to a full weekly meal preparation and delivery service. Personal chefs typically charge a service fee for their time separate from ingredient costs, which are either billed at cost (with receipts) or incorporated into a package rate. UK personal chefs may be self-employed sole traders or operate through a limited company. If working regularly for the same household, HMRC may deem the arrangement an employment relationship — personal chefs should take advice if they have a sole regular client. VAT applies to services if the chef is registered.
| Service | Typical Rate | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Private dinner party (3-course, up to 8 guests) | 450 | event |
| Weekly meal prep service (5 dinners) | 350 | week |
| Daily cooking rate (in-home) | 280 | day |
| Ingredients / grocery allowance (per week) | 150 | week |
| Menu planning consultation | 100 | session |
| Dietary/allergen menu creation | 150 | flat |
| Travel to client's home (per mile) | 0.45 | per mile |
Personal chefs working on a weekly retainer should invoice monthly in arrears, covering all cooking sessions in the period. Include a line for ingredient reimbursements with a summary total — keep receipts available for any client queries. For one-off private dining events, invoice in advance with a 50% deposit and the balance due 48 hours before the event. Always separate your service fee from ingredient costs. Some clients have a fixed weekly food budget and want to see exactly what was spent on groceries versus your fee. Transparent billing builds long-term trust with household clients. If you are asked to shop for specialist or unusual ingredients, factor the shopping time into your service fee or charge a small additional shopping rate. Long-distance travel to remote properties (country houses, holiday lets) should be charged at cost — agree this upfront.