Personal Chef Business Startup Guide

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 cheffing
• Building trust with high-profile clients like pro athletes
• The difference between private vs. personal chef work 
• How Brandon handles custom menu creation, pricing and client communication
• Tips on navigating admin tasks, sourcing and scaling with support staff
• How nutrition knowledge helps him stand out in a competitive market

Highlights:

• Brandon’s journey to becoming a private chef 
• The balance between food, experience, and hospitality
• Behind-the-scenes insights on working with celebrity clients
• Using ChatGPT to master photography

Want 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

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Chris Spear's personal chef business Perfect Little Bites

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 clients
• Why I’m booking 10-15 person parties instead of just couples—and how you can too
• The exact steps to find and contact vacation rental hosts and property managers
• How to create a media kit that gets shared with every guest staying at a property
• Tips for becoming a preferred or exclusive chef for a vacation home
• Why rural locations and wine country rentals can be gold mines for private chefs

I 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
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... 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).
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Chris Spear's personal chef business Perfect Little Bites

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
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CHEFS WITHOUT RESTAURANTS
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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).
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Chris Spear's personal chef business Perfect Little Bites

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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
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Reach out at [email protected]
... 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

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 clients
• Pricing your services the right way
• Growing your business by partnering with vacation rental hosts
• The 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 [email protected]
... 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