In-Home personal chef

Busy working families, professionals, older people and hosts who want a dinner party without the cooking.

A fee per visit or per meal, plus the cost of ingredients. Regular weekly clients give steady income, and dinner parties earn more per booking.

• Confident home cooking across a range of cuisines
• Food hygiene and allergen knowledge
• Menu planning and shopping on a budget
• Friendly and discreet in other people's homes

• Register as a food business with your local council, usually at least 28 days before you start trading (check with them)
• Public liability insurance, and check whether your cover includes food poisoning claims
• Allergens: you must be able to tell clients accurately what is in each dish, so check current UK rules
• Your own kit and transport, as client kitchens may be poorly equipped
• Sole trader registration with HMRC for your income

Startup costs are typically around £300 to £1,500, depending on the kit you need, your transport and insurance. These are estimates. Client kitchens may be poorly equipped, so plan for bringing your own equipment.

Monthly revenue is typically around £600 to £3,000, depending on how many clients you cook for and whether work is regular family meals or one-off dinner parties. The estimates start from about 8 hours a week.

This is something to check with your local council. Registration as a food business is usually needed at least 28 days before you start trading. Also check public liability cover, including food poisoning claims, and current UK allergen rules.