How often should a private chef raise prices?

Many chefs review prices once or twice a year, and whenever grocery costs or job hours change noticeably.

How much notice should I give clients before a price increase?

Two to four weeks is common for regular clients. New clients can start at the new price immediately.

Should I raise my fee or charge groceries separately?

Charging groceries at cost protects you from food price changes, so your fee only needs to change when your time or overhead changes.

How to raise your prices as a private chef (and what to say)

Grocery prices change every week; your price probably hasn’t. Here is how to tell when it is time, how much to raise, and how to tell regular clients without losing them.

Signs it’s time

Your grocery bills for the same menu are clearly higher than when you set the price.
Jobs take longer than you planned, so your real hourly pay has dropped.
You are fully booked and turning work away.

Work out the new price from your numbers

Re-price one typical job with today’s costs. Example: a weekly meal prep cook day that used to take 5 hours now takes 6.5. At a $350 fee, your pay fell from $70 to about $54 an hour. Getting back to $70 an hour needs a fee of $455 (6.5 × $70).

If that jump feels too big for a regular client, raise part of it now and the rest later, or simplify the menu so the cook day gets shorter again.

A message you can send

“Hi [name], I love cooking for you. Grocery costs and prep time have gone up this year, so from [date] my weekly fee will be [new fee]. Groceries stay at cost as always. Thank you for understanding, and let me know if you have any questions.”

Give regular clients at least two to four weeks’ notice, and start new clients at the new price straight away.

Run your own numbers

ChefCents does this math for you: menu, shopping list with yield and whole packs, every cost, and a price for your margin or service fee. Free during beta, on your phone.

Start a free estimate

Questions chefs ask

How often should a private chef raise prices?: Many chefs review prices once or twice a year, and whenever grocery costs or job hours change noticeably.
How much notice should I give clients before a price increase?: Two to four weeks is common for regular clients. New clients can start at the new price immediately.
Should I raise my fee or charge groceries separately?: Charging groceries at cost protects you from food price changes, so your fee only needs to change when your time or overhead changes.