When you need a personal chef but think you can't afford one
You've probably had the thought: "I wish I had a personal chef". Someone to cook your meals, take the thinking out of dinner. And if you went as far as to look into it, you'll have seen the prices. £200 a day. £500 for a weekend. Agencies quoting thousands a month. Clearly only an option for the very wealthy, or for big dinner parties.
So you closed the tab, or let the idea go.
You just hadn't found Cheffo yet.
Why personal chefs don't have to cost hundreds
The prices you saw were based on an old model: chefs cooking elaborate meals or spending full days at the client's home. Of course that costs hundreds.
Cheffo works differently. Your cook is someone looking to help with exactly the kind of cooking you're looking for. They makes regular home-style cooking. They're usually spending no more than a few hours cooking, since that's all you need, and they're often making enough food to last you a few days, or the whole week. They set their own hourly rates, starting from £15 an hour.
That's why it doesn't need to cost hundreds on Cheffo. Not because the food is any less good. Because the model is completely different.
What it actually costs
Here's what that looks like on average in practice for your cooking:
| What you need | Hours a week | Typical weekly cost |
|---|---|---|
Meals for one person, a few days | 1-2 hours | £15–25 |
Family dinners for the week | 2-3 hours | £30-75 |
Full meal prep including special diets | 3-5 hours | £45-125 |
Compared to what you spend now
See how Cheffo stacks up against your current routines. Better quality, significant savings, and your time back.
How Cheffo makes professional cooking affordable for customers
Case study
How Lily cut her weekly takeaway spending in half
Challenge
After a long workday, the last thing Emma wanted to do was cook. But relying on daily takeaways was becoming too expensive and unhealthy. She needed a way to get affordable, wholesome meals without the hassle.
Solution
Through Cheffo, Emma hired Sarah, a local cook, to batch-cook her meals for the week. By booking a 2-hour session on Sunday at £18/hr, Lily secured days of nutritious, home-cooked food at a fraction of the cost of dining out.
Results
- Total spend: £36 per week
- Half the cost of her usual takeaways
- Healthier, higher-quality meals
- Free evenings to relax after work
Frequently asked questions
Cheffo connects you with vetted local cooks who cook for you on a regular basis — in your home, delivered to your door, or ready to collect.
You agree the price directly with your cook. Personal cooking usually works out far cheaper than a private chef and comparable to a regular takeaway habit.
Tell us what you need, we match you with local cooks, you pick the one that fits, and you sort out the details together.
No. There is no membership or subscription — you only pay for the cooking you book.
We're growing across the UK. Enter your postcode and we'll show you the cooks available near you.
Share a few details about what you need, browse the cooks we match you with, and send a request to the one you like. It only takes a couple of minutes.
Are you a cook? Set your own rates and cook for local families
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