Sell food from home
Cook from your own kitchen and deliver to local families.
Earnings and rates with Cheffo
How much you could earn, and how to set your rates.
- Set your own rate
- Choose your hours
- Keep what you earn
- Self-employed
You do not need a commercial kitchen, a catering qualification or a business plan to cook for people near you. You need a kitchen you already have and food people already want to eat.
On Cheffo you are a home cook, and you set your own hourly rate — typically between £15 and £40 an hour. What you actually take home depends on your hours, your rates, and your customers.
Here's what that looks like in practice:
| Scenario | Hours/week | Typical hourly rate | Monthly earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side income | 5–10 hrs | £15–25 | £300–1,000 |
| Part-time | 10–20 hrs | £20–35 | £800–2,800 |
| Full-time equivalent | 25–35 hrs | £25–40 | £2,500–5,600 |
How fast you build depends on your area, what you cook, and how many hours you want. Some cooks are fully booked within weeks. Others start with a few regular customers and grow from there. Either way, you're in control.
Calculate what you could earn
Everyone's situation is different. Use the calculator to model yours — adjust the sliders and see what the numbers look like for you.
Set your goals
What is your hourly rate for cooking?
How many hours do you want to work per week?
How many weeks do you plan to work per year?
Your estimated earnings
- Weekly earnings
- £400
- Monthly earnings
- £1,600
- Annual earnings
- £19,200
Ready to start earning?
How to get started
Getting on Cheffo is straightforward. Four steps, and you're earning.
Step 1: Download the Cheffo app
Available on iOS and Android. Free to download.
Step 2: Set your rates, services, and availability
You choose what you charge, what you offer — cooking in their kitchen, meal prep, delivery — and when you're available.
Step 3: Apply and get verified
Complete your profile, pass a background check, and go through a short review process.
Step 4: Start accepting bookings
Families find you, you accept bookings, you cook, you earn.
Want the full picture? See how Cheffo works
Download the Cheffo App
Free to join. No lock-in. Set your own rates from day one.
Cheffo vs alternatives
The same week of cooking, three different ways to sell it.
| Factor | Market stall | Catering agency | Cheffo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical rate | Whatever the day brings | £16–£20 / hour, minus the cut | £20–£30 / hour, your rate |
| Who sets it | The footfall | The agency | You do |
| Upfront cost | Pitch fee and stock | None, but you wait for work | Nothing to start |
| Kitchen | Hired or commercial | Theirs or the client’s | The one you already have |
| Hours | Fixed by market days | Whatever is offered | The hours you choose |
| Getting started | Licence and a pitch | Register and wait | Download the app |
Rates reflect what cooks in the UK report charging. Agency figures are before commission.
Want to read more?
Cooks like you, earning on their terms
These are the kinds of stories we see on Cheffo. Different people, different goals, different timelines — but all earning on their own terms.
Sarah
The side-income cook
A teaching assistant who cooks for two families on weekends. She charges £20/hr and works 8 hours a week.
8 hrs/week£20/hr£640/month
Holiday fund
Examples of the kinds of cooks who join Cheffo
James
The fast starter
Started batch-cooking from his own kitchen and had 6 regular customers within his first month — with Sundays off.
25 hrs/week£30/hr£3,000/month
Full-time equivalent
Examples of the kinds of cooks who join Cheffo
Priya
The specialist
Priya cooks for families who want the food she grew up on, and had a waiting list within three weeks of joining.
20 hrs/week£38/hr£3,040/month
More than her old salary
Examples of the kinds of cooks who join Cheffo
James and Priya's stories show fast trajectories — because fast trajectories are real. Sarah's shows a smaller, intentional commitment. The timeline depends on what you want, not on arbitrary platform delays.
How to set your rates
One of the first questions cooks ask is "what should I charge?" On Cheffo, you set your own rates — there's no platform-imposed pricing. That's liberating, but it also means the decision is yours. There's no single right answer. But here's what to think about.
What affects what you can charge
Your rate will depend on a few things: how confident you are in the kitchen, your location (London rates tend to be higher, but so is competition), the kind of food you cook, the type of service you offer (cooking in their kitchen, meal prep and delivery, pickup), and your availability (evening and weekend slots often command a premium). There is more on that under flexible hours.
How to price yourself as a new cook
If you're just starting and don't have reviews yet, consider starting slightly below where you think your rate should be. This isn't underselling yourself — it's building momentum. Your first 10 reviews are the hardest. After that, bookings come to you, and you can raise your rates with confidence.
When to raise your rates
A few signs you might be undercharging: you're fully booked two or more weeks out, you never get any pushback on your pricing, and every booking request comes through instantly. If that's happening, it's time to nudge your rate up. You can always adjust — nothing is locked in.
Not sure where to start?
Frequently asked questions
Cheffo is a platform that connects cooks with local families who want home-cooked food — in their kitchen or delivered.
Joining is free. There are no listing fees and no commission on what you charge.
You set up a profile with your rates, services and availability; families nearby find you and book you through the app.
No. You cook when you want, with no ongoing commitment.
Cheffo is live across the UK, and you choose how far you're willing to travel.
No. Home cooks on Cheffo cook in their own kitchen or in the customer's, whichever the booking calls for.
Still deciding? Here's what you should know
Flexible hours
Cook part-time, full-time, or as a side hustle. Your call.
Experience & qualifications
What you need and don't need to cook on Cheffo.