Become a personal chef with Eat Cook Joy.
Think of it as running your own personal chef business, without the busywork.
Cook for local families, set your own rate, and keep 100% of your meal-prep session fee. We bring the clients and handle the planning, groceries, and payments, so you can focus on cooking.
See what you could earn
Choose a session type and how many you want each week. There’s no platform fee on meal prep, so 100% of that session fee is yours.
Estimated weekly earnings
$495
100% of your meal-prep session fee, with no platform fee. An estimate from the published session rates, before travel and taxes — chefs set their own rate, so yours may differ. Custom Cooking and events are quoted separately and carry a 25% Eat Cook Joy commission.
Why cook with Eat Cook Joy
Steady, local clients
We connect you with families in your area who want home-cooked meals, week after week.
Less admin, more cooking
Joy handles the behind-the-scenes work. Your client has already chosen their meals, and the grocery list is already built around what’s in their kitchen. You just show up and cook.
It fits around your life
Some chefs cook with us full-time. Others fill open days around another job or their own clients. Either way, you’re building a client base of your own.
Your rate, your schedule
Set your own hourly rate and choose when and where you cook. There’s no platform fee on meal prep, so 100% of that session fee is yours.
This is a great fit if you…
- Want your own clients without doing your own marketing
- Like cooking for families and getting to know them over time
- Are organized and keep your calendar up to date
- Reply to messages quickly and flag changes early
- Enjoy variety, and don’t mind getting around town
Four steps to your first session
Apply
Fill out our short chef application.
Tell us how you cook
Your cuisines, your rate, the neighbourhoods you’ll travel to, and the days you’re free.
Get booked
Families book your open times, and every session comes with the menu, allergies, and notes already sorted.
Cook and get paid
Payment lands in your bank account within 48 business hours of checking out.
What a session looks like
- Your client plans their meals in Joy, and we order the groceries.
- The groceries are ready to be picked up by you on your way over.
- You cook the meals in their kitchen.
- You clean up and check out in the app.
- You get paid.
Chef FAQ
Eat Cook Joy connects independent private chefs with local families who want home-cooked meal prep. Here is everything you need to know about cooking with us.
Getting started
- What is Eat Cook Joy and how does it work for chefs?
- Eat Cook Joy is a platform that connects independent private chefs with families who want weekly meal prep at home. Families book you through the platform, we handle the groceries and payments, and you cook in the client’s kitchen.
- What do I need to become a private chef with Eat Cook Joy?
- You need a valid food handler certificate, general and business liability insurance, and a cleared background check. You also connect a bank account through Stripe during onboarding so you can get paid.
Earnings and payment
- How much do private chefs earn with Eat Cook Joy?
- You set your own hourly rate, and we turn it into a flat fee for each session type, so you know what you will earn before a session is booked. There is no platform fee on meal prep, so 100% of that session fee is yours. Custom Cooking and events are quoted for the request, confirmed with you before the session, and carry a 25% Eat Cook Joy commission.
- When and how do private chefs get paid?
- Earnings are released within 48 business hours of submitting a complete checkout. Payments go straight to your bank account through Stripe, which you connect during onboarding.
Sessions
- What types of meal prep sessions can I cook?
- Weekly Meal Prep is 3 mains and 2 sides. Light Meal Prep is 2 mains and 2 sides. Custom Cooking covers larger meal prep, special requests and gatherings. Every session includes cooking and cleanup, and clients can request up to 6 servings per dish.
- Do private chefs buy groceries for their clients?
- No. We order the groceries for every session, and you pick them up on your way to the client’s home. Pickup time is included in your session fee. When you pick up the order, check that everything is there and in good condition. If anything is missing or not usable, buy a replacement, upload the receipt at checkout, and we reimburse it with your session payout.
- Who provides pantry staples like oils and spices?
- Eat Cook Joy provides pantry staples such as oils, vinegars, sauces, spices and flours for use in Eat Cook Joy sessions. When a staple runs low, mark it on the platform at least 24 hours before your next session, since that is when groceries are ordered.
- How do I handle client allergies and dietary restrictions?
- Every session shows the client’s allergens, ingredients to avoid, dietary restrictions and notes. Read them carefully before every session, and take care to avoid cross contact when a client has an allergy.
- How do I close out a session?
- Check out in the app within 24 hours of finishing. Open the session, tap the three dots and select Checkout Session. Upload photos of the clean kitchen with all appliances off and of the food you prepared, plus any grocery receipts, and add a quick note about how it went. Checking out is required to get paid.
Scheduling and policies
- How do I set my availability?
- You set your availability on the Eat Cook Joy platform. Any open time can be booked by clients, and bookings are confirmed automatically, so there is nothing to accept. Keep your availability up to date, since a booking you cannot cover counts as a strike under our Chef Policies.
- Can I cancel a session?
- You can cancel with no penalty up to 48 hours before the session starts. Cancelling within 48 hours counts as a strike under our Chef Policies. In case of illness or a real emergency, contact us right away so we can find a replacement and let the client know. Emergencies do not count as a strike.
- What if I am running late?
- Arrive within the scheduled arrival window. If you expect to be late, let the client and our team know right away with an updated arrival time. Arriving more than 15 minutes after the start time counts as a strike.
What you’ll need
- A valid food handler certificate
- General and business liability insurance
- A cleared background check
- A bank account to connect through Stripe
Cook for families near you.
Set your own rate, keep 100% of your meal-prep session fee, and let us handle the rest.
Still have a question? Contact us