Food
Personal chef & meal prep
Cook weekly meals for busy families or special diets.
- Start-up cost
- $500–$3k
- First revenue
- ~1 month
- Time needed
- 10+ hrs/week
- Where
- Local
Rough estimates. Costs and timelines vary a lot by location and niche.
Who thrives at this
- People who like working with your hands
- People who light up when helping people
- People who have a strong creative streak
- People who are organized and follow through
- People who get energy from being around people
Involves face-to-face work with customers. Physically demanding.
Skills that help
Don't have them yet? Tap one to find beginner courses.
Your starter kit
The tools and steps most people need to get a personal chef & meal prep business off the ground.
1. Test the idea
- Cottage food & food permits FreeWhat you can legally sell from a home kitchen depends on your state. Start with the licensing guide, then your state health department.
- SBA business guide FreeFree, official step-by-step guide to planning, launching and managing a small business.
- SCORE free mentoring FreeGet matched with a volunteer mentor who has run a business. Free.
2. Launch
- Register your business FreeChoose a structure (sole prop, LLC…) and register with your state. The SBA explains every option.
- Get an EIN from the IRS FreeYour business tax ID. Free and takes about 10 minutes online. Never pay a third party for this.
- Business insurance basics FreeWhat coverage small businesses typically need, and how to shop for it.
- Open a business bank account FreeKeep business money separate from day one. The SBA covers what to look for.
- Wave FreeFree accounting and invoicing for small businesses.
- Canva FreeMake a logo, flyers, social posts and business cards without hiring a designer.
- Google Business Profile FreeFree listing so local customers find you on Google Search and Maps. The single best free marketing for a local business.
- Square Take card payments in person with a phone, plus invoices and simple booking.
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