Getting your own private chef is an expensive proposition and there are not all that many who can afford to have someone on staff at their home all the time. A personal chef, however, is a much more affordable option if you're interested in shifting some of the weight load of cooking daily meals onto someone else.
According to the American Personal & Private Chefs Association, there are over 9,000 personal chefs working in the US (probably more who want to be personal chefs or are working in other capacities at the moment, too) and over 70,000 clients who use their services on a regular basis. The chefs don't necessarily come in every day and cook dinner for their clients, but instead try to use their time more efficiently so that they can handle multiple clients. Some will spend a day a week in a different home, preparing several meals while they are there and refrigerating or freezing them. Others rent commercial space and prepare all of their clients' meals in advance, then deliver them directly. Prices average about $200-400 per day, but keep in mind that that price includes the ingredients and cooking time for 3-5 meals for four (or more people), which comes out to an average of $18 per entree.














