Posted by Sharon Odmann on September 30, 1998 at 07:09:15:
In Reply to: Thank You! posted by heyaneesa on September 30, 1998 at 00:21:28:
: Thanks so much for starting a forum such as this. I have tried for so long to find others doing this and actually be able to communicate with them. This is my delima: I have attended culinary school (got certificate), catered small parties, worked in a fine dining restaurant, and cook on an everyday basis for a family of 7 (my family); can I start this business with the knowledge and skills I currently have, or do I have to start with a personal chef's association? I'm very anxious to start soon! Also, is this something I can start part time and still "keep my day job"? I want to do this so badly that it's all I think about,cooking is truely my passion, I love it as much as life itself! Please advise!! I'm going out of my mind!
Hi,
Sounds like you are ready to get going with your personal chef business.
Sure, you can start your business with the knowledge you have. I did that for a couple of years and said that I would never join an association. I found, though, that I was cutting my way through the personal chef industry the long way. When I found APCA I realized that they had something I didn't: accumulated experience.
You can discover most of what you need to know about being a personal chef off of the web, things like pricing and marketing, recipes and menu planning. It's the nuances of the business that escape you when you are trying to do it yourself. Like how to pack up your equipment more efficiently, and how to close the sale.
Keep looking here at the the American Personal Chef Associations forum: http://www.paradise-serve.com/powerforum/pwrforum.exe?who=pcforum&shownew=ok
to find the mentoring you need.
Happy Cheffing! Wishing you success.
Sharon
Kiyote Cowboy Cookery &Personal Chef Services