Private chef invoice template

How do private chefs usually invoice?

Private chefs invoice a chef fee per event or per day plus ingredients, which are either recharged at cost with receipts or included in a per-head price, taking a deposit of around 30% on booking and the balance within a week of the event. Weekly meal prep for families and villa or yacht placements are invoiced weekly or per placement. Travel beyond a local radius and waiting staff are separate lines.

Private chefs in this example give the customer 7 days to pay, after a 30% deposit taken before the work starts. A full day is typically £350 to £800.

What should a private chef put on an invoice?

Beyond the legal basics, private chefs should:

• Show the chef fee and ingredients separately, with receipts, unless you quoted per head.
• Take a deposit on booking, especially for Christmas and holiday dates.
• State the guest count and number of courses on the invoice.
• For placements, invoice weekly with the dates and whether accommodation and travel are covered by the client.

Every UK invoice, whatever the trade, must also show:

• a unique, sequential invoice number
• your business name and address (and company number if you trade as a limited company)
• the client’s name and address
• the invoice date and, for VAT invoices, the date of supply if different
• a clear description of each item of work or goods
• the amount due and when it must be paid
• your VAT number, the VAT rate per line and the VAT total, if you are VAT registered

Do private chefs charge VAT?

You only charge VAT once registered, which is compulsory when taxable turnover passes £90,000 in any rolling 12 months. Below that, show no VAT line and no VAT number. Once registered, these services are standard rated at 20%.

On the Flat Rate Scheme the sector for private chefs is usually “Catering services including restaurants and takeaways” at 12.5% of VAT-inclusive turnover, with a 1% discount in the first year of registration. If you spend little on goods you may be a limited cost trader and have to use 16.5% instead. The scheme suits businesses with few VAT-able costs; check it against the standard method with the VAT calculator before joining.