How to start a meal prep and personal chef business in Ireland

A good fit if you love cooking and planning meals for others

Busy families, new parents, seniors and people with health goals pay to have real meals ready. You can work as a personal chef, cooking a week of meals in each client's kitchen, or run a meal prep service that cooks in a licensed kitchen and delivers. The first is simpler to start; the second can grow bigger.

From €369 to start

Start lean with the essentials and upgrade as customers come, or set up fully from day one.

Once you're running: about €40 a month, plus about 8% of what you earn. Insurance every month, plus containers, fuel and card fees for each cook date. Groceries are billed to the client; add kitchen rent if you cook meal prep.

Work out your own numbers

Move the sliders to match your plans. The chart shows a first year that builds up as word gets around.

13 steps to your first customers

Each step says what it costs and how long it takes. Most owners get through them in a few weeks.

1. 1

   Choose how you'll work

   1–2 days Free

   Decide whether you'll cook in clients' kitchens, cook meal prep in a rented commercial kitchen for pickup and delivery, or both. The rules and costs are different, so check each with your health department.

   • In-home personal chef
   • Meal prep from a licensed kitchen
   • Ask the health department about each
2. 2

   Choose your name

   1 day Free

   Pick a name that says what you cook and who for. Make sure no one in Ireland has it.

   • 3–5 name ideas
   • Check no one else uses it
   • Check the domain

   Get name ideas for your businessFind a name
3. 3

   Register your business in Ireland

   1 day to 2 weeks €0–€50

   Most owners start as a sole trader with Revenue, and register a business name if they trade under another name; a company with the CRO keeps business debts separate.

   • Register as a sole trader: free
   • Register your business name: €20
   • Form a company: €50
4. 4

   Get your Tax Reference Number (TRN)

   1–5 days Free

   Your business's tax number from Revenue, for taxes and banking.

   • Register with Revenue
   • Open a business bank account
5. 5

   Get food safety training

   1 day to 1 week €13–150

   A food handler course covers the basics. A food protection manager certificate is often required when you cook in a licensed kitchen.

   • Food handler course
   • Food manager certificate
   • Allergen basics
6. 6

   Find a kitchen, if you need one

   1–3 weeks Up to €1.1k

   Meal prep you sell usually has to come from a licensed kitchen. Shared kitchens rent by the hour, often with a monthly minimum, a deposit and storage.

   • Shared kitchens near you
   • Hourly rate and minimums
   • Cold and dry storage
7. 7

   Sort out VAT

   1–3 days Free

   You must register for VAT once your sales pass €42,500 a year. The rate is 23%.

   • Know when to register for VAT
   • Keep records of income and costs
   • Set money aside for income tax
8. 8

   Get insured

   1–2 days Quotes are free

   Insurance protects you if something goes wrong on a job. Get quotes from two or three insurers.

   • General liability
   • Product liability
   • Business use on your car insurance
9. 9

   Buy your kit

   1 week €95–800

   Start with knives, a stock pot, sheet pans, containers and a cooler bag. Add a vacuum sealer and a label printer as you grow.

   • Knives, pots and pans
   • Containers and labels
   • Insulated bags
10. 10

    Set your prices

    1 day Free

    Personal chefs usually charge a fee per cook date and bill groceries on top. Meal prep services price per meal, with food included. See the prices below.

    • A fee per cook date
    • Groceries billed at cost
    • Prices per meal for meal prep
11. 11

    Put your business online

    1 day Included

    Show sample menus, how it works and your prices, with a form to book a first consultation.

    • Website with sample menus
    • Booking or order form
    • Google Business Profile

    Describe your business and PressUp builds your websiteBuild your website
12. 12

    Get your first 10 clients

    2–6 weeks Free

    Start with people you know, then parent groups, trainers, dietitians and neighborhood groups.

    • A trial cook date for friends
    • Ask trainers and dietitians
    • Ask every client for a review

    Ask your customers for reviews by email with PressUpSee how
13. 13

    Bill and keep track

    Ongoing Included

    Send an invoice for each cook date with groceries listed, and keep each client's diet and allergy notes.

    • Invoices with grocery receipts
    • Allergy and diet notes
    • Weekly schedule

    Keep your customers and invoices in one place with PressUpSee how

What Ireland asks for

Registering, taxes, and what this business needs. Check the details with each authority: rules change.

What to buy first

Buy the "must haves" to start. Add the rest when customers pay for them.

3 packages that sell

Simple choices make it easy to say yes. Most customers pick the middle one.

How to get your first customers

You don't need an ad budget. These work for new owners almost everywhere.

A month from now, you could be open

Common questions