Personal Chef Insurance
Cooking in clients' homes and private venues? Get the liability coverage clients expect — plus the certificate of insurance that gets you in the door.
As a personal or private chef, you work in other people's kitchens — handling knives and open flame around clients, families, and their property. One accident or illness claim can put your business at risk. Personal chef insurance protects you, and gives you the proof of coverage clients and agencies increasingly require.
What personal chef insurance typically covers
- General liability: a client is injured in their kitchen, or you damage their countertop or appliances.
- Product liability: a claim that a client became ill from a meal you prepared.
- Workers' compensation: required in most states once you bring on assistants or prep staff.
- Equipment coverage: protection for your own knives, tools, and gear (often added on).
Who it's for
- Personal chefs cooking weekly meals in clients' homes
- Private chefs for households, estates, and yachts
- In-home meal-prep and dinner-party chefs
- Pop-up and private-dining chefs
- Chefs working through placement agencies that require coverage
Why clients ask for a certificate of insurance
Households, property managers, agencies, and event venues frequently require a certificate of insurance (COI) — sometimes naming the homeowner or venue as an additional insured — before you cook. Having coverage ready signals professionalism and often wins you the gig. If your work also includes larger events, see our caterer general liability guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do personal chefs need insurance?
Yes. Cooking in clients' homes and private venues exposes you to injury and property-damage claims, and many clients, agencies, and high-end residences require proof of general liability — and a certificate of insurance (COI) — before you cook for them.
What does personal chef insurance cover?
It typically starts with general liability for client injuries and property damage (a kitchen fire, a damaged countertop), plus product liability for claims that someone became ill from food you prepared. If you employ assistants, workers' compensation is generally required.
What's the difference between a personal chef and a caterer for insurance?
The exposures overlap, but personal and private chefs usually cook in clients' homes for smaller groups, while caterers handle larger events. Coverage is similar; the right policy is sized to how, where, and how often you cook.
Get your free personal chef quote
Takes about 3 minutes. No obligation.