10 Things to Consider before Starting a Chef Agency

Author Name: Shreya mehta

Address:- B-707 MONDEAL SQUARE Sarkhej

Gandhinagar Hwy, Prahlad Nagar,

Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380015

Mobile No:- +91 8980018741

When chef Josh Comfort was out of work he decided to open his own chef agency near you instead of looking for job listings. He called it Crave Seasonal Dining Co. Crave is now one of the most successful chef agencies in San Diego County.

"When I started chef staffing, there were not a lot of best chef agency near you, out there," said Comfort, who has more than 20 years experience as chef and owner of multiple restaurants. "I saw an opportunity because chefs struggle with getting regular jobs."

The demand for professionals like chef de cuisine, executive sous chef or pastry chef increased as young people continued to flock to California's major cities seeking employment within the food industry.

Image source:- shutterstock

For those who are considering starting their own chef agency, Comfort offers the following insight from his own experiences.

1. Start Small

At first Comfort operated under the umbrella of an established chef staffing business, which allowed him to work with clients he met through chef networking events and chef's night out dinners without having to pay for office space. "I started off providing chef staff on an as needed basis," he said. "The small chef staffing company gave me free reign to do what I really wanted because they trusted me."

2. Create A Solid Business Plan

According to Comfort, writing a detailed chef agency near you business plan is one of the most important things new owners should consider before starting their own chef service company. This will help them determine if there is enough demand in their geographic area for another culinary-staffing company and whether chef agencies can charge reasonable prices for their services. Comfort also recommends researching chef staffing companies in the same geographic area to ensure there is enough demand. "There's very little information on how much it costs to open a chef staffing agency," he said.

3. Build A Network

"Chef networking groups are great because they're made of like-minded people who share ideas and knowledge about what works, what doesn't work and who to talk to," Comfort explains. "These days you cannot start a chef agency alone." He suggests building relationships with other chef industry professionals such as personal chefs, restaurant owners, bakers and pastry chefs. Aspiring chef entrepreneurs should also join organizations like American Culinary Federation (ACF) or American Academy of Chefs (AAC) where they can meet chef agency owners who are willing to share their time and knowledge.

4. Find The Right Office Space

Opening a chef staffing agency in an office near high traffic areas is also important for business growth, Comfort says. He recommends choosing a chef staffing office that's centrally located, has direct access to the freeway and is close to restaurants, hotels and convention centers. "You want people coming through your doors all day long," he said. "This impacts how much you'll be able to charge clients." Unfortunately, chef agencies cannot negotiate rent prices with landlords because most business locations are leased by brokerages or property management company's so it's important for new chef agents to develop rapport with property managers.

Video source:- Mashed

5. Build A Reputation

According to Chef Comfort, many chef staffing companies fail because new owners try to get clients by offering discounts on their chef services or below market prices for chef staff. "I didn't do that," he said. "You can't offer low chef agency rates and stay in business." Instead, Comfort recommends building a reputation of offering high-quality chef staff at reasonable prices so more people will hire you when they need employees or restaurant chefs.

6. Continually Market Your Services

Chef Comfort believes marketing is the most important skill for new chef company owners because it can make or break your reputation. He suggests all aspiring chef agencies invest some money every month to advertise their services with local newspapers (print and online), chef networking groups, chef associations and chef-owned food trucks. "I started with one chef truck," commented Comfort, who opened his own chef agency near you in Delhi. "I had my chef uniforms made so people would remember my company."

7. Establish A Reputation For Quality And Honesty

According to Chef Comfort, it's important for chef agencies to remain honest at all times by telling clients they cannot provide staff if the restaurant or event requires last minute bookings or schedules extra staff for evening events when business is slow during brunch hours. He also recommends not making promises you do not intend to keep because it will ruin your reputation as well as the owner of the restaurant where you sent your staff.

8. Own Or Lease A Mobile Chef Kitchen

Chef Comfort believes chef agencies with mobile kitchens are more successful than chef companies without chef trucks. He now owns three chef trucks and he recommends only using the chef truck for catering special events, corporate catering, and working at catered events where food preparation is very complicated. "You can't compete with other chef agencies that do not have chef trucks," Comfort said, who left his chef agency near you in Delhi to open his own company in Portland, Ore., six years ago. "The vast majority of my clients were restaurants." However, owning a chef truck does come with its downfalls.

Conclusion:

Chef agencies must pay high insurance rates which increases their operating costs significantly because they need additional staff to drive the food truck during lunch hours.

For more info:- Alliance international