General Business and Finance Blog

One of the most important things that you can do is to take care of your own personal finances.  You can do this in a variety of ways but perhaps the best way is to hire a certified public accountant who can help you every step along the way to manage your money.  If you live in Philadelphia personal taxes are probably a big issue for you like they are for people who live in many other parts of the country.  However if you’re looking for an accountant Philadelphia is likely going to be a very good place to start searching as Philadelphia has a long and interesting history involving money and taxation.

Many notable people like Benjamin Franklin at one time called Philadelphia home.  Franklin of course was famous for his frugality and for his general aptitude in handling money.  If you live in Franklin’s home city thing you should take a page from his book and do your best to manage your money the best way possible.  For many people this will mean hiring a certified public accountant to help you manage your money and pay your taxes.  For other people this might mean learning how to use software like Quickbooks as part of an effort to get better at handling money.  Perhaps you might venture to do both and learn Quickbooks and hire an accountant to help you balance your books.  Whenever you choose to do managing your money the best way possible is always a good idea.

When it comes to cooking you have three different categories of people; those who love it, those who hate it, and those who prefer to pay someone else to do it for them! Americans spend more on fast food and take out than any other industrialized nation – and the scales are proof of this! Is cooking your passion? Do friends and family constantly brag on how tasty your dishes are? If so – the personal chef business may be the ideal start up for you!

For the amount that the average person wastes on fast food in a month, they could hire a personal chef to prepare weeks worth of nutritious delicious meals! If the personal chef industry is something that you’re seriously considering as a business start up, there are several things that you need to keep in mind:

1. Know your state and county laws: A personal chef will usually prepare meals at the clients location of choice, but there is a growing trend of personal chefs who prepare at their own location – and deliver meals. Generally speaking, each state has it’s own set of laws that are applied to food service businesses. Depending on the type of services provided, the business must meet certain criteria. Some states do not allow home based food service businesses (ones where you will prepare meals in your own home) while others require certification. These laws are referred to as Cottage Laws. Just call your state’s commerce department and inquire about their cottage laws or food service preparation business laws.

2. You are more than a chef!: As a personal chef you will do more than whip up tasty meals, you will often service as a family meal planner and grocery shopper! Diversify your recipe repertoire to accommodate a wide range of tastes and styles. You should also familiarize yourself with the best places to shop and save. You will want to cook with the best cuts of meats and most fresh vegetables, so make friends with butchers and farmers where possible.

3. Define your specialty: Although you will want to have a wide range of recipes in your menu offerings – it’s a good idea to define a specialty to attract a specific type of client. Perhaps authentic Italian is where you excel, or maybe you are an expert in preparing gluten free meals. Whatever your specialty, be sure to highlight that fact on your services brochure!

4. Don’t forget the special needs!: In order to be a success, you will want to familiarize yourself with the various special dietary needs. From diabetes to gluten free to vegan and beyond – the most sought after personal chefs know how to make the best meals for every diet need!