Teaching in people's homes

[mrsfran]

I'm considering doing cookery lessons in people's homes 1 to 1 (and charging for it, obviously). Do I need to register/have a qualification/anything else for this? What sort of things do I need to consider, business-wise?

 

[FridgeMagnet]

You need to be registered as self employed for a start, probably as a sole trader here - see http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1073789606

 

[FiFi]

I don't know the answers to any of your questions, but if you do start lessons will you travel to Southsea.

I would love to learn proper cooking.
My Mam (and Nan before her) cooks by "just popping in a bit of this and that".

I never stood a chance of learning.

 

[cesare]

Basic food hygiene certificate (if you haven't already got one) & public liability and professional indemnity insurance if you want to be on the safe side.

 

[N_igma]

In what likelihood are you going to get caught doing something like that. Cash in hand and away you go.

 

[mrsfran]

You need to be registered as self employed for a start, probably as a sole trader here - see http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1073789606

Thanks, that link is very helpful.

I don't know the answers to any of your questions, but if you do start lessons will you travel to Southsea.

I would love to learn proper cooking.
My Mam (and Nan before her) cooks by "just popping in a bit of this and that".

I never stood a chance of learning.

Pay for my travel and I'll be there

Basic food hygiene certificate (if you haven't already got one) & public liability and professional indemnity insurance if you want to be on the safe side.

Yes, I was indending to get a basic hygeine cert. Insurance would certainly be a good idea too, any idea where to start looking for that?

 

[cesare]

Yes, I was indending to get a basic hygeine cert. Insurance would certainly be a good idea too, any idea where to start looking for that?

You need a decent broker to get the best rates and a package suited to what you're doing. I can tell you who I use if you like?

 

[spanglechick]

there is a personal safety issue whenever you go into someone's home - moreso when you don't have an office who knows where you are supposed to be.

 

[Santino]

there is a personal safety issue whenever you go into someone's home - moreso when you don't have an office who knows where you are supposed to be.

She has a minder.

 

[Chairman Meow]

I used to know a girl who gave cooking lessons and also filled people's freezers for a living. She made an absolute fortune filling freezers, but the lessons weren't so lucrative IIRC. Still, its something I'd love to do myself, so good luck!

 

[spanglechick]

She has a minder.

excellent!

it's tricky, though. When I did tuition I used to do it in my home, when someone else was home for that reason.

 

[spanglechick]

I used to know a girl who gave cooking lessons and also filled people's freezers for a living. She made an absolute fortune filling freezers, but the lessons weren't so lucrative IIRC. Still, its something I'd love to do myself, so good luck!

oh wow - i would pay for that. someone to prepare loads of yummy freezables for us with lots of nice ingrediants and no preservatives.

 

[mrsfran]

I used to know a girl who gave cooking lessons and also filled people's freezers for a living. She made an absolute fortune filling freezers, but the lessons weren't so lucrative IIRC. Still, its something I'd love to do myself, so good luck!

If I was selling food I'd made, I'd need to have serious insurance, have my kitchen health inspected, all sorts of stuff. I've looked into it before and it seems a real hassle unfortunately.

 

[samk]

there is a personal safety issue whenever you go into someone's home - moreso when you don't have an office who knows where you are supposed to be.

otoh, as a cookery instructor one has a good excuse to carry a knife...

 

[Chairman Meow]

If I was selling food I'd made, I'd need to have serious insurance, have my kitchen health inspected, all sorts of stuff. I've looked into it before and it seems a real hassle unfortunately.

This girl used to go to people's houses, discuss what they wanted, plan some menus for them and spend the day cooking there, so using their equipment. Her specialty was Italian food ( she was Italian, natch). I seem to recall she got a break by cooking for a tv studio, then catering for a BBC party. After that word of mouth spread and she went to peoples houses. She made excellent money at it (this would have been five years ago or so), but she really was a cracking cook.

I've always meant to look into this myself. I'd love to get a stall at a farmers market, but I've always been too lazy to see what it entails rolleyes: at self).

 

[mrsfran]

Given that I work full time, as much as I'd love to spend the day going to other people's houses and cooking all day, it's just not practical. It's more that I'm looking to turn a hobby into a bit of extra cash in the evening. Plus I like the idea of teaching people to cook. I'd also like to do some volunteer work with Help the Aged, teaching older people who haven't had to cook for themselves before (widowed men, mostly) how to prepare stuff for themselves.

 

[Ms T]

oh wow - i would pay for that. someone to prepare loads of yummy freezables for us with lots of nice ingrediants and no preservatives.

How much are you offering?

 

[spanglechick]

How much are you offering?

don't - a life catered by your good self would be gastro-heaven.

 

[Ms T]

My work colleagues have just been in fits of envy over my home-made lunch (Sichuan aubergines with rice).

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

How much are you offering?

I doubt we can pay you enough to want to enter our kitchen, given the state of it.