How to Make 6 Figures As A Chef? (11 Best Ways in 2024)
So you want to make six figures as a chef? Good for you! Being a chef is a highly respectable and well-paid profession, and there's no reason why you can't earn a high income if you put your mind to it.
In this blog post, we'll look at some of the best ways to make more money as a chef - business ideas you can start to achieve such income. Keep reading to learn more!
1. Start an ecommerce store ($287K/month)
As a chef aiming to make six figures, starting an eCommerce store could significantly boost your income by allowing you to sell products or services online. You could offer curated spice blends, gourmet meal kits, or exclusive recipes directly to consumers, reducing overhead costs compared to a traditional brick-and-mortar establishment.
The booming eCommerce industry provides remarkable flexibility and an expansive reach, catering to customers who appreciate the convenience of shopping from home. This approach can help you tap into a wider audience, building a loyal customer base and generating additional revenue streams beyond your current culinary endeavors.
How much you can make: $350 — $13,500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Southern Elegance Candle Company, founded by D'Shawn Russell, started as a side hustle making around $200 per weekend at a local Farmers Market, but now averages approximately $20,000 per month in sales across their retail site, wholesale site, and Faire.
2. Start a career coaching business ($48.5K/month)
Starting a career coaching business could be a lucrative way to make six figures as a chef by leveraging your unique industry insights. By providing personalized guidance and strategies to other culinary professionals, you could help them navigate professional transitions and growth opportunities, ranging from resume building to interview preparation and workplace advancement.
With your expertise, you could offer custom coaching sessions that cater to the specific needs and aspirations of your clients, whether through in-person or virtual meetings. This opportunity allows you to capitalize on your motivational abilities and HR expertise while setting your own schedule, making it a flexible and rewarding side business or even a primary career change.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $235,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Wall Street Oasis, the largest online community focused on careers in finance, has over 100 million visitors during its 14-year history and is currently receiving over 2 million visits per month, offering interview courses and mentorship services, in addition to building and investing in a thriving online community.
3. Start a freelance writing business ($62.6K/month)
Starting a freelance writing business could significantly supplement your income as a chef, putting you on the path to making six figures. This venture offers you the flexibility to define your own work schedule, allowing you to balance your culinary career with your writing projects seamlessly. Leveraging your expertise in food, you could create content such as recipe blogs, culinary guides, or restaurant reviews, establishing yourself as a voice in both the culinary and writing worlds.
By honing strong writing skills and staying current with writing tools and trends, you could attract a wide array of clients, from food magazines to online culinary platforms. As a self-starter, your ability to meet deadlines and communicate effectively will be crucial in building a dependable freelance business. This side hustle not only diversifies your income streams but also enriches your personal brand, offering limitless opportunities to grow both your culinary and writing careers.
How much you can make: $700 — $500,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 56 days (?)
How David Tile turned a freelance writing gig into an $80k/month business, discussing lessons learned through managing growing demands and maintaining a remote team operation.
4. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could be a lucrative way for you to supplement your income as a chef. By sharing your culinary expertise, recipes, and restaurant experiences, you could attract a dedicated audience interested in all things food. With a passionate following, you may have opportunities to monetize through sponsorships, advertisements, or even promoting your own products and services.
Furthermore, a podcast can enhance your personal brand, opening doors to new professional opportunities like guest speaking, book deals, or cooking classes. For those with an entrepreneurial spirit, a successful podcast could become a full-fledged business, tapping into the growing demand for online content and food-related entertainment. Consistently delivering valuable and engaging content will be key to building a significant income stream from this platform.
How much you can make: $400 — $1,020,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 2 hours/week
A successful podcast production company that grew from one client making $15/hour to a team of 10 contractors producing over 30 shows per week with revenue of over $10k/mo, primarily through referrals and with a focus on providing high personal touch and being picky about working only with clients who are a good fit.
5. Create an online course ($83.3K/month)
Starting an online course could help you make six figures as a chef by allowing you to monetize your culinary skills and expertise. You can create engaging video lessons and supplementary materials, offering specialized knowledge around topics like gourmet cooking techniques, menu planning, or world cuisines.
With flexible structures and a growing demand for convenient, self-paced learning, you could build a strong student base and generate passive income. This entrepreneurial venture requires relatively small startup costs and offers the lucrative potential to capitalize on your passion for information-sharing while serving eager lifelong learners.
How much you can make: $275 — $1,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 88 days (?)
Learn how one couple created a successful personal finance blog, The Savvy Couple, that now makes over $20,000 per month and has sold thousands of digital workbooks and courses, by focusing on purposeful content and optimizing their ROI with efficient time management.
6. Start a youtube channel ($146K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel could be a lucrative way to supplement your income as a chef. By sharing your culinary skills, unique recipes, and kitchen tips, you could attract a broad audience and eventually monetize your channel. With YouTube's established monetization system, achieving a minimum of 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the previous 12 months could allow you to join the YouTube Partner Program and start earning revenue from ads.
Additionally, your channel could open doors to other income streams such as sponsorships, paid partnerships, and even online cooking classes or merchandise sales. You could leverage your expertise and passion for food to build a loyal audience, turning your side endeavor into a significant source of income, potentially pushing your total earnings into six figures. Thus, starting a YouTube channel might not only enhance your financial standing but also elevate your brand as a professional chef.
How much you can make: $800 — $1,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $750 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Learn how this entrepreneurial couple made $5-7k a month by helping others find legitimate work from home jobs and creative ways to make money online through their blog and YouTube channel, as well as offering two flagship products designed to help beginner freelancers and new bloggers accelerate growth.
7. Digital products ($261K/month)
Creating and selling digital products could be a highly lucrative venture for entrepreneurial-minded chefs. Imagine turning your culinary expertise into an online course, an ebook filled with unique recipes, or even a subscription-based cooking community. These digital products are not only easy to create but also provide endless possibilities for income without the hassle of managing physical inventory.
By leveraging your skills and knowledge, you could build a profitable side business that complements your main career, paving the way for earning six figures. The ability to reach a global audience through digital platforms means your earning potential is limited only by your creativity and determination.
How much you can make: $10,417 — $1,766,666/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
FilterGrade is an eCommerce platform offering digital assets such as photo filters and video templates; attracting over 450,000 monthly users and generating approximately 30k a month, the founders worked hard to build a valuable marketplace for creators while focusing on digital marketing, partnerships, and content creation.
8. Become a social media influencer ($57.4K/month)
Supplementing your income as a chef by becoming a social media influencer could be an excellent path to making six figures. Social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok are bustling with brands looking to connect with audiences, and as a chef, you have the opportunity to showcase your culinary skills and insights. By creating engaging and relevant content in your niche, you could attract a significant following, thereby establishing yourself as a credible figure in the culinary industry.
As your influence grows, brands may approach you for collaborations and sponsored posts, providing an additional revenue stream. Furthermore, the trust and relationship you build with your audience could lead to opportunities such as cooking classes, custom recipe books, or even brand ambassadorships. With the right strategy and consistent effort, becoming a social media influencer could transform your passion for cooking into a lucrative venture.
How much you can make: $2,500 — $166,666/month
How much does it cost to start: $800 (?)
How long does it take to build: 155 days (?)
How one mother built a profitable frugal motherhood, life, and travel blog from scratch, using Instagram, Pinterest, and paid sponsorships to grow from 0 to 18.5K followers and generate $1,500-$3,000 per month in less than two years.
9. Become an affiliate marketer ($55.3K/month)
Starting an affiliate marketer business could help you make six figures as a chef by leveraging your culinary expertise to promote relevant products and services. You could partner with companies that offer kitchen gadgets, premium ingredients, or culinary courses, earning a commission for every sale made through your unique referral links. This venture requires minimal upfront investment, making it an attractive option for chefs who want to supplement their income without a hefty initial outlay.
By signing up for affiliate programs in your niche, you could seamlessly integrate product recommendations into your existing online presence—be it a blog, social media channels, or a YouTube cooking show. Over time, effective marketing and relationship-building with your audience could drive significant traffic and sales, potentially helping you achieve your goal of earning six figures. This approach allows you to monetize your culinary passion while sharing valuable resources with fellow food enthusiasts.
How much you can make: $18,000 — $83,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $100 (?)
How long does it take to build: 150 days (?)
This case study explores how Spencer Mecham founded Buildapreneur, an affiliate marketing business, and has made over half a million dollars in profit with no employees, relying solely on content marketing through platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
10. Start a social media marketing agency ($116K/month)
Starting a social media marketing agency could be a highly effective way for you to supplement your income as a chef. By leveraging your culinary expertise and creativity, you could develop marketing strategies tailored to food-related businesses, thereby attracting clients like restaurants, food bloggers, and culinary brands. This side venture doesn’t require a full-time commitment; automation tools can help you manage your tasks efficiently, allowing you to focus on both your primary job and your agency.
Additionally, creating an agency portfolio to showcase your unique services can establish your credibility and attract customers. Whether you want to clear utility bills, save for a vacation, or even make a significant financial shift, this entrepreneurial opportunity could pave the way for earning six figures while enhancing your career as a chef.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $4,166,667/month
How much does it cost to start: $7,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 30 hours/week
How David Tile turned a freelance writing gig into an $80k/month business, discussing lessons learned through managing growing demands and maintaining a remote team operation.
11. Start a blog ($44.9K/month)
Starting a blog could significantly supplement your income by leveraging your culinary expertise to reach a broader audience. With 77% of internet users reading blogs and approximately 409 million people viewing more than 20 billion pages each month, the potential for monetization is sizable. By sharing recipes, cooking tips, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into your kitchen, you could build a loyal following that values your unique perspective.
Monetizing your blog through ads, sponsored posts, or affiliate marketing could contribute to achieving a six-figure income. Additionally, offering exclusive content, such as cooking classes or personalized recipes, could create new revenue streams. Blogging is a location-independent business, meaning you could work at any time and from any place, making it a flexible side hustle or even a full-time career.
How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Learn how one couple created a successful personal finance blog, The Savvy Couple, that now makes over $20,000 per month and has sold thousands of digital workbooks and courses, by focusing on purposeful content and optimizing their ROI with efficient time management.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
