How Much Can You Really Earn Cooking from Home withHomemade?

Turning your passion for cooking into a reliable income by selling meals from home is an exciting opportunity embraced by many in the Netherlands. However, before diving in, it’s important to have a clear understanding of what kind of earnings you can realistically expect, the costs involved, and how to optimize your business to maximize profits on the Homemade platform.

As a home chef, your income depends on factors like your menu pricing, order volume, ingredient costs, and how efficiently you manage your time and resources. Homemade’s fair commission structure—ranging between 5% and 15% depending on your subscription plan—helps you retain a larger share of your sales compared to many other platforms, meaning more money stays in your pocket.

That said, expenses like groceries, packaging, utilities, and potential delivery costs need to be carefully tracked. Planning your menu strategically to focus on dishes that balance quality, customer appeal, and cost-efficiency is key. Offering combo meals or batch cooking ingredients can also help reduce waste and increase profit margins.

Moreover, leveraging Homemade’s marketing support—such as workshops on social media promotion and menu design—can boost your order volume and customer loyalty, directly impacting your earnings.

Understanding these aspects upfront empowers you to set realistic financial goals and build a sustainable, thriving home chef business. Ready to learn more about the economics of being a home chef with Homemade? Let’s break down the details.

Understanding Your Earnings Potential

Your income as a home chef depends on several important factors: the number of meals you sell, your pricing strategy, ingredient costs, and platform fees. Homemade offers competitive commission rates that range between 5% and 15%, depending on the subscription plan you choose, along with a monthly fee. This structure is designed to let you keep a larger portion of your earnings compared to many other food delivery platforms, which often charge higher commissions.

To better understand how this works, let’s look at an example. Suppose you price your meals at €12 each and manage to sell 40 meals per week. This would bring in a gross revenue of €480 weekly. If you’re on a plan with a 10% commission, Homemade’s platform fee would be €48, leaving you with €432. Next, consider your ingredient costs. Typically, ingredient expenses make up about 30% to 40% of your meal price depending on the dishes you prepare. Assuming 35%, you’d spend roughly €168 on ingredients for those 40 meals. Subtracting this from your revenue leaves you with about €264 per week before accounting for other expenses.

However, ingredient costs are just one part of the picture. You should also factor in packaging materials, which can vary depending on the type and quality you use. Eco-friendly and branded packaging might cost more but can enhance your customers’ experience and support your sustainable brand image. Utilities such as gas, electricity, and water for cooking and cleaning add to your operational costs. Additionally, if you manage deliveries yourself or use couriers, those transportation costs need to be included.

Choosing the right subscription plan on Homemade is another way to optimize your income. Lower-tier plans have smaller monthly fees but slightly higher commission rates, while higher-tier plans reduce commissions but come with higher monthly fees and extra marketing support. This flexibility allows you to select the option that fits your business size and growth goals best.

To maximize profitability, it’s essential to monitor your sales data and customer feedback closely. Adjust your menu, pricing, and portion sizes based on what sells well and what your customers prefer. Offering meal bundles or combos can increase average order value and improve efficiency in ingredient use.

By carefully managing these variables—pricing, sales volume, costs, and platform fees—you can build a profitable and sustainable home chef business with Homemade. This transparent approach to costs and earnings gives you the confidence to plan your growth and keep your passion for cooking alive.

Strategies to Boost Your Profits

Increasing your income as a home chef isn’t just about selling more meals—it’s about working smarter and maximizing every opportunity to boost your profitability while keeping your workload manageable. Here are some practical strategies to help you improve your earnings sustainably:

Offer Extras and Meal Combos:Adding side dishes, drinks, or desserts to your menu can significantly increase the average order value. Customers appreciate the convenience of a complete meal package, and combos encourage them to spend more per order. For example, pairing a main dish with a refreshing beverage or a tasty dessert can turn a simple meal into a more attractive deal. Offering limited-time specials or themed combos can also spark interest and repeat business.
Batch Cooking for Efficiency: Preparing meals or key ingredients in bulk saves you valuable time during busy periods and reduces labor costs. Batch cooking helps streamline your kitchen workflow, making it easier to fulfill more orders without sacrificing quality. For example, cooking sauces, grains, or roasted vegetables in larger batches allows you to assemble meals quickly and consistently. This approach reduces stress and makes your day more manageable.
Bulk Ingredient Purchasing: Buying ingredients in larger quantities, especially through Homemade’s recommended wholesale partners, can help you cut down on food costs significantly. Purchasing in bulk often means lower prices per unit, which directly improves your profit margins. Stocking pantry staples like spices, grains, and canned goods in bulk ensures you’re always prepared, and it prevents last-minute trips to the store that eat up your time.
Leverage Homemade’s Marketing Resources: Homemade doesn’t just provide a platform for selling your food—it actively supports your business growth with workshops and expert guidance. These sessions cover vital marketing topics such as social media promotion, local SEO techniques, and menu design principles. Learning how to effectively market your meals online and within your community attracts new customers and builds loyalty among existing ones. These marketing skills are essential for sustaining and expanding your income over time.
Optimize Your Menu and Pricing: Regularly review your menu to focus on popular, profitable dishes. Experiment with pricing strategies that reflect ingredient costs, preparation time, and customer demand. Offering a balanced menu that includes affordable staples alongside premium options can widen your customer base while maximizing returns.

By combining operational efficiency with smart marketing and menu management, you can increase your income while maintaining the passion and quality that make your cooking special. Homemade’s tools and community support are designed to help you succeed every step of the way, making it easier to grow your business sustainably and enjoy the rewards of your hard work.

Realistic Expectations and Growth Potential

Earnings as a home chef on Homemade can vary widely based on several key factors, such as your location, the cuisine you specialize in, your pricing strategy, and how actively you market your meals. For many part-time chefs, this often translates into earning between €200 and €400 per week, providing a valuable supplemental income alongside other jobs or commitments. This level of income is perfect for those who want to explore cooking as a side hustle without overwhelming themselves.

For chefs who dedicate more time and energy to their business—investing in menu optimization, marketing efforts, and building strong customer relationships—earnings can increase substantially. It is not unusual for these home chefs to earn upwards of €1,000 per week or more. By focusing on improving efficiency, offering combos or extras, and using Homemade’s marketing support, you can boost your sales volume and profitability significantly. This level of income could even replace a full-time salary for some chefs who are ready to scale up their operations.

One of the strengths of Homemade is its flexibility, designed to support chefs at all stages of their journey. Whether you are just starting out and want to earn some extra money on the side or you aspire to build a full-time home-based food business, the platform offers the tools, resources, and community backing to help you grow at your own pace. This means you can tailor your business around your lifestyle, goals, and available time, all while doing what you love—creating delicious, homemade meals for your local community.

Additionally, Homemade’s tiered pricing plans and relatively low commission fees help you keep more of your earnings compared to many other platforms. The platform also supports you with workshops and marketing advice on social media, local SEO, and menu design, making it easier to attract new customers and encourage repeat orders. This ongoing support can have a real impact on your business growth and income potential.

Ultimately, your earnings will depend on how well you understand your customers, manage your costs, price your meals, and promote your brand. By leveraging the resources and community that Homemade provides, you’ll be well-equipped to build a successful and profitable home chef business that fits your lifestyle and ambitions.

Final Thoughts: Making Your Cooking Passion Pay Off

Selling meals from home through Homemade offers promising earning potential combined with relatively low startup costs. Because you cook from your own kitchen, you avoid the high overheads typical of traditional restaurants, such as rent and utilities, making it easier to start and scale your business with less financial risk. By keeping a close eye on your expenses, carefully pricing your meals to reflect ingredient costs and your time, and leveraging Homemade’s business and marketing support, you can create a profitable and enjoyable culinary venture that fits your lifestyle.

Homemade goes beyond being just a platform—it acts as your business partner, providing valuable resources like marketing workshops, menu design advice, and customer engagement tools. These supports help you attract new customers, build a loyal following, and increase your sales without having to become an expert marketer overnight. The platform’s flexible subscription plans and competitive commission rates ensure you keep a healthy portion of your earnings, maximizing your take-home income.

If you’re curious about how much you could earn or need personalized advice to grow your business, Homemade’s dedicated support team is always ready to assist. Whether you want guidance on menu pricing, marketing strategies, or operational best practices, they’re there to help you succeed every step of the way. Starting your home chef journey with Homemade means joining a supportive community that values sustainability, local connections, and the joy of cooking—making your culinary passion both rewarding and profitable.