Temporary agency work
- Maximum leasing period
- 18 months
- Equal pay
- claim
- Instructions
- by the hirer
Chef for hire
Hire a chef – for one evening, a weekend or the whole season
A cook is off sick, the terrace is full or the wedding is coming up: on Sunworker, restaurants, hotels, caterers and private persons book self-employed chefs directly – with checked documents and a fixed hourly rate.
- Health certificate checked, with expiry date
- Hourly rate fixed before you ask
- No temporary agency work, no contract lock-in
What is a chef for hire?
A chef for hire – in German “Mietkoch” or “Leihkoch” – is not permanently employed but steps in for single shifts, events or a season. They take a station in the kitchen, from commis to sous-chef, and are free again after the shift.
On Sunworker these are self-employed chefs with their own profile: training, experience, languages, documents, reviews from earlier venues and the hourly rate they set themselves. You see who you get and what it costs before you send a request.
Each shift is booked on its own: day, time, place and pay are in the request. Once the chef accepts, the shift is binding. The hours actually worked are billed, and the receipt is in your account afterwards.
Placement, not agency work
Who has a contract with whom
“Hiring” a chef sounds like leasing, but it is not: on Sunworker the venue or private person contracts directly with the self-employed chef.
Direct shift contract
- Maximum leasing period
- none
- Equal pay
- no claim
- Instructions
- only agreements on the shift
When a chef for hire helps
The most common reasons venues and hosts book a chef on Sunworker.
Sickness and holidays
A cook drops out at short notice. The search can be narrowed to one day and only shows chefs who are free that day.
Season and terrace
In summer, in ski season or at the Christmas market the regular team is not enough. A chef for hire covers the peaks without creating a position.
Banquets and events
Weddings, company parties, trade-fair catering: an evening with 200 guests needs more hands than a Tuesday.
Private chef at home
Birthday, anniversary, dinner with friends: private persons book a chef for their own kitchen – with no service fee.
Catering and canteens
Caterers and canteens plan with fixed portions. If a station is missing, a chef comes for production or service.
Trial before hiring
One shift shows more than an interview. Anyone who fits can be requested again directly, also regularly.
Why Sunworker
What matters when hiring a chef
Health certificate and hygiene checked
The health certificate under § 43 IfSG, hygiene training and qualifications are on the profile – checked and with the date until which they are valid. The search can show only chefs with a valid document.
Available when the kitchen needs it
Chefs keep their own calendar. Searching by day shows only who is free – even for the same evening if someone accepts.
Billing without paperwork
Check-in and check-out at the venue, the venue approves the hours, and the chef's invoice is created automatically. Receipts can be sent to Lexware Office or sevDesk or exported for DATEV.
How much does a chef for hire cost?
Every chef sets their own hourly rate, shown on the profile before you ask. It depends on training, experience and station: a junior cook for the sides costs less than a sous-chef running the pass.
Sunworker keeps a 15 % commission from the professional. Venues also pay a 15 % service fee on the order value. Account, search and requests are free, and there is no base fee.
Private persons pay no service fee. They pay the chef's hourly rate; surcharges for nights, Sundays and holidays are fixed in advance.
- Base fee
- none
- Service fee for venues
- 15 %
- Minimum term
- none
- Service fee for private persons
- 0 %
How to book a chef
Four steps from account to billed shift.
Step 1: Register your venue
Name, address and contact person. It takes a few minutes and costs nothing.
Step 2: Find a professional
Filter by role, postcode and date. Every profile shows the hourly rate, experience, reviews and credentials.
Step 3: Request a shift
Enter the date, time and location. The professional accepts or declines; the shift only becomes binding once they accept.
Step 4: Work and settle up
The professional checks in and out on site. You are billed for the actual time worked, and the receipt appears in your account afterwards.
Questions about hiring a chef
How soon can I get a chef?
As soon as a chef accepts – even for the same evening. The search can be narrowed to one day and only shows chefs who are available.
How much does a chef cost per hour?
Every chef sets their own hourly rate, shown on the profile. Venues also pay a 15 % service fee, private persons none. There is no base fee or minimum term.
Is hiring a chef through Sunworker temporary agency work?
No. The chefs are self-employed and make the contract for the shift directly with the venue or private person. Sunworker places, handles the payment and leases no one.
Can I book a chef for a private party at home?
Yes. Private persons create a free account and book a chef for a birthday, anniversary or dinner. They pay no service fee.
Does the chef have a health certificate?
The health certificate under § 43 IfSG is shown with its expiry date on every profile where it has been uploaded and checked. The search can be limited to chefs with a valid document.
Which chefs can I book?
Cooks, chefs de partie, sous-chefs and pastry chefs. Every profile shows training, experience, documents and reviews from earlier shifts.
Also in demand
Find the right chef
View profiles, compare hourly rates, send a request. The account is free.