Important notes:
At this time we are not onboarding new shefs to our marketplace in the Bay Area, New York, Chicago, Seattle, Austin, Boston, Washington DC, or Los Angeles
We are accepting applications for our Weekly Shef Service in the Bay Area, New York, Chicago, Seattle, Austin, Boston, Washington DC, and Los Angeles
If you are applying to be part of the Weekly Shef Service in the Bay Area, New York, Chicago, Seattle, Austin, Boston, Washington DC, and Los Angeles, you will follow a separate process that will be emailed/texted to you.
Application checklist for becoming a shef
If you haven't already, your first step to becoming a shef is to sign up from our Become a Shef page. Onboarding new shefs is currently paused in some areas. If you receive an email from us mentioning you have been added to a waitlist, do not take more steps to build your menu or account, we will contact you if you are selected to move forward.
Here are the steps you will want to take to complete your Shef Application:
Select your delivery option. Depending on your location, you will either select a Shef drop-off location, or input your information for door-to-door delivery or customer pickup. These options are not available in all locations. You will see the options that are available for you in the 'My Profile' page of your Shef Dashboard.
Add dishes to your menu. You must have at least 7 dishes to start selling to customers, but at least 3 menu items need to be approved to move forward in the application process. Be sure to review our food photography guidelines before taking your dish photos.
Add your profile picture. This helps to build trust and a connection with your customers.
Add your bio. Tell customers your food story to get them excited about trying your dishes.
Upload your food handler’s certificate. Don't already have one? No problem - click the link for more info! Online courses are available for around $10.
Connect your bank account to Stripe for order payments. You will receive payments through direct deposit, on a rolling basis after each delivery day.
Once you complete these steps, our team will review your profile and approve you to start cooking! You will receive an email and text message when your account has been approved with instructions to help you prepare for your first delivery day or if additional steps are required. Your menu and profile will not be visible to customers until you select the days you'd like to be available in the "My Availability" section of your Shef dashboard. Keep in mind that you are always able to continue adding dishes and editing your menu as you grow your business and learn about what your customers enjoy. In some cases, your application may be placed on a waitlist due to limited onboarding capacity in your area. If this happens, you will be notified via email and text when a spot becomes available.
Understanding the Status of Your Shef Application
If you’ve applied to become a Shef, your application status can vary depending on the stage of the process. Below, we outline the key stages, what they mean, and the next steps you can take.
Application Review Process
Once you’ve completed all required steps in your Shef application, it enters the review stage. Here’s what you need to know:
Timeline for Review: The review process typically takes up to 5 business days (about one week). During this time, the Shef team evaluates your profile, including your menu items and other required documents.
Notifications: You will receive an email and text message once your application is approved or if additional steps are required.
Waitlist Status
In some cases, your application may be placed on a waitlist due to limited onboarding capacity in your area. Here’s what this means:
Why Applications Are Waitlisted: When the Shef platform reaches capacity in a specific area, new applications are placed on hold. This ensures that existing Shefs have adequate opportunities to succeed.
Next Steps: If you are on the waitlist, you will be notified via email and text when a spot becomes available. Unfortunately, there is no guaranteed timeline for when this might happen.
What You Can Do: While on the waitlist, you can continue to refine your menu ideas and ensure your profile is complete and up-to-date. This will help you be ready to proceed when selected.
Menu Approval Process
A critical step in the application process is getting your menu items approved. Here’s how it works:
Minimum Requirement: You need at least three menu items approved to move forward in the application process.
Review Timeline: Menu reviews typically take up to 5 business days. Once your dishes are approved, your application will proceed to the next stage.
How to Submit Dishes: Ensure all required fields (e.g., photos, descriptions, ingredients, allergens) are completed for each dish and click “Submit for Review” in your dashboard.
Notifications and Updates
How You’ll Be Notified: Updates about your application status are sent via email and text. Be sure to check your inbox regularly.
Follow-Up: You do not need to follow up on your application. Shef will contact you automatically once there is an update. If you haven’t heard back after a week, you may send a message to request an update.
Tips to make a good first impression on your first orders
Fill your food containers to approximately 95% capacity. Under-filling containers may disappoint your customers, while overfilling them might result in food spillage.
Label your food containers and order your bags neatly & professionally to build trust with your customers.
Include a handwritten or printed note to first-time customers thanking them for ordering from your menu. You can also request that they give you feedback!
Include a complimentary dessert, side, or snack sample for your first-time customers. This is completely optional and highly dependent on if you can manage it with the current order volume.
The most important thing is to take your time and avoid rushing. Please organize and plan your cooking, cooling, labeling, packaging, and delivery to give yourself enough time for each one!
What to do if you cannot fulfill an order
Cancellations disrupt your customer’s plans and can reduce confidence in our Shef community. Because you set your own availability, your customers expect you to fulfill all orders you receive. Repeated issues with canceling or rescheduling orders can result in a failed trial period and restrictions to your Shef account.
If something unavoidable has come up and you know you will not be able to fulfill an upcoming order, please send our support team a message as soon as possible so we can let your customers know. You can message us from the small red chat icon in your Shef Dashboard.