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Trusted by 12,000+ self-employed pros

Cook for Clients All Day. Your Bookkeeping Shouldn't Simmer All Night.

The free bookkeeping tool that helps self-employed personal chefs organize ordinary and necessary business expenses for Schedule C.

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Deductions Most Personal Chefs Miss

Every unclaimed deduction is money left on the table. These personal chef expenses are pre-loaded in your template — you just fill in the amounts.

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Supplies & Materials

Line 22

All ordinary and necessary supplies for your business.

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Vehicle & Mileage

Line 9

Gas, mileage to jobs, vehicle maintenance.

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Insurance

Line 15

Business liability, health insurance, vehicle.

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Advertising

Line 8

Google ads, social media, website, business cards.

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Software & Phone

Line 18

Business apps, phone (business portion), CRM.

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Contract Labor

Line 11

Payments to helpers and subcontractors.

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Licenses

Line 23

Business license, professional certifications.

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Other Expenses

Line 27

Professional development, safety gear, uniforms.

The Personal Chef's Guide to Schedule C Deductions

If you earn self-employment income as a personal chef, the IRS treats you as a sole proprietor (or single-member LLC) and you report that income on Schedule C (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Business. Every ordinary and necessary business expense you track lowers your taxable net profit — which directly reduces both your income tax and your 15.3% self-employment tax. Most personal chefs leave money on the table simply because they never recorded the expense in the first place.

Which Schedule C lines matter most for personal chefs

Our free personal chef template pre-loads the categories below and maps each one to the correct Schedule C line, so you never have to guess where an expense belongs:

  • Supplies & Materials (Line 22): All ordinary and necessary supplies for your business.
  • Vehicle & Mileage (Line 9): Gas, mileage to jobs, vehicle maintenance.
  • Insurance (Line 15): Business liability, health insurance, vehicle.
  • Advertising (Line 8): Google ads, social media, website, business cards.
  • Software & Phone (Line 18): Business apps, phone (business portion), CRM.
  • Contract Labor (Line 11): Payments to helpers and subcontractors.

How to fill out your Schedule C, step by step

Start by entering every deposit you received for personal chef work as gross receipts (Line 1). Then categorize each business expense using the dropdown in the template's transaction tab — the Schedule C Summary tab totals each line automatically. The difference between your income and expenses is your net profit (Line 31), which flows to your Form 1040 and Schedule SE. Keeping these records current also makes it far easier to calculate quarterly estimated taxes and avoid underpayment penalties.

Record-keeping tips for personal chefs

The IRS expects you to be able to substantiate every deduction. Keep digital copies of receipts, log business mileage contemporaneously, and keep business and personal spending in separate accounts wherever possible. A few minutes of bookkeeping each week is far less stressful than reconstructing a year of expenses in April.

This guide is educational and does not constitute tax advice. For preparation and IRS representation, our sponsor Arc & Ledger Accounting is a firm of IRS Enrolled Agents.

How It Works

1

Download

Pick your business type. Get a free template. No signup.

2

Categorize

Enter your bank transactions. Pick from the dropdown. ~30 min.

3

Review

Schedule C summary auto-calculates your income, expenses, and tax.

4

File

Hand it to your Enrolled Agent. Or let Arc & Ledger prepare your return from $300.

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Don't Have Excel? No Problem.

Download the file → Open Google Sheets → File → Import → Upload. Done. All formulas, dropdowns, and formatting transfer perfectly.

See full Google Sheets instructions →
S

Download Your Free Personal Chef Template

Every deduction pre-loaded. Works in Excel or Google Sheets. No signup. No email required.

📥 Download for Excel

For Google Sheets: download the file, then open Google Sheets → File → Import → Upload. Full instructions →

Need help filing?

Arc & Ledger's Enrolled Agents prepare Schedule C returns from $300 — and are authorized to represent you directly before the IRS.

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Hand It to an Expert.

Most CPAs charge $500-800 for a Schedule C return. Arc & Ledger's Enrolled Agents do it from $300 — and they're authorized to represent you directly before the IRS if anything comes up.

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✓ Schedule C tax preparation from $300 (CPAs charge $500-800)
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✓ Authorized to represent you before the IRS
✓ Enrolled Agents — passed rigorous IRS exam
✓ 10+ years serving self-employed professionals
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Need to File for Free? The IRS Can Help.

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Our free template works alongside any filing method — use it to organize your expenses first, then file however works best for you.

Common Questions

What Schedule C deductions can personal chefs claim?+
Self-employed personal chefs may deduct ordinary and necessary business expenses under IRC Section 162. Commonly claimed deductions include ingredients (COGS), kitchen equipment and knives (Line 13), mileage to client homes (Line 9), liability insurance (Line 15), advertising (Line 8), and food handler certifications (Line 23). Your tax situation may vary, so consult a qualified tax professional.
What is Schedule C?+
Schedule C (Form 1040) is the IRS form where sole proprietors report business income and expenses. It calculates your net profit or loss, which flows to your Form 1040. Personal chefs use Schedule C to report meal prep fees, catering income, and dinner party payments. Our free template is an organizational tool that categorizes expenses by the correct Schedule C line numbers.
How much tax do self-employed personal chefs pay?+
Self-employed personal chefs generally pay both income tax and self-employment tax (15.3% for Social Security and Medicare) on net profit. Your income tax rate depends on your total taxable income and filing status. The self-employment tax applies to net earnings over $400. Consult a qualified tax professional for personalized guidance.
Do I need to file quarterly estimated taxes as a personal chef?+
If you expect to owe $1,000 or more in federal tax for the year, the IRS generally requires quarterly estimated tax payments. Deadlines are typically April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15. Underpayment may result in penalties. Our template helps you track income and expenses so you can better estimate what you may owe.
How do personal chefs handle ingredient costs on Schedule C?+
Ingredients purchased for client meals are generally reported as Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) on Schedule C Part III. This is different from regular business expenses. Kitchen equipment and knives may qualify for Section 179 expensing. Proper tracking of food costs versus other expenses is important. Consult a qualified tax professional for your specific situation.
Should I hire an Enrolled Agent or do my own taxes?+
An Enrolled Agent (EA) is a tax professional who has passed a rigorous IRS exam and is authorized to represent taxpayers directly before the IRS. Unlike other preparers, EAs must pass a rigorous exam and complete continuing education annually. For personal chefs with ingredient costs, vehicle expenses, and equipment purchases, an EA can help ensure compliance. Arc & Ledger's team of Enrolled Agents specializes in Schedule C businesses.
Is the Schedule C template really free?+
Yes. Every template on ScheduleC.App is completely free to download, with no signup required. The site is sponsored by Arc & Ledger Accounting, a firm of IRS Enrolled Agents, which is why we can offer the templates at no cost.
Do I need accounting software to use the template?+
No. The template is a spreadsheet that opens in Microsoft Excel or imports directly into Google Sheets (File → Import → Upload). All formulas, dropdown categories, and the Schedule C summary work in both.
When is the Schedule C filing deadline?+
Schedule C is filed with your Form 1040, which is generally due April 15. If you expect to owe $1,000 or more, the IRS also requires quarterly estimated tax payments throughout the year, typically due in April, June, September, and January.
What records do I need to keep for my deductions?+
Keep documentation that substantiates each expense — receipts, invoices, bank and card statements, and a contemporaneous mileage log for vehicle use. The IRS expects you to be able to prove that each deduction was an ordinary and necessary business expense under IRC Section 162.
Can someone prepare my Schedule C for me?+
Yes. Our sponsor, Arc & Ledger Accounting, is a firm of IRS Enrolled Agents authorized to prepare returns and represent taxpayers before the IRS. You can send them your completed template and they handle the filing.

Every Day You Wait, You Risk Missing Deductions

Your free Personal Chef template has every deduction pre-loaded. No signup. No email. Just download and go.

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