For chefs.

Four steps: a short online application (about 25 minutes); the Lighthearted Kitchen course — five self-paced modules on our standards; a video interview with our team; then approval and your live profile. Most chefs go from application to live profile within a few weeks.

Five+ years of professional experience. A point of view — a way of cooking that's recognizably yours. Comfort cooking in a home (or the willingness to learn it). And a real interest in the relational part of private dining.

It's not a numbers question — it's a fit question. We'd rather have a small bench of chefs we trust completely than a large directory.

You do. Always. Your menu is your menu, your pricing is your pricing. We pass them through unchanged. We never discount your work or pressure you to drop your rate.

Lighthearted Kitchen's fee is split: a 7.5% platform fee comes out of your payout, and the user pays a separate 7.5% service fee on top of your quote. You keep 92.5% of what you charge — payment processing is covered out of Lighthearted Kitchen's share, not yours.

Through Stripe. You connect your bank account once during onboarding, and each booking's payout lands automatically — your share of the deposit when your client pays it, and the rest when the balance is charged before the event. Lighthearted Kitchen never holds your money.

It varies by city, season, and your availability — and you choose your own volume. Browse open requests in your area and propose on the ones that fit, receive direct requests sent straight to your profile, and publish experiences users can book on the spot.

An independent contractor. You set your hours, take the bookings you want, decline the ones you don't. For marketplace payouts, a 1099-K may be filed through Stripe where reporting thresholds apply. This is not tax advice — check with your own tax professional.

Lighthearted Kitchen uses Stripe Connect to process chef payouts and tax reporting information. Stripe may ask you for identity, taxpayer, and bank information before you can receive payouts. Lighthearted Kitchen does not collect or store your W-9/W-8 form, full TIN, SSN, EIN, or tax-form signature. Marketplace payouts may be reported on Form 1099-K through Stripe where required. This is not tax advice. If Stripe needs more information from you, your booking or payout eligibility may be paused until your Stripe account is complete.

You're an independent provider responsible for your own insurance, licenses, and food-safety. Lighthearted Kitchen does not provide your insurance and may request documentation at any time.

Of course. Honor any bookings already on the calendar and the door is open. Many of our chefs treat us as one of two or three sources of work, which is exactly the right way to do it.

Five self-paced modules: The Heart of Lighthearted Kitchen, then our four standards — Organic, Intentional, Educational, and Seasonal. It's how we make sure every chef on the platform shares the same foundation, and it moves as fast as you do.