TLDR: Our free recipe costing template for chefs is a downloadable spreadsheet that calculates dish costs, margins, and breakeven points—perfect for private dining, events, and pop-up menus.
Whether you’re running a tasting menu, street food stall, or private dinner, this tool helps you know your costs and set your prices with confidence. Built for real-world use by chefs, not accountants.
Introduction
Price It Right: Free Recipe Costing Template for Chefs
Stop guessing. Start earning properly.
Table of Contents
1. Why Recipe Costing Matters (More Than Ever)
Food prices fluctuate. Labour costs rise. Clients expect value.
If you’re not tracking what a dish costs to make, you’re probably undercharging—or eroding profit without realising.
This template fixes that.
2. What’s Included in the Template
- Editable Google Sheet or Excel file
- Inputs for:
- Ingredients + quantities + unit costs
- Number of servings
- Total cost per dish
- Outputs:
- Cost per portion
- Suggested selling price based on desired margin
- Breakeven calculator for event pricing
- Colour-coded cells and automatic formulas included.
3. How It Works (And What You’ll Need)
- Enter ingredients and prices from your supplier
- Add portion size and dish yield
- Let the sheet calculate per-portion cost and recommended sell price
- Adjust margins and see impact instantly
- Takes 10 minutes to set up—saves you from undercharging forever.
4. Use Cases That Pay Off
- Private chefs pricing bespoke menus
- Pop-up chefs calculating plate costs for events
- Street food vendors running tight margins
- Catering chefs quoting for weddings or corporate events
Your menu. Your cost control.
5. Who This Is For
- Freelance chefs
- Private dining operators
- Small event caterers
- Anyone who needs to justify pricing with facts
No more guessing. No more awkward undercharges.
6. How to Download and Start Using It
Step 1: Click the link
Step 2: Choose Google Sheet or Excel format
Step 3: Add your first recipe and start tracking your margins
You’ll be pricing smarter in under 15 minutes.
Conclusion
Our free recipe costing template for chefs helps you turn food into a business—by knowing your costs, setting fair prices, and protecting your profit.
Click to download the free template and start costing your dishes properly today.