How does payment work when booking a private chef in Bali?
How paying for a villa chef in Bali works: written quote, 50% deposit, balance the day before, what ++ means, groceries at cost and the cancellation terms.
Booking a private chef in Bali with myCHEF works in two payments: a 50% deposit to confirm your date, and the balance the day before service. Before you pay anything, you receive a written quote that shows the total and what it covers. You can check our current rates and what is included on the pricing page; this guide explains how the payments fit around them.
Below you will find the payment steps, what ++ means, how groceries are handled, and exactly what happens if your plans change.
- You get a written quote first. Nothing is paid until you accept it.
- A 50% deposit confirms your booking. The balance is due the day before service.
- Urgent last-minute bookings can require full payment upfront.
- For the full-day chef, groceries are billed separately at cost with receipts.
- Cancellations follow our published cancellation policy, counted from your service date.
How does the payment process work, step by step?
- You send your request. Date, villa area, guest count and the service you want.
- We send a written quote. It confirms the menu, scope, total and any separately quoted items.
- You accept and pay the 50% deposit. This secures your date and the team.
- We finalise the details. Menu, timings, allergies and any extras.
- You pay the balance the day before service. Then you simply enjoy the meal.
Payment details are provided with your quotation, so you always know the amount and how to pay before the deposit is due.
Why is there a deposit?
The deposit holds your date. Once it is paid, a chef and assistant are scheduled for you and the date is held in your name. It also lets us plan the menu and shopping with confidence. That is why your booking is only confirmed when the deposit arrives, not when the quote is sent.
When might you pay everything upfront?
We need at least 3 to 5 days’ notice and do not take same-day bookings. If your date is only one or two days away, an urgent booking may still be possible when a team is free. In that case, full payment upfront can be required, because the team, shopping and travel all have to be arranged at once.
“A clear quote first, then a deposit. You should never have to guess what the evening will cost.”
What does ++ mean on your quote?
On our standard published prices, ++ means 11% government tax and 10% service are added to the listed amount. In practice, that is the listed amount multiplied by 1.21. For example, the full-day chef at IDR 2,700,000++ comes to IDR 3,267,000 for the service fee.
Some prices are nett, which means tax and service are already included. The Couples Collection packages are one example: each is one total price for two adults, with tax, service and core-area travel included. Your written quote always makes clear which is which.
| Service | How it is priced | What is separate |
|---|---|---|
| Full-day chef | IDR 2,700,000++ a day for a chef, assistant and three meals | Groceries at cost with receipts |
| Weekly or monthly chef | 10% off the day rate from 7 days, 20% off from 28 days | Groceries at cost with receipts |
| Catering for one meal or event | Quoted on menu, guest count and setup | Travel outside core areas, extras |
| Couples Collection | One total for two, tax, service and core-area travel included | Extras and travel outside core areas |
How are groceries paid for?
For the full-day chef, groceries are not part of the day rate. The team buys them for your menu, and they are billed separately at cost with receipts. You see exactly what was bought and what it cost, with no mark-up hidden in the price. Premium ingredients, such as imported beef or lobster, are agreed with you before they are bought.
Catering and Couples Collection prices already include the food on the menu you choose, so there is no separate grocery bill for those.
Are there any other costs to expect?
Travel is included for Canggu, Seminyak, Kerobokan, Berawa and Pererenan. Other areas include a travel fee, itemised in your quote before you confirm. Extra staff, extended service, decor and equipment can change the total, and we confirm these before you pay. You can bring your own wine and the team will pour it.
What should you check on your quote before paying?
- The date, start time and villa address are correct.
- The guest count, including children, matches your group.
- The menu and any dietary notes are listed.
- Whether each price is ++ or nett, and any travel fee.
- The deposit amount and the date the balance is due.
If anything looks wrong, reply in the same WhatsApp thread before you pay the deposit, and your coordinator will send a corrected quote.
Want a clear quote?
Send your date, villa area and guest count. We will reply with a written quote showing the total, deposit and balance.
What happens if you need to cancel?
Our cancellation policy is simple and published in full. In short:
- 7 or more days before: cancellations receive a full refund of amounts paid.
- Fewer than 7 days before: the 50% deposit is forfeited, and any balance already paid is refunded.
If ingredients have already been bought for your booking, those costs, with receipts, may be deducted. If the balance is not received by the deadline, the booking may be treated as a client cancellation. The full terms are on our cancellation policy page, and that page is what applies to your booking.
Can you change the date, time or menu instead?
Often, yes. Changes to the date, time, location or menu must be requested directly with us at least 72 hours before the booking starts, and they depend on availability. Later changes cannot be promised and may be treated as a cancellation. Small changes in guest numbers are easiest when you tell your coordinator early; bigger changes can mean an updated quote.
FAQ
How much deposit do I pay to book a private chef in Bali?
A 50% deposit confirms your booking, after you accept the written quote. The balance is due the day before service.
Do I ever pay the full amount upfront?
Urgent last-minute bookings can require full payment upfront, because the team, shopping and travel have to be arranged at once.
Are groceries included in the payment?
For the full-day chef, groceries are separate. They are bought for your menu and billed at cost with receipts. Catering and Couples Collection prices include the food on the menu you choose.
What happens if I cancel?
Cancellations made 7 or more days before the event receive a full refund of amounts paid. Cancellations fewer than 7 days before forfeit the 50% deposit; any balance already paid is refunded.
How do I know what to pay and how?
Your written quote shows the total, the deposit amount and the balance. Payment details are provided with your quotation.
Your next step
Compare published prices on our pricing page, then send your date on WhatsApp for a written quote. Our guide on booking via WhatsApp shows what happens after you send it.
