How to become home chef and earn $100,000+ per year

Your mind is racing now. “I love cooking,” dreaming of a 6-digit income, you think, “can a cooking channel my perfect break?” Read this blog to find out.
October 15, 2023
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Minutes Read

Do you know how much the channel So Yummy, with 9.1 million subscribers on YouTube, earns? $420.27 thousand per year. Tasty, subscribed to by 21 million people on YouTube, takes home more than a million dollars annually. Even so, these earnings are nothing compared to Village Cooking Channel, which generates an estimated $6.9 million ad revenues a year with its 18.3 million subscribers.

The question is, how do these channels make so much money? Well, they satisfy people’s appetites – visually, at least! They are subscribed to and viewed by millions of gastronomes across the globe every day.

Your mind is racing right now. “I love cooking,” dreaming of a 6-digit income, you think, “can a cooking channel be my perfect break?”

It's a very good question. I'll say that if you never try, you’ll never know. For instance, the Village Cooking Channel started in 2018. In just four years, it has emerged as one of the biggest channels on YouTube. Perhaps, you may be the next big thing in the online cooking space.

How can I be a chef at home?

The answer is simple – by starting your own cooking channel on YouTube. Of course, it’s not as easy as it sounds. You must invest time, effort, and money into building a successful channel. But if you are passionate about cooking and willing to put in the hard work, starting a YouTube cooking channel can be extremely rewarding financially, professionally, and emotionally.

So, what does it take to become a home chef?

All you have to do is follow these steps and you're good to go:

1. Pick a Niche

The first step is to pick your niche. There are all sorts of channels on YouTube. The trick is to find something you are passionate about that has enough demand from viewers. For food channels, some popular niches include baking, cooking with kids, ethnic cuisine, vegetarian/vegan recipes, budget-friendly meals, and gluten-free recipes, among others. Once you have picked your niche, stick with it. Build a loyal audience by consistently creating content people love and appreciate.

2. Ensure Your Channel is Engaging

Next up is building an engaging channel around your chosen niche. This involves creating high-quality content that educates, entertains, and inspires your viewers. Remember, your goal is to stand out from the millions of others on YouTube. So, make sure your content is original, fresh, and engaging.

Also, don’t forget to optimize your videos for video SEO. This will help you rank higher in search results and get more views.

Some tips for creating engaging content:

• Create attractive visuals

• Use props and fun graphics

• Keep it (mostly) short and sweet

• Be personal and relatable

• Tell a story

• Use eye-catching titles and thumbnails

3. Create a Schedule

Consistency is vital while building a successful YouTube channel. You need to be regular with your uploads if you want to keep your viewers engaged. Otherwise, YouTube’s algorithm may not rate your content well. Creating a content calendar will also help you stay organized and on track. Plan ahead and schedule your videos for the month/week so that you always have something new and exciting for your audience. Trust me, they will appreciate it!

4. Monetize Your Channel

Now that you have built an engaged following, it’s time to start monetizing your channel. On YouTube, creators use multiple monetization strategies. Some of them include ads, sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and merchandising.

While many target ad revenues initially, some of the most effective ways to earn right from the beginning are by selling branded merchandise and creating exclusive content for paid subscribers. You can use feature-intensive platforms such as Teyuto to seamlessly create your branded OTT website. For instance, Teyuto equips you with its drag-and-drop channel builder. So, you can create stellar while-label video platforms even with zero coding knowledge. Unlike other service providers, the platform also charges zero commissions on your memberships. So, you get to keep 100% of the entire amount (well, almost as it depends on your Stripe commission tier). Check out Teyuto and its exhaustive features today. There's an ongoing free trial right now.

Sponsorships and affiliate marketing are also lucrative. However, you must note that these monetization techniques take away considerable creative liberty from you. At times, sponsorship deals even dictate how you present the sponsored product(s), ask for view guarantees, or may prevent the use of other products by competing brands.

Ultimately, it’s your channel and depends on how you want to monetize it. But, my two cents would be to give higher preference to merchandise sales, subscriptions, and other alternatives that provide you with complete creative control.

5. Develop Your Social Media Presence

Your focus should not be limited to YouTube. Promoting your content also on social media platforms can do wonders for your reach and engagement. So, create a strong presence on popular platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and LinkedIn. It will help you tap into new audiences and drive traffic to your YouTube channel and branded website.

You can also use social media to connect with other influencers in your niche. Collaborating with them will help you tap into their massive audience base and grow your following exponentially!

What do I need to make cooking videos?

Well, a smartphone camera is enough to get started. However, if you want to take your channel up a notch later, invest in some good quality equipment. They are listed below in order that you must buy them.

Remember, you can and should get started with your smartphone camera and makeshift apparatus. Only purchase these equipment when you get results and have enough financial bandwidth. Don't break your bank buying them.

  1. Video Editing Software: After recording your video, you will need to edit it before uploading it online. You will need video editing software such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or iMovie. These software solutions are used to add graphics, transitions, titles, and so on., to make your videos more engaging and visually appealing.
  2. Microphone: A microphone is one of the first things that you must buy. It is because videos created using a smartphone often have sound-related issues. To solve this issue, you can record audio and video separately and merge them during video editing when you’re just starting up. Later, you can get a lavalier microphone and clip it onto your clothes.
  3. Tripod: A tripod will help you keep the camera steady and avoid shaky videos. You can also purchase gimbal when you are more profitable.
  4. Camera: A DSLR or a mirrorless camera helps you create high-quality videos. Get your hands on them if you want to create professional-grade videos. You’ll also need to learn how to use their different modes and settings to produce awe-striking videos.
  5. Lighting: Adequate lighting is crucial for creating well-lit and stunning shots. You can use natural light during the daytime or invest in some LED lights for artificial lighting. The lighting ultimately depends on how your overall setup is.
  6. Backdrop: A backdrop helps in making your videos look more polished and professional. It also makes it easier to edit the video as you don’t have to worry about unwanted objects in the frame.
  7. Lens: A good quality lens will help you capture a sharp and clear video. If you’re shooting in low light, get a fast lens with a large aperture (f/1.8 or f/2.8).

Final Thoughts

With this equipment list, you are now ready to shoot cooking videos like a pro! But before you hit the record button, there are a few others to consider.

  • Keep it real

Be yourself, and don’t imitate others. Viewers can see through fakes and appreciate originality as well as genuineness.

  • Be relatable

Share your personal experiences, cooking tips, and hacks that make your life easier in the kitchen. Make such experiences as close to the audiences that you’re catering to. For instance, avoid kiln-based recipes if your audience is unlikely to have a kiln. You will eventually get many of these insights in your comments section.

  • Engage with your audience

Respond to comments and queries from your viewers. It will help you build a strong community of followers who love and support your work.

  • Keep learning

There is always room for improvement. So, keep trying new things and experimenting with different techniques to evolve as a chef.

  • Have fun

Last but not least, enjoy the process! After all, cooking is supposed to be fun, right? So by enjoying the process, you’ll have fun doing what you love and improve your chances of success with superior motivation.

That’s it! These are some simple tips that will help you get started on your journey to becoming a home chef. Just remember – consistency, quality, originality, and engagement are key to success. So, keep at it, and don’t give up! Who knows? You might just become the next big thing in the YouTube food space.

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Marcello Violini
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