Cancellation Policy for chefs
Once you accept a booking, both the client and ChefMaison rely on your commitment. The client planned an event, invited guests, and built their experience around your presence. We understand that unexpected situations can happen, and our goal is not to be punitive. However, we also have a responsibility to protect clients and maintain a platform they can trust.
Before accepting a booking, you are always free to accept or decline a request without any penalty. Declining a request does not affect your profile visibility, ranking, or reputation on ChefMaison.
Canceling an accepted booking can have a significant impact on the client, who may have planned an important occasion and now has limited time to find another chef or reorganize their event.
We also recognize that genuine emergencies can occur, such as serious illness, accidents, or family emergencies. In these situations, we ask that you contact our Operations team as soon as possible so we can support you, assist the client, and minimize the impact on everyone involved.
This article explains how our cancellation policy works, what happens if you need to cancel a booking, and how we aim to keep the process fair for both chefs and clients.
How cancellations work
If you cancel a booking:
- ChefMaison immediately starts looking for a replacement chef.
- The client receives a 100% refund (including all fees).
Any additional consequences depend on:
- How far in advance you cancel.
- Your cancellation history.
Generally, the earlier you cancel and the fewer previous cancellations you have, the lighter the consequences.
Cancellation timing
Timing | Description |
|---|---|
Early | More than 14 days before the event |
Mid | 7–14 days before the event |
Late | Less than 7 days before the event |
Cancellation history
History | Description |
|---|---|
First-time | Your first cancellation within a 12-month period |
Repeat | Second cancellation within 12 months |
Chronic | Third cancellation within 12 months, or second cancellation within 3 months |
Cancellation consequences
Timing | First-time | Repeat (2nd in 12 months) | Chronic (3rd+, or 2nd in 3 months) |
|---|---|---|---|
More than 14 days | Warning only | 15% invoice + search ranking demotion | 15% invoice + 60-day suspension |
7–14 days | Warning only | 15% invoice + 30-day suspension | 15% invoice + permanent removal |
Less than 7 days | Warning + 15% invoice + search ranking demotion | 15% invoice + 60-day suspension | 15% invoice + permanent removal |
Large events (€3,000 or above)
Bookings with a quote of €3,000 or more follow a stricter policy.
These events are often planned months in advance and celebrate important occasions such as weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, corporate events, or family gatherings. A last-minute cancellation can leave the client with very limited time to find another chef, contact alternative suppliers, adjust their plans, or even rethink the entire event. When a chef cancels a large event, especially close to the event date, finding a qualified replacement becomes significantly more difficult.
If you cancel less than 30 days before the event
History | Consequence | Notes |
|---|---|---|
First cancellation | 15% invoice + 60-day suspension | Warning also issued |
Second cancellation | 15% invoice + permanent removal | No rolling window applies |
If you cancel more than 30 days before, the standard cancellation policy applies. |
Important notes
- The 15% invoice is calculated based on the chef quote of the cancelled booking.
- Search ranking demotions are automatically removed after 6 consecutive months without a cancellation.
- If your previous cancellation happened more than 12 months ago, you will be treated as a first-time cancellation. Your internal record is retained, but the policy window resets.
- A first-time cancellation made more than 14 days before the event results in a warning only—no invoice and no suspension.
What happens if the client cancels?
Your compensation depends on when the client cancels.
Standard bookings (chef quote below €3,000)
Cancellation timing | Your payout |
|---|---|
More than 14 days before | 10% of the chef quote |
7–14 days before | 30% |
3–7 days before | 45% |
Less than 3 days before | 70% |
No-show | Full payout (minus the applicable ChefMaison commission, depending on your commission model) |
Large events (€3,000 or above)
Cancellation timing | Your payout |
|---|---|
More than 60 days before | 10% |
30–60 days before | 30% |
14–30 days before | 45% |
Less than 14 days before | 70% |
No-show | Full payout (minus the applicable ChefMaison commission, depending on your commission model) |
How to cancel a booking
If you need to cancel, contact our Operations team as soon as possible: operations@chefmaison.com
Please include:
- Your booking reference / name of the client / date
- The reason for the cancellation
The earlier you contact us, the more options we have to support your client and minimize the impact on your account.
Exceptional circumstances
We understand that some situations are genuinely outside your control.
In exceptional and unforeseeable circumstances, you may request an exception. If approved, the cancellation will not count toward your cancellation history.
Situations that may qualify
- Government-issued restrictions preventing the event
- Severe weather making travel or service impossible
- Natural disasters affecting your location
- Serious illness requiring hospitalization (hospital documentation required)
Situations that are not covered
- Double bookings
- Scheduling conflicts
- Personal changes of plans
- Circumstances that were foreseeable when accepting the booking
- Minor illness or feeling unwell
All exception requests are reviewed individually. Supporting documentation may be requested before a decision is made.
By accepting bookings responsibly and communicating early when unexpected situations arise, you help maintain the trust that makes ChefMaison possible. Our cancellation policy is designed not only to protect clients, but also to create a reliable marketplace where chefs who honor their commitments can build a strong reputation and grow their business.
Updated on: 03/07/2026
Thank you!