> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.chefmaison.com/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# Why is the final amount higher than the chef's quoted price?

If the total at checkout looks higher than the price your chef quoted in the proposal, here's exactly what makes up the difference.
## What's included beyond the chef's price
Your chef's proposal covers their service — the menu, ingredients, and everything discussed together. On top of that, a couple of things can add to the final total:
* **ChefMaison's service fee** — a small fee (typically 2–4% of the quote) that covers secure payments, platform support, and running the marketplace itself.
* **Booking protection** (optional) — if you choose to add cancellation insurance at checkout, this is shown as its own line, separate from the chef's price. See **Booking protection — what it is and when it's worth it** for the full details.
## Nothing is hidden
Both of these are shown clearly as separate line items before you pay — they're never folded silently into the chef's price. You can see exactly what you're paying for at every step.
> 💡 If a total ever looks off to you, check the checkout breakdown — the chef's proposal, the service fee, and booking protection (if selected) are always itemized separately.